www.iFourWinns.com

Don't sweat it - they can straighten the skeg out OK. I know from personal exerience last January!!

Was away on vacation - some 5 hours from home on a lake (January is summer time here in Oz). The good wife reverses the trailer into the water as we always do (BTW she is absolutely great at reversing the trailer - always impresses the sox off those ramp watchers - another story there!). Leg trimmed up. Slowly back off the trailer. Get about 4 feet off the trailer then horrible grinding and bumping noise.... Quickly got back on the trailer and haul it out.

Damage report - One mangled prop, one bent skeg with a sizeable chunk missing out of it. No Volvo dealer in town - just Merc. A phone call got a new prop on its way from Volvo (at a premium price of course!) and the local Merc guys arranged to have the skeg heated and straightened and a new piece welded in for $100. The skeg repair was excellent, and when painted, not noticable at all.

Went back to the ramp and found out the reason - an 18" curb at the end of it to stop trailers dropping off the end (a 20ft drop into the old river apparently). Would be nice if they put up a sign saying there was a curb at the end...

Anyway, the lessons learned...

1) if you break it, they can fix it
2) always walk a boatramp you have never used before launching to check the end of it
3) always carry a spare prop - a hell of a lot cheaper than trying to buy one on the spot when they know you are desperate and have nowhere to go
4) keep a good sense of humour - believe it or not, you can look back at it and laugh!

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Been there done the old skeg scrap on my last boat, may have done it twice.

On saturday we were up by our camper w/o our boat, but sitting by the launch, and a guy launches his boat. He is out showing off his trick boating skills then comes racing to the shore... no drain plug, and he couldnt find it. As his luck would have it, i had a spare drain plug in my pocket, cause I stopped at a boat store on the way to pickup up critical spares like this. I didnt even get so much as a thankyou, and never saw him again. I guess i need another spare plug. My hope is someone will be kind enough to me should the same thing ever happen to me.

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2008 H210:
- Two tone Navy Blue, Silver and Yellow
- 5.0GXi/SX 270hp
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 5.9 Laramie

Sheesh .......

How does one go through life like that? I would be praising your being there ... and sharing.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

I'm feeling a lot better about the good ole days as I catch up on my reading. For any of you guys feeling bad I have to share this (explains why after putting the boat on the trailer I sit down and go over a checklist everytime)

In college my roommate and best friend had a bow rider 19ft Glastron with big v-8 engine. It was allowed to follow us to college and became our greatest asset for many years. (and I mean great)

One year years ago we had huge 4th of July plans, girls, beer, camping the works. We were to leave Friday night to lake Milford (largest in central Kansas - also famous for Nude Beach) and return on Sunday.

Three days before the trip my friend walked into my room and told us he had a funeral over the weekend and wouldn't be able to go out (yes friend with boat) we were devestated. A couple hours later he walked into my room said, "of anybody I trust you - don't sink it and threw me the keys) Party on.

Friday Night - On the way through Fort Riley got a flat tire. $80 later we were on the lake. Everything was perfect.

Saturday morning was going well. I was driving while two buddies were knee boarding behind the boat. We went on a tour around the lake and had been going for quite some time. As I approached a bridge I decided to turn the boat up the shoreline and go the otherway. We were about 100 yards off shore when the boat literally stopped dead in it's tracks. Not like we hit a rock, just like somebody hit the brakes. The engine shut off and I stood there confused. I turned and my buddies dropped the rope and looked confused. They came to a stop and unstrapped from the board. They then stood up in the water and found the water was only up to their knees. An unmarked sandbar in the middle of the lake had stopped the boat dead.

Not knowing what we had done to the motor we raised it up, inspected, then pushed the boat back to sea. When we attempted to go, the boat had troubles shifting and we knew it was trouble. We headed for the marina. This is where it gets fun.

Pulling into the marina there was only one slip open and I started to guide the boat towards it. As I rounded the corner some drunk fisher in a tracker started backing up right towards the boat. I jumped off the seat and over the side catching is motor with my hand. Unfortnately I also caught the throttle with my leg, gunning the engine and trying to jump the slip. Also placing a 4 inch diameter hole in the hull.

At this point we called it quits and headed to the ramp whereas I pulled the number you guys have discussed and tore the skag off the lower unit by not raising the motor.

At the time we were poor college kids but by god the story and damage was told to my friend a week later when we let him see the boat fixed for about $600 which hurt but we didn't care. So:

1. I will NEVER borrow a boat again.
2. Bad days only get worse, I know ramps get busy and so do marina's but regardless of how tired, drunk, or hot you are always sit down and think. Saves big money.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Holy T/S! Sounds like something written into Planes Trains and Automobiles.

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

Well I'll tell you. When you do something like this to your boat you write a check and complain a lot.

When your best friend who hasn't mentioned to his father trusts you with the boat and the run of luck hits you like that I can't tell you the sick feeling I had until that was fixed and behind us. Changed the way I look at a lot of stuff.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

I kniow that spot in Milford! My sis was pulling her hubby for the first time on skis behind thier 17' Bayliner. He fell, she stopped the boat and headed back to him where he stood up. No damamge or anything, just funny at the time.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

You would think they could put up some signs or something. The local repair guy says, "Oh yeah everybody knows thats there." The crazy part is it's right by a damn so you figure it's plenty deep. Oh did I mention part of the $600 repair was me buying a depth finder.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

We have a lake in our area - Stockton - that has some submerged concrete pilings. Last I knew, they'd never been marked. The regulars there know how to get through them without damage, but anyone else will suffer damage every time they try it. You'd think it would eventually get marked.

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

Great point! Its like moving a refrigerator with a dolly, you strap the dolly to it so it doesnt stop while the fridge keeps going....

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

Is there a story in there somewhere, Dave?

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner