www.iFourWinns.com

Looking at a 30' vista and see a lot of deals on the salt ones. Pro's and Con's of buying saying a 2004 and bringing back to fresh water in MI.

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2001 Four Winns 298 Vista
Twin 5.7 Volvo Penta GSI DP

I would, because that's pretty much all I would find around here...but to go along with that, I'd also be looking at maintenance records, when the manifolds/risers were changed last, condition of trailer (if applicable), etc.

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

I would, here there is no choice. All salt unless I go upstate to get a fresh water one. Based on my experiences, you might want to insist on having the risers/manifolds checked and have the drive pulled to check for water in the bellows. Those are the 2 places that I/Os suffer the most from salt water use. If the boat has closed cooling even if a half system that's a plus, if a full system that's even better, but still you have to be concerned the risers and bellows/gimble/u-joints.
Now if that 30' is a straight inboard then disregard what I said about the bellow, etc but the cooling system and exhaust system has to be well maintained. Even with closed cooling you can have problems with heat exchangers clogging up which can lead to overheating.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I personally would not touch a salty, that being said you should have a survey done on what ever you buy, just because you buy a fresh water boat doesn't except it from problems

Good luck with you search

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

True true and do you know that fresh water rots wood framing in boats much more than salt water? That's because the bacteria that eat wood and cause rot, do not live in salt water. So rotted transoms are more likely in freshwater than salt believe it or not.
I have run my '88 in salt since I've had and it was run a number of years in it before I had it, so I'd guess at least 15 of the 24 years are salt water. It has the original engine still and the original outdrive. The manifolds were replaced 2x, circulating pump 1x, starter 1x. Changed the bellows and gimble 1x. And this boat is moored in salt not just run in it.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I just bought an '08...but it has been racked stored and out of the elements 75% of the time. Not sure I'd go back and buy an '04, but condition is everything...

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

Noticed they had these 2 Four Winns for sale at our Marina. They both looked nice. I'd be happy to take a closer look for you as I may get back up there on Wed or Thurs this week.

http://www.pier33.com/Page.aspx/pageId/ ... Boats.aspx

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

There is a reason that salty boats are cheaper. I would not even consider buying one and bringing it back to Michigan. I know if maintained, they can be just fine. But it the fear of the unknown for me as to what might go wrong in a year, two or three years down the road. In the long run, the salty might be cheaper up front but more expensive with all the repairs that could happen in the future.

There are a lot of really nice, great lakes boats around for sale. Be patient.