www.iFourWinns.com

I realize I left the FW family (and based upon my first indepth encounter with a SR owner, you all are the best board friends one can ask for - more on that in a minute) but since I'm one of the original members and long time posters here I thought I'd share just one pic of my new pride and joy. I hope you all approve. Here's the '07 290 Sundancer in her slip from this past weekend. So many things to get done that taking pics were an after thought.



I've since removed the name and hailing port and will be adding mine this week. Hopefully, this weekend I can get a top to bottom wax done. Then I'll do the 100 hour maintenance as it is at 90 hours. Used the generator to run the heat on the hook sunday and that was fantastic. Opened it up and it was running 45mph with 3/4 tank of fuel, full water, 3 kids and 2 adults. Not bad!

Ok, so, I decided to not further vent re my bad experience. All is well and I love the new boat. It will take some effort to make it mine and put it in the shape I expect but it will get there very soon.

_________________
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

Glad you finally got your boat, and hopefully the seller leaves you alone. That was a cheap shot from him. But, now that it is all said and done, you have your new boat, and it will be nothing but good times ahead for you.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I frequent the CSR board - but don't post very often. There have been times when I asked about particular boats - and have always found many of those members to be good people.

There's always someone who's going to feel jilted when they drop their price so low "just to get out of the boat".

That being said - his blunder cracks me up. If that's not karma, I don't know what is.



As for your boat Cincy --- SWEET! Both the new 270 and the 290 were on my short list. I looked at a 310 and the pricetag to go with it and was shocked. My wife looked at the boats and said "I like it, but I like FW better." Had we not had a great relationship with the Winnisquam folks... we may very well have gone Sea Ray for the local dealer support.

Post up more pics! The 290 is a great boat. I don't know why it doesn't get much street credit on CSR. Everyone over there seems to have the giggles for the 280's. Personally, I don't like the 280. At all. Although, I am sure it's a great boat.

Stay around! Post your projects, your pictures, and your experiences! That's what this board is all about. The FW brand is just what brings most people here for the first time. The members keep them here time and time again.

_________________

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

Congrats Cincy! Looks great. Love that layout.

Although you turned to the dark side you have always added lots of value to our forum here so please do stick around.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Thanks guys. I've always enjoyed this forum and there are some seriously creative, knowledgable and helpful people here. Not unlike the CSR board too.

The boat has been great, and I agree Courgar, not sure why there is the love fest for the 280. I think the 290 is absolutely beautiful.

I'll definitely stick around because most of my posts will transend makes and models anyway.

_________________
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

Good looking boat buddy, I hope she serves your family well.

Dont be a stranger....you can still hang out over here. I look forward to some more pics of her enjoying the summer!

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Congrats. The boat looks great. I agree with the rest. Stick around who cares what brand of boat it is, its the driver that matters.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Eh. You can stay, but you have to bring the beer from now on.

Nice boat

_________________


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

Cincy...sweet new ride. I read your thread in CSR and all I can say is he is a typical pompous SR owner . But now that you are past that...look luck with her and have a great summer.

Cincy - let me add my congrats to the list. If it's the right boat for you then it's the perfect boat. And that's all that matters.
I don't care if you're on a 163' Christensen or a 12' tin can with a smokey two-stroke - how lucky are we to just get out on the water and follow our bliss?!

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

hey Cincy,

So, I have to ask... Why a 290 over a Vista 288 or 318?

The designs are totally different. We found the SR to be more 'basic' and modern. The FW was more 'warm and inviting' as my wife put it.

What won you over?

_________________

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

Congrats again Cincy, we can't wait to see her in person!

That top speed number is VERY impressive.

I'm also curious why that over a FW....we have been on a 280, but not a 290 yet.

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

On the choice of the 290 over the 318 and 288, here's my thinking.

Love the 318 as I did also love the SR 310 (those slanted cabin windows are cool) but the bottom line is that its bigger than I wanted to go. Its 2 feet longer, 1 foot wider and weighs 3k lbs more. I would never be able to trailer it and I still think I can score a trailer and use my friends F350 dually to haul the 290 a couple times a year fairly painlessly. Also, I think to find one optioned up like mine, it would have been out of my price range.

I got my '07 for $75k and it came with twin 5.0's, genset, windlass, camper package, custom, winter storage cover, AC/heat, high end Garmin unit, Smartcraft system, TV, dual fridges, AND A FULL SHIP WARRANTY UNTIL Sept 2013. When you're buying used its hard to be too picky but this one had everything I was looking for except that I wanted black canvas instead of blue.

But what really hooked me, was I loved the lines and layout. The cockpit is very roomy and that proved to be just what I wanted this weekend when we had lots of people on board checking her out. Even with a 9.5 beam people had plenty or room to move around. I liked the side entry cabin door.

I didn't shop the 288. I just didn't fall in love with its lines and it, on the otherhand, is shorter than I wanted. I wanted the integrated swim platform and I think the 290 has a great style back there. The 288 just didn't blow my hair back.

Also, I just wanted to change it up a little. I've had 2 FW in a row, my dealer went under and my local SR dealer gets rave reviews from friends. They have been great to me so far.

All things considered I really do believe I ended up with the perfect boat so I'm thrilled!

The SR 280 never entered the equation. I think the design is dated and didn't care for the layout.

_________________
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

We too were just looking at the 280 & 290. The newer FW just doesn't have the layout we are looking for. The older FW do, we may end up with an older FW.

_________________
2006 300 Sundancer
2007 Trailblazer LT V8
2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G (For Sale)
Previous Boats:
2006 255 Sundowner 5.7GXI-G
2000 CrownLine 202BR
1994 Baja 180 Islander
1980 Galaxy 18' BR

CSR= ClubSeaRay. http://www.clubsearay.com Just like here, but for Sea Ray owners. I don't post there much since I sold my Sea Ray, but a LOT of great guys and GREAT info. Cincy just happened upon a not so great member.

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