www.iFourWinns.com

1 - Grew up on Four Winns, growing up we had a 87 190 Horizon w/5.0 V8 Mercruzer, 1988 205 Sundowner 4.3 OMC, 2000 225 Sundowner 5.7 VP Duo-prop.
2 - I loved the 88 Sundowner, the lines of the boat, the colors and how well it looked and preformed for its time period
3 - Value / Build Quality. It goes back to the family ownership thing, we have always had good experience and service and minimal issues with the boats.

+ I stole mine....

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Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

1. Old boat was a FW and had tremendous reliability with it.
2. Looked and many different brands, but the FW had all the options we wanted standard. Was considering a Crownline with LPX package, but the FW has larger swim deck and priced way better.
3.Love the look!
4.fit/finish
5. quality is A1!!

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Design and style
Quality of workmanship and Value for the Dollar
Wife loves FW

After owning my FW :
Qualityof Service and Reputation of my dealer

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

Cougar: You started this thread but neglected to list your top five....

1. Value = price and quality
2. Realistic expectations in todays economic climate by both Four Winns and the dealer (they were both very flexible on the deal compared to others)
3. Reputation of a major manufacturer (warranty coverage as well as resell)
4. Practicality (a lot of other boats I looked at before pulling the trigger on the 260 were very "pretty" but not practical or they were top-end-pricey but not up to date in design and layout).
5. Few necessary upgrades needed. vs. other brands

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Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA

Cougar – great thread, particularly because I occasionally see Four Winns described as an inferior brand on other sites. I would surmise those comments come most frequently from people without any firsthand knowledge of the brand. I’ve never understood the need to bash any brand when there isn’t personal experience involved. We have a lot of experienced boaters here with multi-brand experience who would not be shy about detailing any problems with Four Winns, even here. I find the number of satisfied customers to be impressive. For me, I…

- Preferred the layout of the V358 to the competitors in this class and the helm ergonomics beat them all.

- Was very impressed with the fit/finish of the boat in general, materials used, and quality of construction in and out.

- Loved the cabin design and use of materials – a real classic yacht feel uncommon in this class.

- Couldn’t ignore the bang for the buck – the number of standard features that are options on most other brands was
impressive. Overall quality to value ratio very high.

- Have had and continue to enjoy a terrific dealer experience, despite the fact that they are two hours away.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

I wanted to wait before I listed my reasons until there were a couple responses. I didn't want this to be a "lame CougarCruiser is a post-whore thread".

Although, I am a post-whore.

I think many of you already know my reasonings behind FW.

1) Winnisquam Marine. When I had a crappy experience with my now defunct local Four Winns dealer - I was VERY ready to go 100% Sea Ray. Ryan @ Winnisquam provided me the service and dealer experience that signed me up as a Four Winns lover for life. People talk about how having dealer support is a very critical component to the boat ownership experience. I fully agree. Fortunately, I have the crew at Winnisquam that will do just about anything for me - and that says alot from 3000 miles away. With the new FW dealer in Seattle, I hope to build a great relationship with them as well.

2) Quality -- I absolutely do not understand why anybody things Four Winns is inferior to any brand out there. They are either nuts or they've never owned a Four Winns. The factory is well known for customer service, and although they don't put 27 hand laid layers of fiberglass in their hulls like Cobalt - they are VERY well built boats. Personally, there is such thing as overkill - and there are brands that exemplify that. On another note - Sea Ray versus FW is like Ford vs Chevy. I think people drink the koolaid early on and develop ignorant perceptions of quality/performance. It purely becomes personal preference.

3) The WAF - wife approval factor. Sushi was the only person to mention this. Almost all the boats we looked at had the same amenities (regardless of standard or optional). Taking price out of the equation - I narrowed it down to 5 brands/models and showed her all of them. Of the 5 - Four Winns was "the boat" for us. Now that the wife is a veteran boat owner rather than virgin - and thanks to the guys at Winnisquam - the wife has a remarkable level of trust in the Four Winns product. When we decided to go bigger, we looked at Sea Rays. She never looked at a 318 in person, but knew right away that she would like the FW more than the Sea Ray.


The value and bang for your buck is a huge part of the FW list. More standard amenities, more realistic pricing, available customizations - especially around power options. And for the Horizon owners - even including the trailer for free. All that is icing on the cake for us.

Now - when we go bigger - we'll look at other brands again. But, so far - not much compares with that 408. That's on the short list!

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

I believe it is against iFourWinns.com forum rules & regulations to make a statement like this so soon after taking delivery of a brand new boat. Moderator? Moderator?

(hijack, sorry)

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

1. Quality....Seriously considered Chaparral, Four Winns, Monterey, and Sea Ray, in that order.
2. Value...Cal Boats in Vegas was going out of business and I got a great deal.
3. WAF - Wife approval factor. This was a biggie at my house. Not to be a follower here, but without a smile and a approving nod, family boating would not be as enjoyable.

1. I saw a red SS at the boat show, and decided It was time to shop around and buy a rediculously loud, obnoxious boat.
2. Compared to most brands (as others have indicated), FW had more for the money, but Ebbtide was very close.
3. PF.... I'll call it "Getting Laid" factor. I showed some friends wife's pics of the 3 boats under consideration and said "which one is more likely to get me laid?". They said unanimously "the Black one" "... because the tower makes me look more athletic!" I immediately called the dealer.

I came from a 18' Maxum of 5 years, and a 23' sailboat before that. I knew exactly what I wanted and needed. Many of the other brands simply didn't get into the mix, mostly due to lack of HP, and/or no bow ladder (I was firm on both!). I spent 2 years shopping, and am very pleased with my decision..... other than the boat itself still hasn't gotten me la!d

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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.

Actually I was sold on Chap's... until I had the opportunity to compare brands at the Toronto Boat Show.
What sold me on the Four Winns line and in this order was:
1 - fit and finish
2 - floor plan
3 - styling
4 - price
Never has a day gone by that I've regretted that decision.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

We looked at several lines of boats some we liked more than others. We chose Four Winns for several reasons:
1)The dealer, we bought from them in the past, they treated us right and we were comfortable with them.

2)The helm area and aft deck layout.

3)Looks form and fit. It just looked and felt like a quality product.

4)Price and available options, the V258 was too expensive for what we could get on comparable V248. If we were looking to buy this year we may have chosen a different brand because we couldn’t pass up the V248’s price.

5) As strange as this sounds, the biggest factor in the Four Winns was the head room in the head. It was the only boat in its class I could stand in and not bend over. Every other manufacturer I could not stand in it.

I went with Four Winns because:

1) Service from dealer - I had used Lake Norman Marina in Denver NC for 13 years when I had another brand so I wanted a boat they sold.
2) Options available - I wanted a wakeboard tower, speakers, attached bimini top, nice stereo, all included at a decent price.
3) Smooth ride in rough water - We are on the largest lake in NC and it gets rough when the wind is up or on a busy Saturaday afternoon. I couldn't afford anything larger than 24 feet, so it had to be good for comfortable cruising.
4) - The fact that the 240 looks cool is a bonus!

Being a former S2 Yachts employee (spelled TIARA today) I have formed a very narrow bandwidth where quality is concerned. Having spent many a year at the big "T" as a motor/electronics/plumbing installer, with access to the boats from the time the glass holding the stringers to the hull cured through the point where the clean-up crew was pushing me out so they could prep them for delivery, gave me a very deep appreciation for what goes into a teak encrusted jewel.

Then a new marina was built in town (an S2/Tiara, Viking dealer) and they made me an offer I couldn't refuse so off I went to head up the service/commissioning department. That gave me access to many other brands of boats besides Tiara. I've worked on Sea Rays, Bertrams, Hattaras', Swans, Grand Banks, Chris', Marinettes, Browards, Bergers, Trojans, Vikings (love 'em), Bayliners (back then we called them Gayliners but today that's not PC and we all know PC's are Formulas), Wellcrafts, Columbias, Checkmates, Choy Lees, Marine Traders, Formulas (love them too), Blue Waters, Catalinas, Island Packats, Hunters, Farrs, Beneteaus, Carvers, Careys, Powerplays (later became Powerquest), Albermarles, Maxims, Magnums, Yamahas, CougarCats (yes, there was a brand called that, mostly racing hulls), you get the point and yes, I included blow boats in that list. And I drove them all as well. Does that make me an expert? By no means! But it does give me some perspective.

OKAY, I'LL FINALLY GET TO THE REASONS!! I was lucky enough not to need the WAF on my first two powerboats, an F25 Formula and our '95 V278. She trusted me enough to get a good sound boat that would serve the purpose. I immediately recognized that Four Winns had the right attention to detail, fit and finish, structural integrity and met the quality/value equation. We moved from the V278 to our current V298 based on that and the fact that we really loved the layout of the 278 and our 298 is the same but on steroids (WAF in play here).

I have only seen one Sea Ray I might ever want to own and that is the '99 or 2000 390 a buddy of mine just bought. He got a helluvadeal on it and it is thee exception to the rule that SR is selling a brand that has no substance. His is a gem, although it only has 65 freshwater hours on it and he is having the hull sandblasted, patched, barriered and painted because of a MAJOR blister problem (Cougar Cat, here is only one of many boats I've seen that back up justification for barrier coat on ALL boats that are slipped (another thread)). You don't get quality with SR until you get into their bigger boats and then, that's a stretch. No glass or backers in the hull-to-deck joint, loose bulkheads, cabinet doors don't align, spongy decks, engines not aligned properly causing undo vibrations (inboards), crappy layouts, etc. Bottom line, you couldn't give me one.

I would love a Formula PC in the bigger sizes but their layouts are lame and they are pretty proud on price. The older Monterey 320 is pretty nice but not much dealer support around here. Maxim = ugly. Rinker = cheap. Bayliner = Rinker.

My next boat will more than likely be another Four Winns! Sorry for the digression here but the 3rd Eliot Ness from the Great Lakes Brewing Co. is starting to have an effect. IT'S 45 DEGREES AND THE SNOW IS MELTING....TIME FOR A BEER-GARITA!!!

I forgot to mention that my first choice would be a Tiara IF i was Bernie Madoff, but then I could never use it because I would be confined to my 35000 sf condo in Manhattan! The fact that I raced sailboats my whole life also gives me credentials in that I rate up there in being a picky SOB! Any body remember Phil Hartman's 'The Anal Retentive Chef'?!?!

we wanted a 24'+ cruiser to replace the 21' North River fishing boat.
1-it wasn't a bayliner
2-the price was right
3-I thought I had heard that Fourwinns was a good boat
4-the price was right
5-the survey came back fantastic
6-did I say the price was right

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser