www.iFourWinns.com

2000-ish 298 and 328. do they have powered engine hatches? or are they manual lift? my Sea Ray I have to remove the rear seat to open the engine cover. Real pain. I know the 288's and some Rinkers have electric hatches where the whole rear cover lifts up, seat and all. Anyone know if the 2000ish 298 and 328's had this? Or is it all by hand? I ask because I have a bad back and shoulders. I can lift them, just don't want to have to do it often. prefer electric

Thanks for your help!

The early 2000's 328 have two engine hatch covers that are not powered. When checking engine oils, you can simply lift the one side (the length side) of the engine cover closest to the stern and have someone just hold the engine cover up (not lift it out) so you can check engine oils etc., without needing to lift the engine cover right out. A powered engine hatch would be nice, but not a factory option.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Thanks. Kind of what I thought based on the one I saw but that one was being worked on so I wasn't sure if the covers were removed for better access or that's how that open.

248/268/298/328 all are manually operated and fairly large hatches at that. The 268 I had, it lifted up and out of the way.

278/318/338/358 are all electrically operated hatches and much more user friendly. But quite a few years newer and more expensive. I had no issues with the manual hatch on my 268 but loved the push button to open it on the 318. My 240 is powered and I'm not complaining about that.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

The 298 is a serious pain, to do any kind of work the cover has to be completely removed and set on the pier.

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

Just wait until it breaks.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

I'm always waiting for something to break on my boat

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

Never had an issue on the 318 in 5 years and with that huge hatch - it's worth every penny. Was surprised to see the 240 has it. Just a gear drive motor is all it is, pretty simple design. Just make sure to thru bolt the manual pull in case you have to use it.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

My 258 is electric and find it to be annoying but helpful. Its heavy to lift by hand but it doesn't lift 100% by the electric piston. Being 6'2" I have to bend over in the engine compartment. I got used to opening electrically then taking it off the piston and propping it open wider with a board. What a difference in room.
THEN the mounting point to the cover ripped off the piston. Lucky the wood where it pulled from was okay except where the original screws were located. I gooped it up with some 4200 (it was bare prior) and screwed it back in new holes.
My new to me Regal has 3 manual hatches and I don't mind it. It opens completely or I can take the covers off the boat for major work. They can be propped open so they aren't heavy at all to just open.
I guess it personally preference. It seems when manufactures use electric lift it's because the hatches are just sooo heavy you can't lift by hand very easy but its the design of the cockpit that dictates the hatches... As long as the day hatch is easy to open to check oil I don't mind the rest being heavy and one less thing to break.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson