www.iFourWinns.com

Sounds like an opportunity for a mod .

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

cough..snubby...cough


Every boat has the little "quirks" and I'm sure you will find workable solutions to your problems. At least your boating and enjoying the time on the water!

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Did you take the gauges out and put the red LED's in there also Mike? This is a mod I might do, doesn't sound to difficult and would be useful in a cuddy.

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

Tony, IMO the swim platform should be as mandatory on all I/O boats as the seats. The relaxation we can have not worrying about kids slipping or jumping into the prop is well worth every damn inch. Not to mention I don't have to worry about falling and hitting it either. Combine that with the fact that I absolutely love clean carpet and being able to keep sopping wet bodies out of the cockpit makes me a happy man.

On the gas I don't know what to tell you. Been around boats for years and only a few brands don't have the gas on the side like FW. Some are in the rear which is even worse. Wait till a 14 year old marina boy drops the cap in the water while he falls off the back of the boat spilling gas everywhere.

The ski storage was a specific item I was warned about from the dealer. He told me right up he didn't like that set up. It's kinda a mixed emotion thing for me, on one hand I like the storage easy to access on the other hand putting it in the bow makes the locker twice the size it could be in other places. While the carpet is kinda a problem, I'm personally glad they didn't try to cut a outer and inner hole, I think it would fall apart a lot faster. My rationalization is on my boat when were skiing the ski's are out and when were not put them away. We are not in and out of there all the time so we just deal with it, but I agree if you were a big watersports person you would probably not buy a large deckboat.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Brent, this isn't a boat problem. This is a you have to many friends that need to buy their own damn boat problem.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

You could actually cut out an inner from the existing piece, any good carpet shop can nylon bind the carpets with fancy edging to match the OEM edges, add four snaps and you solved that issue.

I wouldn't like carpet on my platform, this was my solution:

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Brett DiMichele

I definately checked out the SL's online. I chose my 224 for a number of reasons.

1. The dealer had this one in stock set up the way I wanted it and they don't move really fast. Their other location still had 2 more in stock so I was able to be more aggresive in my negotiation instead of ordering the SL.

2. I managed to blow by the Admirals price recommendation by 7 grand, another few thousand would have me buying a cuddy so I had a place to sleep.

3. The SL was actually a heavier boat making it mandatory to buy a larger engine increasing the price even more. At 800 pounds heavier and 15 grand extra out of pocket I went with what we did.

They are beautiful boats though. Without a doubt.

The end discussion is before buying this I checked out 6 other major brands. As much as I wanted an excuse to just look around and use it in my negotiation I was stunned by the difference in looks, style, and quality in the same price range. FW did it for me. If I had another 20 grand to spend it might be a different story, but with the Admiral complaining we were buying a boat worth more than a SUV I bought fast and lived.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

I'm sure you could do it. I'm a big fan of taking the carpet out every few trips and washing it down. On my 180 there were a few narrow pieces that I really worried about ripping under the weight of the water. For those who really can't stand it, it would be a great and pretty cheap fix.

Oh and on the depth sounder your right. It works very well, just curious that a boat manufacturer wouldn't find a piece that matched their own gauges.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

By the way, if you happen to have any scantly clad females that can't fit on your boat, let me know. I have different capacities for men and certain women.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

I predict that in time (although it might be a year or even two down the road), you'll LOVE everything about that 224. The big overriding complaint about boats - almost ALL boats except the very highest-end makes - is that you have to spend the first year or two getting everything "right" on them. You learn that there's a fine line between "correcting" and "modifying." It shouldn't be that way, but believe me, you aren't alone. You're just a boat owner .

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

Yep and with forums like this, it's so nice to hear explanations and many great fixes for the things that bug us all. Then again if FW read the site half of them wouldn't exist, and probably at an additional cost of $15 a boat.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Just wait 'til you start on the trailer .

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

Actually you might have a good lawsuit on your hands mike. The straps on the rear of the boat are already the automatic releasing ones like you have on yours and attached correctly.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Amen, Mike. My admiral thinks I've basically reversed engineered my boat with all of the little things I've "corrected" not to mention repaired or improved. For example, I don't have a pic but this is something else that can go in the easy and cheap mod thread I started. with respect to the helm storage cushion in the bow, I hated that it seemed hard to get a hold of and open. Sooo, I got some white nylon strap (similar to that used in the U-shape seating for pulling out the recliners) and screwed it to the inside starboard. now its has a little loop hanging down that is between the bottom of the cushion that flips up and the bow seat for easy grabing and less stress on the vinyl. Something FW could have done for 10 cents.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

Dammit, Cincy, you just added something else to my list. STOPPIT.

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