www.iFourWinns.com

My daughter took the NEW 2006 200 SS to Lake Texoma this past weekend for a camping /boating Experience. It has less than 20 Hours on it and the following has happened:

1. Both Swivel seats are broken! They will not lock in place!

2. Saturday went well. The Marina/Camp they chose allowed the boats to be moored overnight. On Sunday they went out to use the NEW boat and found it half submerged and the battery DEAD!


3. She calls me in tears and I tell her there is a BAD leak somewhere and the Bilge pump has Tried its hardest and has drained the Battery!

4. The Marina Staff HELPS by draining Boat and Charging Battery For
NO Charge

5. Boat is put on trailer and brought back to Corinth, TX.

6. Monday meeting with Phil DILL boats and an on Lake Lewisville
diagnosis.
Found out the trailer TIE-Downs on REAR of boat were not properly
intalled and had severe leaks around them!

7. Phil Dill said the will repair boat under Warranty.
That IT will take up to FOUR WEEKS to do the work!

8. This the Height of our Boating Season and there was NO offer a loaner
Boat.


WE are not HAPPY Campers!! or Four Winns Owners!!

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

that is a bit ridiculous....they prob could have fixed the prob while you wait, that is if it truly is only the tie downs. Shouldn't be that big a deal.

sorry for the problems....glad the NEW boat didn't completely sink.

_________________
2005 Funship 214 5.0GXi/DP | 2006 Yamaha FJR1300

How deep do you mean by half submerged? You could have serious problems depending upon how much water got into the engine space. If the water was deep enough to contact and submerge part of the engine, at best, the oil should be changed a couple of times to insure no water made it's way there, the starter if submerged will need to be replaced. It won't last long. Any wiring that was submerged should be replaced. Any other components mounted on the transom such as the trim tab pump ( if you have tabs) the trim pump and relays should be inspected and/or replaced.

I would definitely keep good notes and make sure everything is documented. You may very well have numerous problems down the road that will manifest themselves because of this swamping.

I find it hard to believe the tiedowns on the transom caused that much water. They are a thru bolted item. If they weren't sealed, they are still "plugging the hole". Are you sure the plug was in the boat? Ifyou keep the boat moving, water stays out. When you stop is when the water really comes in. The bilge pump would have to be rnning quite awhile to drain a battery, especially if water is seeping around an unsealed tei down on the transom.

One other thing, if the tie downs were the issue and not sealed, make sure any coring in the transom is not soaked. This will cause problems down the road with a soft transom.

_________________
Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

Whatever the cause, your experience is the exception not the norm. I hope everything is fixed!

_________________
SOLD! 2006 30th Anniversary Vista 278
"Conch'd Out!"

http://vista278.com

All comments are appreciated. I don't think the engine was submerged that bad. I will keep good records. The main PLUG was installed properly.
Phil Dill admits that there is a seal problem at the tie downs.

Regards,

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

The tie down points aren't even below the waterline. I question whether this is really the cause. If the engine wasn't submerged (which is lower in the boat than the rest of the deck), then it doesn't sound like it was "half submerged." Believe me, I'm not disputing your story, but to offer any useful advice we kind of need to know how much water really was in the boat.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

After repeated calls to Sales Rep, this situation came to the attention of Phil Dill himself!

The 200 SS Horizon came out of service today, with the assurance from Phil Dill that every thing is OK!!!!

I will keep a close eye on any future incidents as they occur.

The Boat will be on the lake tommorow.

Regards

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

Are they still saying it came in through the tie down points? If so, did they explain how that much water was able to get in through plugged holes?

Without a complete and viable explanation, I'd have a hard time accepting that it's fixed.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I agree with Mike 100%. Something smells.

_________________
Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

Phil Dill will make good, at least they have with me, repaired a issue with a void in the fiberglass near - you guessed it the rear tie downs, wonder if there is a bigger problem. But, since they are both above waterline I suspect that was not the source of the leak. There was also a gelcoat bugger on a lift pod. They seem to take too long is my only complaint, said 4 weeks, but done in 3. So I guess I should not complain.

The swivel chair is a design issue, I finally resolved this myself, by flaring out the pins that hold the plastic gear that the seat locks into that slides over the pedestal post. If you pull up on the seat and the white plastic gear stays with the seat. The pins are the problem.

Welcome to boating..

_________________
2006 FW 203 FS
2005 Dodge Laramie 1500
2003 CRF 247F SuperMoto racer
2001 CBR1100XX

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

No worries Jeff, we just hate to see a new boat have problems! Please keep us posted.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

There was water in the cockpit ski locker? Was there water in the engine compartment? Around the bilge pump? Did your daughter happen to leave the stereo on all night?? That could be the reason for the dead batterie

My daughter is 28 years old and actually owns the BOAT! I am only acting as her DAD, and mechanic!

She is extremelely responsible!

The bilge pump discharged the battery.

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

I was just asking. I am a very responsible guy but have left my headlights on by mistake once or twice. I am just very supprised to hear that yoru boat pulled in that much water fo fast from the trailer tiedowns. I find that almost impossible, unless you could see a large hole there.