www.iFourWinns.com

jr.. Congratulations and Best of Luck! What do you think, about 16 hours from Cadillac to NH? If they left at 2pm, it should be in 1st thing in the morning at the dealership! If it were me, I think I would be sleeping outside the dealership in my car waiting for the transport to arrive! Good Luck!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

Excellent news and I believe right on schedule! I hope you have a REALLY big Christmas tree!! Is it going to be living under shrink wrap at the dealer 'till spring or will we be seeing fresh pictures soon? I'll be getting my 358 fix at the NY boat show in a few weeks.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Sierra, we plan to go to the NY Show on New Years Day! That's actually the day we signed on the dotted line for Bryan and purchased the 268Vista back in 2004! Hmm' don't they say that History has a way of repeating itself?? Anyway,s New Years Day worked out great as it was not too crowded! If you plan to go on the 1st, let me know! Maybe we'll see you there!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

Well, that's four years ago! However did you make it this long? And you know, the 378 with IPS prices out for less than I thought (although I prefer the lines of the 358). Bryan had hoped to have a 378 there...

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Well your right about that! Although I had my last 4Winns, a 215Sundowner for 10 years, I am definitely itching to upgrade the 268Now! The 268Vista has really whetted our appetite for Cruising, and of course when Cruising for longer and longer peeriods of time, you need to get a bigger and bigger cruiser! Cheers!

ps. Is it Spring Yet??

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

It's here!

The boat arrived on Wednesday and I traveled to the lake yesterday in a snow storm to see it. We finalized the paperwork, now I'm broke.

Given the heavy, falling snow and the looming 75 mile drive home, we did not spend too much time. They left the shrink wrap on and cut a door for access. I took a few pictures but they're not worth posting, all you can see is shrink wrap.

Is it ice-out yet? Every year on Winnipesaukee there are contests to predict when the lake will be clear enough of ice to be navigable. The average is around April 22nd, that's over four months...

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Congratulations! And the Countdown Begins! using April 22nd, just 129 Days To Ice Out!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

Congratulations jrcinnh, I can't wait to see it in person on the lake.

My guess is we will have ice out in 129 days (April 21)

Take care Bill

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2001 Sundowner 235

And now let me flash you back to September 18:


Congrats again !

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

I have just purchased a brand new 2008 358 Vista and I am still trying to decide on the power. Factory reps at the NY boat show all recomend the Volvo gxi 320hp vdrives over the Crusader 6.0 375hp if going with inboards. Does anyone have experience with either of these power plants?? I am trading in a 99 SeaRay 340 sundancer that had twin 7.4 liter 370hp. The SeaRay moved pretty well but no jackrabbit by any means. I am worried that the Volvo package will be underpowered but all the salesman and factory reps all say the Volvo package is very efficient and moves the boat well. Looking at the charts there doen't seem to be much difference in performance between the Volvo and Crusader but the cost is $8400.00 more for the crusaders. Any thoughts will really help.

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2008.Fourwinns V358
1999 SeaRay340 Sundancer
1989 SeaRay 260 Cuddy

Rberm - first of all, welcome & congratulations! I'll be hitting the show tonight to pay the 358 a visit - can't wait 'till April to see it again! Curious who you bought it from as my dealer is there. On the power, if you read back through this thread, you saw the same debate in my decision making. I thought it would be best to get the max available HP, but between the slim difference in performance specs, feedback from the dealer and other impartial, knowledgeable people, I was comfortable with my decision to get the Volvos and did not factor the cost into that decision. My dealer saw two bad Crusader situations which added to the reason he preferred the Volvo which he has had great success with. That said, Crusader has a great reputation, makes a great engine, and Bill K. on this board seems quite pleased with his Crusader equipped 348. Hopefully there's someone out there who has operated both and can speak to the differences. No one I've spoken with who has operated the Volvo equipped 348 or 358 said it felt underpowered. On paper it seems like it could be when you compare it to a Sea Ray 340 with 8.1's, but I doubt FW would continue to produce so many of them configured that way if they were insufficient - there are plenty of boats that earn reps as being underpowered and I have yet to hear that about the 348/358. And it seems like you're not expecting a "jackrabbit"... How else are you spec-ing it out?

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Sierra, Thanks for the info. I am purchasing this through Irwin marine. They have a Jersey City location in addition to their Red Bank location. This makes it possible to close on the boat in Jersey City and only pay 3 1/2% sales tax.
As for the options I pretty much loaded the boat up as they have it shown at the show. I think the only options I did not get were the Partitioned state rooms and the extra shaft with prop. I prefer the openness of the cabin without partitions. I am getting a great trade in value on my 99 Sea Ray as long as they don't beat me up once they see it. She is in great condition so I don't anticipate any surprises.
I didn't go to the show with the intentions of buying a brand new boat. I was basically checking out the comprable manufactures in the 34-36 cruiser category. I really don't like the cockpit seating that Sea ray is going with on the 340. The new 330 actually has a much better layout. They should put that into the 340 and they would really have something to sell if they cut the price by 50K. Anyway as I strolled through I checked out the Four Winns and fell in love with the layout. Showed it to the wife and 2 days later I'm buying a brand new boat. Something I have always said was the worst thing to do. The trade in is what hooked me. No hassle having to sell my boat on my own.

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2008.Fourwinns V358
1999 SeaRay340 Sundancer
1989 SeaRay 260 Cuddy

We had EXACTLY the same thoughts regarding the 340DA. The lack of a lounger seat, the fixed windshield (no walk-through) and the rather starkly plain bathroom all voted against the SeaRay. Our 348 has been great.

As for sales tax, be careful. Some folks think you can "get away with" lower taxes by purchasing elsewhere. But for a few small exceptions you're still going to get hit by your own state, sometimes for a greater amount, when you register it. And you WILL need to register it in-state. You can "try" to avoid it but the fines and hassle are often a lot more than whatever the initial costs might've been.

I'd mention the value of a local dealer angle too, but that varies GREATLY based on how crappy the local dealer may or may not be.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Thanks for the warning. Your right about State sales tax but I'm in NJ and the dealer is registering it for me so we should be ok. What kind of power do you have in your 348?

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2008.Fourwinns V358
1999 SeaRay340 Sundancer
1989 SeaRay 260 Cuddy

I've got the 6.0L Crusader inboards. They've been running fine. I believe the boat's under-propped, however, as my top end is a little slow. But this seems to be one of the MANY screwups the dealer's inflicted on us. I've not ridden in one with the Volvos so I can't comment. But regardless of engines, these are not run-abouts. Top speed comes at a hefty price, fuel-wise. You can cruise all day at 25mph/1mpg, but crack those throttles wide open and you'll see the fuel rate nearly TRIPLE. You can't push 15k pounds of boat through the water without paying the price.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista