www.iFourWinns.com

As you probably all know I have the 2008 H220SS and I am totally terrified of her honestly. She is way too fast and I love the looks but it's my first boat and she usually stays at the dry storage since I haven't even taken a boating course. She runs great and I love to do things to her like add new graphics and a new cool radio but I honestly really rather just do stuff to her as a hobby than take her out! I have only been on her a couple of times but every single time she is just too fast and I don't even open throttle her! She seems too big for a first boat and I wish I had a little boston whaler at this point maybe I would take her out more! My friends say I am crazy and to just take a boating course but I think my boat really shouldn't be my first boat. I just wanted all my friends on here to tell me I didn't do wrong with buying her, especially since I have to pay a Certified Captain to take me out to Key Largo for the day and it's like a bill to figure out the waters in the Key Largo area!!! Should a first time boater ever get into a 2008 H220SS is what I am wanting to know if you are all so gracious as you always are to help ease my worries? Or should I sell her and get something smaller to start with a move up??? Thanks to all my friends on this great forum for helping me out.

As a first boat, there is nothing wrong with it. Right now, you simply lack confidence in your abilities. This is something you will only get with some training and more experience. Don't worry about it being too fast as YOU have control over the speed 100 percent of the time.

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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

You will grow into it - have patience:) Like aguyindallas suggested - you'll get used to it and gain confidence in a short period of time.

My first boat was a 170 Freedom and when I went up to a 220 Horizon I was a little nervous at first, but I got over it quickly. You will too!

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USCG 50 Ton Master Inland/OUPV Endorsement+Towing

1998 278 Vista - Twin 4.3 GLs, Kohler 4KW Gen, AC/Heat.
1999 Yamaha Waverunner SUV
2003 Yamaha Waverunner SUV w/MR-1 HO conversion

Not not to big - this is my first boat (35' LOA). I decided I didn't want to go through 3 boats to get up to this size. I've always driven 18' bow riders so this was a big change from 3500 up to 12,300 lbs! Of course it's different at first, just find some water that's not congested and start off slow and easy. For me it was the docking, so we found some completely open docks and had an experienced friend to direct me. I don't know how speed can be an issue as aguyindallas said - that's up to you, no need to push the throttle all the way forward! A boating course (I just finished a CPS course) will increase your confidence in navigating and knowing what is expected of you when you approach another boat. A classroom boating course will not teach you how to drive your boat. You could also hire an experienced boater to take you out on the water in your boat.
Ultimately, after taking steps to increase your comfort level - and your still not comfortable - perhaps you should downsize. A boat is no fun if it never gets used and a nervous boater (more than normal new owner nerves) could be dangerous to their passengers and other boaters.

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

As you can see from my signature block on this post, we moved up gradually! But, it was VERY expensive, so I wish I would have just gone with the 378 Vista out of the gates! You will find that as soon as your become comfortable and you begin to use it all the time, you wish you had a bigger boat, 99% of boaters do...it is called 'threefootitis' don't get this disease, use your boat until you are sure of exactly what you want, then get the biggest boat you can afford....BUT....only after you are sure that you are going to use your boat ALL the time and it becomes a lifestyle, because, bigger boat = more fun, longer trips, and MORE $$. Relax, take your time, and enjoy your boat on the water.

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2008 378 Vista
"Not 2 SHABI"
IPS 500 Volvo-Penta D6

Previously
'06 318 Vista
'97 258 Vista
'98 195 Sundowner
'87 180 Horizon

The SL242 is my first boat, and I already have threefootitis!

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2011 SL242 5.7 VP GXi - 320 HP Dual Prop

Bob is right...take a look at the list of boats in my signature line too. I got our first boat in 2007!. I have lost a little and made a little...its pretty much been a wash for us in the end. Get out there WITHOUT any friends, WITHOUT any booze and WITH an experienced boater/captain to spend a day with you on the water. It will help you tremendously.

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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

I do not think 220 is too big at all…. If any it is a great size to start since it rides more stable and comfortable than smaller boat… Do you have any boating friend around you so they can ride with you in water to get more “Seat time” in…. I think they all come in quick if you start go on the water more… and you will grow into it

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

I don't think it is too big or too much power at all. In fact--there are many things about my H230 that I think are easier than my 19 footer because it is a smoother ride and more stable. Practice makes perfect. I would use it every chance I got and by the end of the season--you will either have more comfort--or figure out that you might need to find a new hobby because you are not enjoying the experience. I love my H230--but, of course, I wish it was an H260 with an 8.1. Good luck--you certainly have a beautiful boat. I hope you will enjoy it!

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

My first real boat was the H240, and I have to admit, it took me a month or so of summer use to feel comfortable pulling into a slip at the marina stress-free. My anxiety and mistakes always rose appreciably when I had an audience (like poeople sitting at tables on the dock having drinks etc with nothing to do but watch you come in). I eventually realized it was all in my head, not the boat and I did get the hang of it. As someone has already said above, its confience you lack more than anything, and the solution to that is to RIDE it! Have fun, relax and enjoy it, the rest will come with time.

Keith

Great comments above!

Find a local Power Squadron to take a boating course from and hire a skipper or someone experienced to take you out and show you the local ropes. Take it slow and easy and you should be good to go - seems to me that most boating incidents happen because people try to do things too fast on the water....

Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship is a great reference book and some more time at the helm will get you where you want to be!

Erik

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Thank you for recognizing you're in over your head. Give it time and patience and you will find it's the right boat for you. You are safer to all of us on the water and your self too now that you recognize you need to learn.

Couple of things.

It will be worth the vacation day for you to find a slow/mid week day that you can spend by yourself or with 1 trusted person who will be your #2 on the water on a regular basis. Take the day slow and begin with the basics of just cruising around no wake speed, going up onto plane and then back down. Learn to listen and feel your boat (you'll understand once you "get it"). I can be a passenger in my own boat and tell the driver to add more trim, throttle, etc. just by the sound and feel. So will you! Do some large figure 8s, some tighter ones, and just enjoy the learning process. You don't have to go fast.

Stay off the beers. It goes without saying, but we all get tempted. I wait to catch up once the boat is put away. I drink A LOT of Fresca or water when on the boat. You can still have a good time sober.

Take a class - Power Squadron was great!
Get a book - Spend the $$$ and get the Chapmans guide to boating. Way to much info, but glance through and read what interests you first. You'll end up reading cover to cover some other time. (February)

Keep the crowd OFF the boat until YOU are ready. In the end, you are the one responsible for the safety of your passengers. A bunch of rowdy friends can feed an ego quickly. Keep it small / quiet until your skills are up.

HAVE FUN. If you think your tinkering on the hard is fun, wait till you are out in the sun and enjoying your boat. MUCH better than prozac!

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

I'd stick with that size boat, if you sold it and went smaller then you'd be regretting it in less than a year, if you got out a lot and got experience with the smaller one. First, take a boater safety course. Then either hire a pro to help you out, or ask a friend who is experienced. I had the same reaction, my '88 20' H-200 is my first boat, 10 years ago it seemed huge to me, but after the first season I took it out, myself on calm days over and over till I got the hang of it. Going fast is not the issue, it's knowing how much speed you can use for the wave and wind conditions. Also slow speed manuvering is much more challenging for a new boater. Docking, getting it on the trailer, etc, is a learning curve.
I learned to dock this way: my boat is moored, and the only way to gas up is to go to the gas dock. The first season when I got down to a 1/4 tank, I said well either I learn now or put it on the trailer and drive to the gas station (how silly) so I drove over to the gas dock on a nice calm day and a young lady in a halter top and shorts comes out and says 'sir can I help your with your lines' LOL, I had to get it nice n close to not look like a fool. As luck would have it, I got it close to perfect the first time. But no wind little current.

Go out by yourself, calm day, avoid holiday weekends, and practice, practice, practice. How many practice hours did it take to make you a good car driver? That's about what it takes, and a lot of stuff you learned for driving a car is wrong for boats. They steer from the back and are always sliding around due to wind and current. Kind of like driving a rear engined VW in the snow....

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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

Your boating in salt water not a lake, much different. You will find that boat small out there. With that said, join a yacht club, there must be a few around! Clubs are MUCH cheaper than marinas, and the advice from experienced boaters there, is just INVALUABLE to a new boater.

Take a U.S.C.G. course. There will teach you how to use: a GPS, VHF, compass, read a chart and more.

I would install, a GPS, VHF and fishfinder. One of my first time out, I took a 10 mile trip to what is known up here as Marblehead Harbor. When we left, is was a sunny day, weather forecast was clear with light winds. On the way back, we hit a wall of fog for the next 3 miles. I followed my track (the GPS will show a line on the screen as to were you have been) back the way I came. I was scared s@#$less. The GPS was the best thing I ever bought. Learn the 3,3,3, rule. ALWAY have enough fuel, use 1/3 to get there, 1/3 to get back. and 1/3 as a reserve.

Install a VHF!! If you need help, other boaters around you can come to your aid. I cell phone can't do that!! Also, it will have a range of 20 miles, give or take.

Go out with other boaters, watch what they do and how they do it. Ask them were they go, and were they don't go.

You have an open bow boat. Check the forcast carefully, an open bow can get swamped very quickly

I agree with all that's been said...in many ways that size boat is perfect...its not so small that it gets spanked by the rougher water, but its still small enough to be responsive to the controls...you don't have all the lag between movement of control and boat response. Essentially you have sport sedan in car terms.....not a two seater and not a limo. Perfect for cruising around or a quick trip up and down the strip. I have owned a boat for 15 years and yes the h210ss has more gettyup than the others, but I very seldom have ever powered up over 3/4 throttle on any of them...its no Fu for me to be zipping over the water. I use the power for puling people up on the skis or boards.

It will take two to launch until u have it down...also a hand to grab the dock will help to....everyone on this forum has screwed the pooch at some point or another when it comes to boating, dothing or are liarscking, trailering etc....those who say they haven't haven't done. much of anything or are liars.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi