www.iFourWinns.com

So we're on the harbour, with the kids and their friends playing in the water at Clifton Gardens. They leave the ladder down unbeknownst ( is that really a word!) to us ashore and the falling tide and waves from the harbour bend it back further then its meant to go. I was able to break off the bottom piece and now have a 2 piece ladder.

I contacted the local dealer in Sydney and got what I expected from past experience, that being poor service, promises to call back with a price etc, and no real help. I am so glad they werent the dealer when i bought my boat or I probably wouldnt have. (Mine came from 7Seas at The Spit, where the service was 10/10 and salesman - an American called Jed Elderkin - was more helpful than you could imagine.)

I called another dealer, who was significantly more helpful, although this brings me to the question that goes with this rant. He has a stainless telescopic ladder which he says they put on the new boats these days, instead of the folding powdercoated alloy one. Does anyone have any experience with these? Does this sound right ? I get the picture that theyre like the ones you see on Bayliners usually. And the price seemed a little low, at A$236 approx... A google search for ladder 031-1505 leads to this site and a price of US$261.78


sorry about the long post. i think it makes sense !

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Unless something has changed very recently (and unbeknownst to me - yeah I see what you mean), the stainless telescoping ones are only used on the bow of the Horizons. The rears are still the coated ones (actually vinyl coated I think) welded up from flat stock.

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

Scott, heres my makeshift job , the lower pivot on the mid section just wore through the alloy and the ladder came off in my hand when i was unfolding it. I am looking for a new one as the rest of the plastic coating is falling off with the corroding alloy, i saw on this forum somewhere a guy was willing to ship parts from the US, maybe a deal for 2, it would be good to keep the boats factory, i also need a full stainless horn to fit in the original position.

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2005 Four Winns Sundowner (Sold)
350 MAG B1

It sounds like your dealer is trying to sell you a "bill of goods"...meaning a bunch of BS. My boat is a 2008 and they are "still" using the folding ladder. I was told by my salesperson that Four Winns was one, if not the only boat mfr out there that uses this type of deep reach ladder. It is CERTAINLY an advantage over the chrome telescoping units. I too have only seen the chrome ones on the bow of a Four Winns boat of recent vintage.

Anyway...good luck with your repair.

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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

Scott,

I just checked the ladder on my '04 245. I can't find anly slop in it. Thinking back though, after the first season the ladder was getting a bit squeaky when it was folded/ unfolded, so I stripped it down and greased all the bolts, bores and washers with petroleum jelly. Maybe that helped. I also did the same on the previous one, after the PVC coating started to lift off and corrosion set in. Before painting it, I had to make some plastic bushes for some of the holes on that one, as there was wear/ corrosion in the holes.

With your ladder, couldn't you just chop the ends off the centre section and redrill the holes? Admittedly, the ladder would be shorter than standard until you get a new one, but not as short as it is now.

Graham

should be a pretty standard part for Four Winns. You may just be able to order the peices you need rather than the whole ladder.

Try Winnisquam Marine. ifourwinns@winnisquammarine.com or look them up online and ask for Ryan.

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

its all sorted

the dealer in Raymond Terrace (150km away) rang me to confirm what i just read. He was talking about a bowrider ladder by mistake. He does have the correct one and its with the courier as we speak, all for under A$300 shipped to my door.

For those in need of parts, he (Dave was his name) siad he thought he had more FW parts lying around then most dealers in Aust, and was infinitely more helpful than the south african family who run Sydney Power Boat Centre. He was also going to include a list of FW bits and pieces he has lying around. I'll try and scan it and post a link to it here..

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well, service must have different definitions to some. My nice new ladder arrived 2 days after my phone call to the FW dealer in Raymond Terrace. I am - out of interest - still pursuing the one from Sydney Powerboat Centre, just to see how long they take !

Scott A. I have a spare ladder now. The middle section may need shortening an inch or two and new holes drilled, but i think it might be ok otherwise. The top secton is fine, and the lower piece just a little bent on one side - well maybe a little more bent then that !!
I was only going to take the stainless bolts off and toss the rest, so its all yours if you can use it, or you can ring Dave at http://www.terraceboating.com.au and for A$250 plus about $27 courier, get a new one

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Scott,
what type of ladder did you get, is it fourwinns or aftermarket, sounds like a good deal I was quoted about A$650, anyway probally should give Dave a call

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2005 Four Winns Sundowner (Sold)
350 MAG B1

its the genuine, A1 certified FW ladder. And i wont ask where your quote was from, because it couldnt have been the mona vale guys, they wouldnt have given you a quote unless you visited in person and held a gun to their heads.

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