www.iFourWinns.com

Howdy, Ladies & Gents.....

We're looking at moving to a 268V (2001 to 2003-ish). Our current (just sold, actually) boat is a 245 Sundowner with the Volvo 280hp DP drivetrain. I have concerns in that most of the 268s are powered by this same drivetrain. We can have anywhere from 4 people to a FULL load.

While the 280-DP was fine in the Sundowner at 4500-lbs, with 8 or 10 people on board (certainly not over powered, but no real problems), I'm concerned that the 6500-lb 268V, plus water and potentiually more fuel, will be woefully under-powered (we have yet to get one on the water).

Any input from any of you who have this combo .... and run a heavy load?

Thanks,
Gordon

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

First off, you are trying to compare apples to oranges. Look here and you can see the performance specs for the various engine drive combos. It should answer your questions.

With a 280 HP VP with the Duoprop outdrive 3500 rpms should give you 31 mph with a 24 gph fuel burn.

The boat isn't going to leap on plane like a sundownwer. We owned a 248 with a 5.0 carbed and while it wasn't a speed demon, it was adequately powered.

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

I own one with the same power plant. There should be no concern on your part. Buy it. Also, there is only one or two engine packages larger than the 5.7L, and they will get you a couple of more mph at WOT, and burn more fuel, not much more. So if you are expecting runabout performance from an express cruiser, you WILL be disappointed. The 280 hp rating is conservative to say the least, it's closer to 300 hp. actually.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks for those replies...

I'm not concerned with top speed, just being able to pull it out of the hole, with a load. My wife will slap me at anything over 35mph anyway ........

I've been all over the http://www.fourwinns.net site, for years (since our first Four Winns purchase). It gives speeds at RPM and fuel consumption, but can't really addres the planing.

I do know that the 280-hp has more lower-end torque than the 320-hp, and this is just what we need to pull it out of the hole (I'd just as well rather have a big-block anyway ... get both torque & HP, but there are none available around here). We'll be testing one this Sunday. I'll have to bring the whole family .... or have some of the dealership people come along for a "planing test".

Will let y'all know what I think......

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Good idea to have a "full load" on board during a sea trial. We usually only have 4 people on board, and I never have an issue getting on plane, even without deploying the tabs. When we have 6 to 8 people, I have to use the tabs more.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

This is the one we are testing on Sunday:

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

M3eater , You are looking at it with a very good dealer. That is where I bought my 08 V288. They have my Chapparal trade. The boat you are looking at looks like a good boat. Best of luck.

Bill

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2001 Sundowner 235

Will you be slipping the boat? If so, you should have bottom paint. See if you can negotiate that into the price.

All white hull, no radar arch, nice choice.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Bill .... I saw your Chappy on the Melvin Village site. We've dealt with Melvin Village before, for parts and other stuff .... I agree, they seem to be a good place to do business with.

Boat will live on a trailer, for use in Wiini and in the Ocean .... and maybe some evenings in Great East Lk, 5-min from the house (and where ever "the wind takes us"). The launch at Great East is a bit tight, but I should be able to get it backed in as long as there is not a line of antsy pre-launchers waiting......

The dealer says they have a used matching trailer available for it as well. If we did purchase this one, I'll be using Al's A/C install as a guide ...........

Photo of 245 Sundowner at Great East:



The ol' Chris Craft at the Great East dock:

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Well.... took the ride yesterday.

Very nice boat. We do like the way it rides and handles. The 280-DP will be adequate (fine with a light to medium load, we had 5-people and 1/2 tank of fuel ... might be a bit slow out of the hole with a full load and a tube or two off the back... but I think it will be fine). The boat is a "stripper" but it is very clean and the lower price (due to the lack of options) is a positive point. We can add heat/AC, windlass, electronics, Gen., etc ...... and not have it in the monthly payment ..... forever.

We will likely go back today to go over it at a more leisurely pace and more thoroughly (yesterday we had to be someplace else afterwards). Raining today, but that may be a plus, too ..... see how the canvas is and maybe the lake is a bit more stirred-up.

Saw Bills' old Chappy, up in the parking lot....... Was one of the 288s, that were in the water, yours?

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Just be aware of the costs of all those upgrades. If you do decide to install your own AC and Windlass and other goodies, You can drop many thousands in a short time period

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Brett DiMichele

Thanks for those thoughts. We will do all of the add-ons ourselves. We have $4000-ish budjeted for the A/C, windlass, radio, chartplotter & carry-on gen (for starters). There are no other boats that have these items already installed, that are close to the purchase price, plus the cash, of this boat.

Plus ..... Lk Winnipesaukee (and all of NH) requires gray water holding (no water overboard at all), and of course, this boat has it.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

We went from a 245 sundowner with a 7.4L (454 cid) with king cobra to our current boat (248 vista with a 5.7L GSI DP). The 5.7L is very small IMHO. When I upgrade to a 268/278 a 8.1L will be a must for me, and maybe a 288 with at least twin 5.0L.

Just got off the water with ours, at 6600 ft ele. it is very sluggish out of the hole. That is with 1.95 ratio and F3 props. BUT for camping it is awesome!

M3eater,
One of those may have been mine. It would have had the new name on the back Just Chillin. We pick it up Saturday.

It sounds like you found a nice boat. If it is there Saturday I will look for it.

Good luck Bill

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2001 Sundowner 235

Gordon,

I don't think a 4K budget will go very far. A carry on generator (Honda) Eu2000 will set you back $850, the AC setup by the time it's installed is going to surmount 2 grand (probably $2500) a windlass, unless you get a killer deal on one is going to be another $1500 just for the windlass, another $200 for a contactor etc etc.

$5500 will get you close. Shop ebay for deals on the windlass don't pay retail, I got my brandie spankin new Lewmar V700 for a little over $500 retail is more like $800, the Maxwell Freedom series that FW uses OEM are in the $1500 to $1700 range.

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Brett DiMichele