www.iFourWinns.com

Do you have an open file with Four Winns customer service? When I called Fourwinns told the customer service rep my issue she fed it internally to a VP rep who contacted me, opened a file complete with file referance number then took all my info including all the photos I emailed her. She then refered it internally to VP engineering tech who made the decision on the drive and fed it back thru her to me. VP in turn contacted my dealer about warranty. I took the file ref number to my dealer and he used that to feed back to vp so it wouldnt languish on someones desk. Once I spoke to the VP rep it was 72 hours done deal. It did take a while to get to her though.

My .02 is do not leave it up to your dealer. Speak to VP and FW customer service directly. I knew before my dealer did that they were replacing my drive

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

No file with FW's... yet.
Just going through the motions at this point so I don"t step on anyones toes.
VP claims it's not a manufacturing defect but a case of improper anodes combined possibly with something not set up correctly at FW's in the electrical area and possibly stray current which I still feel that the proper anodes would have protected me against.
If I don't get any action from my dealer in the next week, I'll be contacting FW directly.
With the info I've compiled thus far, I've contacted my lawyer (in the family) and he says we have a solid case.
If legal action is what it's going to take then I'm prepared to do so.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

I think we've established that all Volvo's come from the factory with AL anodes, and that most Dealers do not go to the trouble of determining the type of water the boat will be used in to determine the proper anodes to install. I've used all my boats in fresh water exclusively. As I posted earlier, I bought MG anodes per Volvo's recommendation. Just installed them two weeks ago. Here's a pic of the AL anodes that only saw 20 some hours of use (I keep my boat on a lift, so it's only in the water when in use).



I did periodically clean off the anode that was on top of the lower unit, and more visable. But check out the 'salts' on the housing unit anode. Again, fresh water, only in the water when in use, no stray current from other boats moored nearby. Does this look normal?

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

The leg anode could look sort of normal for 20 hours (because of your cleaning it), but that transom shield anode is crazy. Damned dealers.

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

Jim-R:
I would not say your anodes look bad for 20 hours… Anodes are sacrificial so you want them to attract corrosion and not to the drive. It seems your anode was doing its job…. I would still change to Magnesium ones to get a best protection since corrosion activity seems strong in your area. I left aluminum anode on my old boat (I was not paying attention) for 2 and a half season in fresh water (on the lift when I am not using it) Drive was still spotless but anode were pitted very much… May be I got lucky….….

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Hooooooooooo! Sushi is that a pantera in your collection? Post some pics!

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

If you can talk him into sharing . . . . watch out. Real cool to appreciate some awesome kit pampered to perfection but it sucks to realize some of the coolest stuff ever that we're missing out on. I have my suspicions thats it's actually Jay Leno in disguise. I am soo jealous of that dude

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

I do not want to hi jack a Great Boating Forum with cars so if you are interested here is a link to pic of my 2 DeTomaso cars.

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff19 ... =slideshow

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Here's mine.
It's also for sale.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Nice Cobra PA. God what a blast it would be tooling through the secondary highways with no top (on the car . . . . . and maybe a cute passenger) and those sidepipes like 24" from your ears.
Thats a honerable point Suishi. Perhaps we need a "What do you play with" thread on top of the "What do you tow with" thread. Kind of cool to see what we're all about off the water.
I would start but I don't think anyone's interested in seeing a picture of my XBox and I can't take a picture of my camera . . .

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

In an attempt to halt what I started with the cars maybe admin could sticky an "Other Toys" section for sleds cars jetskis etc.

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

UPDATE.
First contact with my dealer about my premature sterndrive corrosion was 2 weeks before my warranty expired in May.
They have succeeded in multiple delays saying we're working on it, have a meeting with FW's about it, waiting to hear back from FW's.etc, etc, etc. My last 3 emails went unanswered so I emailed for the last time, last night stating that I'm seeking legal council.
SURPRISE!!!... got a reply email in approximately 3 minutes and this was at 10:00 at night.
His reply..... sorry but your warranty is up!.
Soooooo... I sent a lengthy email to Bill Kruger at FW's today (he's on holidays until next Monday) and copied it to Volvo Penta's service manager (also on holidays until Monday) wanting to know what they plan to do about it.
THE WAR IS ON!!!!!!

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Update - Well it is one year later and to recap, Bought our H190 Volvo at the 2007 Boat show. It was in the lake from May of 2007 to September 2007. When I removed it and scrubbed it down realized the outdrive was badly corroded (the begining of this thread). Volvo replaced my entire drie under warranty and the dealer installed Magnesium anodeds on the new drive. I am happy to say that on inspectin this last weekend the new drive is in perfect shape, not a mark chip bubble or anything. It literally looks brand new. I hope all of you have the same good fortune in resolving your issues.

Dave

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

Same story here Dave, after the full season in the water (wet slipped), our replacement drive (with magnesium anodes ) looks brand new as well.

Planet, any updated info on your dealings with FW/Volvo?

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

Happy to say that Volvo Penta has stepped up to the plate to try to resolve the problem. They have just completed several in water tests which show that my drives are severely under protected. They plan to follow up with additional testing once the boat is out of the water for storage.
Will let you know what happens.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.