www.iFourWinns.com

Consider the source.....

A little tid bit on how one of the companies, Hydra-Sports who was bought by the parent company of Mastercraft Boats (Wayzata Investment Partners)will handle warranties.

The new owners are not legally responsible for money owed to vendors, dealers or customers by the previous owners.

Hopefully Platinum Equity will take a more agressive approach to warranties. Food for thought at least....
Some more of the article here

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

If bankruptcy stood for what is was intended, people like Irv would not just recycle themselves. You owe money then you should be liquidated and done. No bailout, no recycling as a new LLC but with old debts wiped out. Unfortunately the "legal" system is set-up so as not to discourage overly risky business decisions.

If you were one of the creditors you wouldn't be so quick to sweep that $$$$$$$$$$$ under the rug. My family has been on that end of the deal as family business. So if you think I "don't understand", puh-lease. And if you are a bankruptcy lawyer (who have very little education by the way) I hate you too.

GM, Chrysler, any the large banks that made bad business decisions should be saddled with those decisions. Don't mess with mother nature and let Darwinism take its course. If we did this, the corporate America you aspire too would be a true free market. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

If you think our corporations operate in a true free market you are the one who doesn't understand business and corporate structure. Congress passed tax laws and subisides long ago pal. And for the record, I work for a large corporation. That wonderful stock market that people jerk off too means short term decision making to the nth degree. You can swallow the results, not me.

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

I went through the OMC bankruptcy in 2000 and when Genmar purchased OMC, they did in fact honor warranty work. I think it would be suicide for Platinum and the dealers to deny warranty work on such a diversified Four Winns product as establishing loyalty in a brand is paramount to conditioning the consumer to move up in size and price. However, given the CEO of Platinum slept with his brother's wife, who knows what the hell he will do.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Is that public knowledge online somewhere?

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

You have some serious dedication to this if you read that entire article.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Hehehehhheeee..... umm, yeah, I'd say so .

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

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

Well I sure as all get out would be hesitant to buy another ex-Gemmar boat (or even Brunswick same thing could happend to them).... until this all is settled...having had 1 Jeep for 12 years and just buying another (07 Limited Hemi) and going through the Daimler Takeover merger of NOT equals years....then Cerebus...now Fiat and who knows what next...I think my next boat will NOT be from a mega-mis combination of overlapping and redundant makes...more so from one of the smaller makers still independent that focuses on ONE thing and does it well....Key West is a good example....anyway FW does not built what I want to buy next anyway...(Walk-around with Outboard power).....

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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

Actually it is a pretty good article that gives great insight as to who the new owner of Four Winns is. Tom Gores is a brilliant, self-made billionaire who will make the company profitable again and then sell it. Perhaps the fling with his brother's wife was due to the competitiveness of his Greek/Arab heritage?

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

My bets is placed that they only cover partial warranty work.

If I was in the market for a brand spankin' new boat, a Four Winns would be scratched from the list.

After reading that article this guy appears to be soley into it to make a buck and get out IMO. I have no issues with anyone trying to have a profitable business. From a boat buyers perspect however, I have serious doubts. If this guy flips Genmar or any of the brands in a few years it will be the same thing all over again.

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

Then we should never buy a Dodge, Chevy, even Porsche.... In the business world, a brand name plays a big part of money making and warranty issue come factor of build a reputation of the brand name.
The most of smart business man would build up a name then flip.... nothing wrong with it as long as a brand name stays strong and owners are satisfied with the product. Let`s hope Four Winns stays as strong "Name Brand" as last 15 years......

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

You folks with newer boats will soon find out how much they value recent customers and "brand image".

Boaters have good long-term memory.

I definately would not sign a contract or take delivery of a new FWs boat until after the acquisition takes place. Wow wouldn't that suck to get hosed on warranty work because of a week on the calendar.

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

I have to admit that this is a very short sided opinion.

Do you really think that a brand that has been around as long as it has, which has been through times like this before, and which stands out as a leader in it's class - is going to leave their customers high & dry?

Do you have any personal experience here? Because, I do. I've been getting warranty support on all issues since day one. Even getting warranty support right now on a couple things. I've had timely responses... and no push back on any of my claims.

Rather than being debbie-downer - how about realizing that a holding company like this has some great pockets. Sure, they are in it for profit -- what business that isn't a 501-3c isn't? If a business doesn't make a profit, how long do you think they'll bei n business?

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I too have had no issues dealing with FourWinn’s,through my dealer, on any warranty issues through out this period. I credit my dealer for keeping on top of it but as a consumer I haven’t noticed the slightest problem.

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“Growing Older, But Not Up”
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2008 Four Winns V248
2004 Stingray 220CS

Not this cat Gores because he is going to depend on you to move up to a 475 one day. And besides, doesn't the actual manufacturer of the part that breaks have the warranty as opposed to Four Winns? I would assume that when my Lewmar windlass broke under warranty, Four Winns had Lewmar pick up the tab to fix it. Granted, all these suppliers are owed about $1.4M but isn't Gores going to use them to supply his new boats with equipment, therefore, increasing their revenues? I wonder if Gores will do what Trump does every time he BK's and give the suppliers/creditors part ownership to get them back on board? This is actually going to be interesting to watch. I am just glad to be on the sideline this time as opposed to being in the game like I was back in 2000 when OMC went belly-up.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY