www.iFourWinns.com

Ryan,
I have owned four brand new boats. One was a Maxum and it was a disaster when delivered. Many issues that should have been dealer addressed weren't. Some issues were from the boat just sitting since I bought it as a leftover a year later.

The next two boats were Sea Rays one I watched being prepped by the dealership from unwrapping the shrink wrap to its first sea trial. Everything was delivered perfectly on that boat until the hole was discovered by us not even three days after delivery! That hole came from the factory not being careful while drilling pilot holes. Three hulls in production were done that way, the factory found two and I found the third!

The next boat which was the replacement for the one with the hole in it was also brand new but had electrical issues from day one. Somehow the microwave blew out, the generator ceased, the stereo fried two times and actually never worked properly since every time any 12V item was used it caused the stereo to snap, crackle and pop. Many of the items were addressed by the dealership but some were never taken care of and this is from an "Ambassador" dealership. Supposedly the best of the best. The dealer told me that if I couldn't handle the ups and downs of boating, that perhaps I wasn't cut out for the past time. I told him that if Sea Ray knew how to build boats, we wouldn't be having this conversation!

I had a Glastron with a soft floor and it was only 4-5 years old. My point here is that it is the dealership experience that goes a long way to make things work for the customer, but you certainly have to start off with a quality product and in Four Winns you definitely have that. My boat had a few minor things wrong from the factory and they were handled well up to and including FW sending technicians out to Virginia to replace my Teak and Holly floor in my salon. (the lines didn't line up properly) Other than that, I can say FW makes a darned good boat compared to Sea Ray, at least from my two experiences. I doubt I would buy one again.

As far as the guy complaining about never buying new b/c of quality issues...most times in life, you get what you pay for. Used boats often times are problematic and up until recently, they were on the market b/c they had problems and the owner was to lazy to find someone good to work on their boat so they traded it in for a new one!

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2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

Excerpts of a letter to dealers from Phil Keeter MRAA President regarding the Bankruptcy.



You can read the whole thing here

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

From the prior posting and the complete reading of the MRAA Committee formation ....... it seems that for this to actually work, and be cost effective for the participating dealers, practically ALL Genmar dealers will have to sign on.

Of course, in my mind, why would one not sign on (except for some sort of "inside" ties/gains)?

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

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

All,

Being in Michigan, I have been watching another "rather large" bankruptcy proceeding going on (cough GM). This smacks ALOT of that situation. There seems to be a FW dealer on every corner and the market gets saturated. The last thing you want to do is have a FW dealer going up against another FW dealer on the opposite corner. The more indecision (price haggling, etc) that you inject into a situation, the greater the chance that the prospect will look at other opportunities too (used, other manufacturers, etc).

I have an old FW 195 Horizon (1985) that I picked up last year for $1650, and after 23 yrs, there were still a significant number of original systems on the boat, and they worked. I good portion of the interior was original (I replaced it all), but it was still original.

I have a friend who bought a bayliner that was 5 rs newer and looked in better shape, but he has been out 3 times and towed back to the launch 3 times. He paid 3K for his and I have 3300 into mine including purchase. My boat runs well and I am happy with it, him...NOT SO MUCH.

What I am trying to say is that FW makes a great boat and I hope they continue to do it, regardless of who owns them. Sometimes being sold is a good thing as it "frees up" the "thinkers" within a company.

Just my .02

_________________
Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

Sounds kind of what Chrysler is going through as well with respect to the dealer issue...the problem that all of these companies are having is that not only is the economy bad but the availability of credit, which really affects boat sales, is also a problem right now and that is more of an issue currently than in past economic turndowns. Boat companies are even more affected because let's face it boats as much as we like them they are luxury items...but cars you need...the problem for Detroit is significant #s of people are (and have been for years) not buying what they sell. I still think there are too many boat companies in the business chasing fewer buyers...and this shake up will probably change that some....but better dealer/engine manufacturer service would go a long way to keeping customers...

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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

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Genmar got the extention.



http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/5000 ... tion-plans

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Genmar to sell assets




http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=2345977

For anyone that is interested, if it "doesn't mean anything to YOU", ignore it.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

So FW will be sold?

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

Sold? That is what I gather from the article. BUT, it also says that whomever buys it, has to have the funds to continue the boating business. Therefore, a liquidation is kinda out of the question (hopefully).

_________________
Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

Thank you for the update, Cap'n.

_________________


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

Hmmm .... not really suprised, after the initial filings.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

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

Do we know if they are selling *ALL* assets or just some of them?

From the beginning, they have been open about wanting to shed some of their assets/liabilities -- but I have yet to read that Genmar is dissolving and all assets will be sold.

I think we might be overreacting a bit unless I missed something?

Genmar could shed all the damaged assets and keep the profitable ones... It's what GM has been doing. Is Genmar any different?

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

All I know is I hope they stay afloat. My boat is already not worth crap on the used/trade in market....I dont need any additional negative press.

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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

It looks like Jacobs is going to bid on Genmar himself. Someone stated that Reggie Fountain has done this numerous times.

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/5005 ... on-to-sale

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