www.iFourWinns.com

It's takes about 5 minutes walk the house to the barn but then a 30 minute song and dance to get the boat out due to there being so much cr@p being piled in there with it.
Thankfully though the launch is only 200' from the barn which makes it a cakewalk to load and launch. The lake is a bit silty and thus will make the bottom dirty in about a week but then I never have it in any longer than the weekend. 14 miles long so it's just about right for a 21'er.
I miss out on all the launch ramp antics (strangely I find such things quite entertaining) though I did come home this weekend to find some guys loading thier jet boat in my yard. Said he had an exhaust blow-off and had to bring it ashore fast as he was taking on alot of water. I never made an issue of it though I find it very strange nonetheless. I couldn't imagine being in the situation where I thought I would go ahead and drive across a strangers lawn and load my boat without first getting at least a wave or nod. After all he apparently had the resources to call ahead and have his truck and trailer waiting and there are reasonably quiet public launces not very far away . . . My drive way is like the bat-cave through the trees and about 1000' from the road to the yard; seems a bit wierd right? After all how would his rescuer know which driveway led to which yard?

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

I probably qualify as a launch ramp show being a new boat owner, though I have it down from many trips with friends with trailered boats; but the Admiral and First Mate do not. Feel free to jump in and give them a hand when you are done laughing!!!

Chubert...my Uncle had a place on Lake Winnipesaukee years ago (30? heck maybe more) and we would go around on a little boat he had.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

Oh, I'd jump in and help out right-away . . . but that wouldn't slow me down from laughing my a$$ off! After all, I expect it when I mess up.
Mine are not frequent but usually very much worth seeing when they happen

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

Being that ours is now slipped, we have 1 hour from home to being at the dock. Usually bring a bag of clothes for the weekend and clean towels. Some food to grill and whatever is needed to restock the liquids. Load the cart, unload on boat. Take canvas down. Give it a quick wash down and unhook and go. On return for the weekend we pump out in our slip, fill fresh water tanks, put canvas up and unload and go home.

That's all the easy stuff. The detailing, waxing, minor maintenance and constant cleaning is where my real time and effort is spent boating.

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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

Used to slip, now we trailer. Boat is 2 minutes from house, then a 55 minute run to the ramp and Lake Michigan. Or a 2 1/2 hour run up to Elk Rapids and Torch Lake. Both have their pluses...I like not worrying about my slipped boat when a storm comes through and I like being able to head new places. With our kids being so small now, we really have no clue what boating will be like in our future.

Boat is kept at the house. 13 mile ride, about 20min to the boat launch and then on the water soon after. The most effort is put into cleaning and maintenance. But we boat at least every week end and sometimes during the week.

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

Our 2005, 268 Vista is kept on a lift, right behind our house. After 30 minutes of idle speed to get to our lagoon we can go WOT to our lock. Once through the lock Boca Grande pass is 30 - 45 minutes away, depending on how hard we run. Once we decide it's time to cruise, it takes about a half hour to load, remove camper canvas, check everything out and be on our way.


9BALL

THAT is a sweet set up . . .. Nicely done.

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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

For my money, 9Ball wins.

What are the traffic lights for?

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

Red, Right, Return. When we turn into our canal at night the lights reflect off of the water. Can't miss it.

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2005 V268

Yep 9Ball's does it for me!!! His boat setup's pretty good as well.

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Regards
Beyond the Blue

"If we improve with age I'm now excellent"


Ex 1998 238 Vista 5.0Gi SX DP
Lexus RX300

The boat is kept on a lift behind the house. It'll take us ca 30 minutes of going very slowly through the canals of Cape Coral before getting to the river. Another 30 - 45 minutes takes us to the Gulf of Mexico...

We boat in salt water, so once back home, I usually spend an hour / 90 minutes on cleaning the boat and flushing the engine...

It is all worth it for me

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Richard - FL - 2005 Vista 248

Harbor- right next to the dam.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Trailer Boater here...
About 30 min from hook-up to the boat ramp at the lake; a little less if I go to the river.

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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.

9Ball - after seeing your set-up and boat I started not to even post anything.

When the time is right we are moving from the "corn desert" to something on the water and somewhere warmer. I spent 20 years in the Navy sailing the seas and when I threw in the towel I didn't care if I ever saw water again. After several years I'm feeling the draw back to my roots. Lived in Florida many times. All I want is a big body of water lake/ocean with a bigger boat in the back yard near the pool. Sounds doable!

For now we are busy raising 7 & 8 year old boys that love to tube. Once that buzz is over we move on to the bigger boat.

Anyway........we store the boat in a pole barn at the house next to the other toys, close to the pool. We drive 5 miles to a lake that is not very big but has plenty of room to pull the kids around, ski or whatever. Mostly fisherman I would say. Two bigger lakes within 45 minutes.

Someday I'm going to have an auction here at the house and everyone is invited! Then you will know I'm on the move...........! Stay tuned!