www.iFourWinns.com

All,

We have just purchased 2002 Four Winns 240H and I have a question about the support structure under the bow section flooring. When you step on the floor in the center of the bow section there is about a 1/2" of flex in the floor. I have checked the deck on either side in the storage compartments and the deck is solid and covered in gelcoat. There appears to be a gap between the bottom of the bow "tub" and the deck. If you look from the ski storage area forward, the decking is in great condition and any exposed plywood is resin coated. Where the ski storage ends you can see the decking supporting the tub, but about 6" forward of that area is where it starts to flex. the sides of the bow area are stiff but I am assuming that is due to the extra glass used to support the corners of the tub. Is there any way to put something under this area to support the floor. There are some slight stress cracks near the support by the ski storage locker and I don't want them getting worse.

Can you post a pic of the area that needs to be reinforced; it may be possible to fab up a couple of wood wedges that would support that area.

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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

I was thinking a similar thing.
They sell a fiberglass board used for electrical panels. Might look into that as well.
A local electrical contractor probably will give you a piece of scrap.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-fiberglass-sheets/=yq0yq2

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2003 Four Winns 170 Freedom Cincinnati, Ohio / Cape Coral, Florida

Thanks for the ideas!! I will try and get some pics of the area in the next couple of days. It is basically the floor area from the bow seat back forward and and 1" from the edges all the way around if that makes any sense. I had thought about some cutting some wood pieces to fit in there or bracing the top and spraying structural foam under it.

_________________
2002 Four Winns 240 Horizon
350 Mag MPI
Bravo 3. *sold*

2003 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3. *for sale*

2007 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3

Sorry for the long delay.....had a terrible time using trying to use imageshack from my phone. Here is the pic looking from the bottom of the seat storage area under the bow floor. There is a 1" or so gap from the floor to the bottom of the bow tub. It feels like the fiberglass has separated from the bottom of the floor in that area as it flexes alot

_________________
2002 Four Winns 240 Horizon
350 Mag MPI
Bravo 3. *sold*

2003 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3. *for sale*

2007 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3

How is the gap in your split windshield? That is, how is the clearance when closing the walk through windshield?

I have a 2000 H240, which is a generation older than yours because as an early 2000, it is of the 1996-1999 style. While my bow tub feels solid, I know it is slightly down from the original position because when I close the windshield, I have to push apart on the two sides of the windshield (or hull) to get the windshield to close all the way.

When I investigated mine, I looked up at the top of the ski locker and see healthy plywood top. There is one spot with a round hole cut in the plywood, and through that hole I can see carpet (under the bow tub). Looking sideways from the bow seat storage areas, I see the same thing... That the carpet goes under the bow tub. So in the case of my year, FW used carpet as a separator material between the plywood structure and the bow tub. Good for sound deadening, but a terrible idea because it would hold water. In my case, I think the carpet is crushed to the point that the bow tub is slightly lower, and the sides (head and helm) have come together about 1/8". I have thought about shimming under the bow tub to fix this, but have not done anything yet.

I know that does not answer your (OP) question, but I am trying to contribute more information to the thread.

To try to answer, I think you are on the right track by shimming under the bow tub. In my opinion, using plywood would work well and be inexpensive. Starboard would be better, but costs a lot. Structural foam would be great if it can handle the pressure, but I'm not sure how strong it is. Is the structural foam strong enough to walk on repeatedly?

Ray

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Thanks for the info rpengr. My windshield is ok so far. I looked up from the ski locker on mine as well and see good resin coated plywood and part of the vinyl from the head. I still can't understand why they left such a large gap. where the plywood and vinyl stop is about 4" past the end of the ski locker and that is right where the bow section flooring is flexing. It seems to have created an edge that got weaker over time. I am not sure if the structural foam is strong enough either. Plus I am afraid of it pushing up on the floor and creating a high spot. The problem I have with putting something under it to reinforce it is that the only access is from the bow seat area and the hull slope is about an 1" from the edge of the bow floor. I have no room to put a solid piece of anything under there. I thought about putting several pieces of the thin (1/8") cutting board material in one at a time and try to build it up. Whatever goes in there is going to have to be flexible to make the bend. Hopefully someone with the same year/model can take a look at theirs and see what it looks like.

_________________
2002 Four Winns 240 Horizon
350 Mag MPI
Bravo 3. *sold*

2003 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3. *for sale*

2007 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3

Pieces of Lexan Sheet (1/8" or thinner) would probably work as you describe. Flexible, and would last forever. If you tell a plastics supplier you can accept Lexan that has scratches, you might get it cheaper.

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

The Lexan is a good idea. I also thought about using several of those thin flexible cutting boards or a couple pieces of HDPE that was 1/8 thick

_________________
2002 Four Winns 240 Horizon
350 Mag MPI
Bravo 3. *sold*

2003 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3. *for sale*

2007 Four Winns 260 Horizon
6.2 MPI
Bravo 3