www.iFourWinns.com

This may just be me venting.. In the last three weeks we have had the transom replaced, engine realigned, exhaust replaced, and new lower unit intalled. new trailer hubs, along with new bearings. Right now the cost repairs are about $3200. (1800 for transom, 1400 for rest). What started out as just a shifting problem has turned into all this. The good news is that hopefully this means the boat is good for another 20 years now. When the boat was bought in February, spent $4300. Now we are up to $7500 total which isnt too bad, considering we now have all this replaced and the motor runs great.

This leads me to ask if anyone has any other stories of one thing going wrong, then leading to more and more issues discovered? Maybe some input may help my stress levels.

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1990 Horizon 200
5.7L OMC Cobra 260HP

Very common, imagine how much it would cost if you tried to make one car or truck last 20 years, I have more than that in my 88 Horizon....and it's got the original engine still, original drive, but a new interior, repaired stringers and new deck.
If I ever buy another boat, it will be a 3-5 year old one, not older, when you get beyond 10-15 years you get into the really expensive problems (decks, stringers, transoms etc) then there's the drivetrain still to be concerned about..

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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 thought that was the definition of boat ownership?

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

Yup... but I'm still in the middle of mine. After spending about $1000, Merc and my dealer are still scratching thier head. And the "extended-warranty" I bought isn't worth the pamphlet it came on. Since I'm an old gear-head, I decided I would work on it myself in the spring, and if I feel like it, I'll tell them how I took care of it. The "changing random parts" approach just wasn't getting it done!

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

I must have missed something walt, whats the probelm(s) your having?

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

I'm lucky in that I have two good mechanics that I can ask for advice on do it yourself repairs, what I do is buy my parts from them, and also I give them small jobs when I need em done and they are good with advice. I keep up the relationship and then when I need something they usually come through, like when my Q-jet leaked last spring and my mechanic rebuilt it for 160, very fair price...
If I was not as mechanically inclined as I am it would not make sense to run an older boat...I don't mind doing the work for the most part but as you get older fitting yourself into tight spots is not as much fun!

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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'm getting some "popping" at high RPM (>4500). Originally sounded like somthing loose in the engine comp, so I didn't think much about it. My dealer did two test drives at about $300 ea and wasn't able to pinpoint the problem. They changed the anti-syphon valve. Merc said my fuel press was too low. I replaced one fuel pumps and regulator to boost press to no avail (but raised pressure from 38# to 50#). Now they say my timing needs "tweeked" like it's octane pinging. I ran a full tank of 91, plus a can of octane boost... no change at all. I'm thinking either bad injector or intake gasket. So in the spring I'm gonna do things the old fashioned way by pulling the plugs (inspecting them) and run a compression check on each cylinder.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Ouch! I didn't realize I had it so good with my mechanic. I've never received a bill for diagnostic work.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

With the 6.2 it could be a number of things, But my first guess would be bad spark plugs.

Definitely do the compression check.

Also recheck the fuel pressure, But this time look to see if the pressure is bouncing around a lot, If it is then you may have an internal problem within the engine.

Good luck with it.

Before I swapped press regulators, I was running 35-38 psi. Merc said that was too low (spec- 41). After swapping the HP fuel pump and regulators got it to 50 psi idle, up to 55 at WOT (not wavering, or jumping)
In the spring I plan on checking the plugs/wires first, and doing compression check as I go. My intuition says intake gasket. My wallet is expecting it to be a head gasket or fried inlet valve.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

50 to 55 psi is to high, Sometimes it's caused by a restriction in the fuel return line system, But keep in mind it could be a bad fuel pressure gauge as well.


Unfortunately with your intuitions/wallet ideas, That is exactly why I mentioned it could be a number of things from your descriptions above.

I hope you can get it runnin good once again, Good luck with it.