www.iFourWinns.com

We were considering a purchasing a new boat after this season for a while and recently we pull a trigger to order a new boat….

It came down to between 2013 Horizon 260 and Crownline E6…. We hate to inform to FW community but it will be a Crownline E6…

We have not seen a new Horizon 260 but had a chance to go over H210 and H230 closely. Our conclusion came out sooner than we thought. New Horizons have great bow area. However, stern area is a big disappointment for us. We liked stern and sun pad area of SL and new Horizons resemble similar style. However, they are very different.
This sun pad is design for people to lie on side ways so need to move every time other people need to get in to the boat… This would not fly well with my Admiral and she would refuse to move when she is laying on the pad when anyone has to walk thru her to get into the boat… No bow ladder is another disappointment item for us since our kids hang around bow and use it all the time…. Windlass is not worth for taking space for critical area of bow rider for us… Overall we just cannot be used with their very “Euro”. Styling … (it is our personal taste….) We also took a deep look at SL 262 but latest options seemed lost little qualities compared to 2008 and 2009 models which had higher quality hardware including clear stern door, wood grain dash & wheel. These items are no longer available….

The last and the most important part of our boat selection is a dealer. As you all know Winnisquam Marine is no longer Four Winns dealer and is now Crownline dealer. Our brand royalty to Four Winns was largely supported by effort of Winnisquam services. They have been taking us out on water with Crownline E6 and we had chance to go over every details of the boat. Quality and finish of boat are excellent and everything is well worth of price we pay for....... We felt our time with Four Wind brand will end with our H260.

Anyway we decided to order a new E6 now since 8.2 MAG has a long lead-time now (backorder from Merc) so by the time we gat it will be in late August and will be a 2013 model.
After 2 boats with Volvo Penta we will be back on Merc since we like their closed loop cooling on big block as well as latest DTS & Smart Tow combination… Now my admiral can pull me on ski or wakeboard. Here are some details of our new boat:

2013 Crownline E6, Extreme Razor
Merc 8.2MAG BIII, DTS & Smart Tow
Arch/Tower
Performance Sounds package (Wet Sound)
Trim Tabs w indicator
Other typical upgrade options (wiper, bow fillers, vacuflash toilet etc.)
Boatmate color matching “painted” galvanized Trailer w Aluminum wheels

In the mean time we have picked up our H260 from storage and will be on water next weekend… We are looking forward to enjoy the last summer with it.
See you on water

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

Congrats and hate to see you leave the FW family. I know this site is monitored by those in Cadillac who have a say at FW. Let's hope they take a good look at your post and know why they are loosing market share. Let's try to be in the same realm as the Colbalt, the Crownline, and the other premier brands and leave the SeaRay, Bayliner, and others in FWs wake.

Whom ever buys your 260 is in for an incredible boat.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

I'm on my last FW. If/when I get another boat it will be from another make that has a dealer within a resonable distance from me. Closest to me now is 127 miles away in another state. Seems like FW is losing dealers to, thats all I ever hear about anyway.

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2008 FW F204 - 5.0 VP "Stand On It"
Former Boat: Larson 186 LXI - 4.3 VP

Congrats Sushi. The E6 is a well designed nice riding boat. You should have many years of fun with it. I am still a fan of earlier Four Winns boats, but since "Frenchie" has taken over the designs, I really do not have much interest in them. I can imagine a 2008 Four Winns H240 as a possibility, if we ever decide to get a larger boat. But we are very happy with our current boat.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I know exactly what you mean. I'm on my 6th FW(V288) and on every single "new boat survey" from FW, I've told them the same thing: I didn't buy from Winnisquam Marine to purchase a FW...I purchased a FW in order to buy from Winnisquam Marine."

I wonder if anyone at FW ever understood that?!

Currently toying with the idea of a Crownline 330CR

Anyone need a 2009 V288

BTW: That E6 is to die for!!!

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You can't have everything...where would you put it?
Crownline 285 SS
288 V -- sold
278 V -- sold
268 V -- sold
245 S -- sold
214 F -- sold
190 H -- sold

Congrats and good luck with the Crownline. It's a shame Four Winns doesn't offer something
you're interested in. I won't be able to hang out with you in a Crown.
Are you trading in or fighting the line of people that will want your boat?
Have a good Summer!

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2002 Horizon 190 5.0gl

Very cool, congrats!

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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

Congrats, Sushi. While I have not seen the E6 up close, Crownline is a popular brand in my region. Lots of satisfied customers. Don't be a stanger. I've enjoyed reading about your various upgrades and have copied / plan to copy a few. I'm sure the same will hold true for your new boat despite the brand.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

Congrats. Completely agree on not being wild about the FW Euro styling of the new models. Just not my thing. Crownline has always been on my shortlist. I don't think you will be sorry.

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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

Crownline makes a great boat. I wanted to stay with Crownline, but there is only one dealer here in Mass and he is not that good. The FW dealer down here is great, which makes all the difference.

And yes, a closed cooling system is the way to go.

You lost the FW dealer & I lost the CL dealer. Service is what we want. Have fun with the new boat. I will read more on the CL web site from you. **I forgot to add!! There was a CL dealer in Danvers Mass, but he dropped CL leaving only one dealer now**

A great example of how the trust in a solid dealer can impact brand decisions...

Four Winns makes a great boat, but they are seriously lacking in a decent dealer network. There's no real sign of a quality dealer on the west coast anymore. Some smaller shops, yes, but nobody with a longstanding track record.

I've briefly thought about calling my friends in New Hampshire and making the jump to a new Crownline 350CR....

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

Our Four Winns dealer gave up Crownline and Four Winns 2 years ago. I am glad I have my 2006 H240 but worry about the manufacturer. Closest FW dealer is now about an hour and a half drive, Crownline even further.

Closest dealer to me is 2 hours in either direction, either Don Hyde Marine in Hamilton, or The Boat Warehouse in Kingston. It really sucks when the dealer is that far away.

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2011 SL242 5.7 VP GXi - 320 HP Dual Prop

How many warranty issues do you have with actual boat??? Any certified VP or Merc shop can do warranty work on the respective motor/drive/engine Bolton parts.....I personally use a Rinker Dealership since they are an hour closer. After all a VP in a Rinker is the same as any other VP.

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


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Sushi I'm sorry to hear you're losing the 260, but excited to hear about your new Crownline! I, too, have copied your ideas and am thankful for making your improvements so easy to read and understand. I am so glad I got a 2011, as I would not have gone after the new model either.

I drove several hundred miles to pick up my FW's in Utah, but have no problem having it serviced by my boat mechanic in Nevada. Four Winns have been fantastic in honoring them to handle any warranty issues. I really hope that 2012 is a transition period and they get back to making some boats that folks are looking forward to buy.

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP