Boat Shopping - Need Advice

ADub · **Joined:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:05 pm **Posts:** 3

Currently shopping for an ~06-09 H210 or H220. Particularly like the SS models and in general we like the Horizon features. Looking for some input on performance in choppy water. We mostly boat on Lake Conroe (for any Houston locals). Its a relatively small lake, crowded on weekends, and bulkheaded. This makes for rough water on the main lake even on calm weather weekends. Our previous boat was a 19ft Rinker Captiva and it was miserable on the busy weekends. Too rough to get on plane. Im not expecting to be able to run 50 across the lake in chop, but I would like to be able to get on plane and have a reasonably comfortable run when I have to cross the choppy stuff.

We took out a 2012 H230 SS during an inwater demo last summer and it was wonderful in the weekend conditions, but I just can't spend that much money. I know the hull changed in 2012, so any input on how the H210/H220 performs in these conditions would be great.

TIA
AW

BartsPlace · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:49 pm

A few years back I went from a Baja 180 to a FW H220. Granted I changed brands as well, but I think the largest difference was made in the length and weight of the H220. It became a much more substantial load in the water and was less prone to being tossed around.

Your mileage may vary...

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 5:54 pm

Just don't buy a Stingray. A 4in wind ripple will beat your teeth out.

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:21 pm

How do the dead rise compare between the 2 hull designs? With a deep V design (20* and more) you will get a smoother ride in rough water.

ADub · **Joined:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:05 pm **Posts:** 3

I dont think there is much diff in the deadrise. H210/H220 are 19deg, Rinker was 20deg, H230 I drove was 20deg. My rinker was an older model with a wood floor. Im sure the Four Winns will feel more solid hitting the waves than the rinker did.

bschmid2 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:43 pm

I have a 2006 H220 and use it lots in rough water. It is just great. The weight and length are perfect in my opinion and launching/retrieving is not a big problem.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I'm SW of Houston and know about Conroe...your description is right on...that lake is rough and full of cigarette boats getting it...I have a 210SS which rides in the rough pretty smooth....but I'm afraid you would still get slapped around on that lake at anything over planing speed.

Out of curiosity how far are you from Conroe/Houston?

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I guess to paint a picture..Conroe will have slapping type waves coming at you from all directions....there is no riding or reading the waves. You just motor out there and take the pounding.

The 210 will handle the waves as good if not better than most 21 footers....certainly much better than my old 20 foot Bayliner, which was a lighter shallower boat. It will be better than your smaller Rinker and small enough to tow elsewhere.

ADub · **Joined:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:05 pm **Posts:** 3

Thanks for all the input. TX H210SS, I live in Porter, about 40 min SE of Lake Conroe. We hit Lake Livingston as well occasionally, but our friends live on Conroe, so its more practical there having a "home base"

LouC · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:49 pm

If the deadrise is the same and the boat has a sharp bow entry then it will probably be as good as you can expect for that size boat. One of the reasons why I kept my old 88 H-200 was the hull design, it has a 21* deadrise and a very sharp bow entry and is excellent for a 20'9" boat in rough water. I take it out in Long Island Sound on calmer days and feel pretty safe given it's a small boat. It can get rough out there because there are some much larger fast moving boats out there from time to time.
The only way to get a better riding boat in that size is to go with salt water designed boats like Dual Console fishing style boats with outboards, they are more designed for big water than typical bowriders and have self bailing decks for more safety. For example a Key West 211 Dual Console with a 200 hp 4 stroke outboard will be the same size but more seaworthy because of the self bailing deck and fully foam filled construction (unsinkable like a Boston Whaler). I see boats like this offshore all the time and yes people do use them for watersports too.

http://www.keywestboatsinc.com/boats/show/id/4

Hodge · **Joined:** Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:43 pm **Posts:** 35

My H220 handles rough water OK. the hull design does allow the boat to stay fairly flat/level in rough water but the ride is somewhat choppy when crossing wakes for example. When the water is just wavy that's no problem but the flatter shape of the back part of the hull causes the boat to ride over larger waves like those from someones wake whereas my older sea ray was a deep vee and it would actually cut through those wakes reducing the waves ability to lift the boat.

These are the only two boats I have owned and I was quite surprised by how differently they handled. The H220 stays very flat in turns and is less sensitive to weight distribution where the sea ray I had leaned into turns quite a bit and was less stable causing it to be more sensitive to weight distribution.

Obviously handling rough water is important to you, have you considered what other features are most important to you?

www.iFourWinns.com

Boat Shopping - Need Advice

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