www.iFourWinns.com

I purchased a Horizon 230 in 2000 brand new. Our family has loved the boat. It has an excellent layout and it has provided great recreation. However, it has one problem that has been extremely frustrating. When loaded with people or equipment, it rocks uncontrollably from side to side. When I approached the dealer, they said I needed trim tabs. The trim tabs have really done little to help. My brother purchased a used Horizion just a year or two newer than my boat six months ago. It handles beautifully without any of the rocking. When I asked the dealer why the difference, he confessed that there was flaw in the hull design and there was a manufacture's repair. He claims to have called Four Winns and they have been having difficulty finding the mold. That was six months ago and there has been no change. Does anyone know if this is a known problem and how to get it fixed?

Nibu

A bit more info please. Rocking as in side to side? How heavily loaded? Are you talking about just when sitting still or while under way? Does it depend on how full the fuel tank is? Does it matter whether or not the bimini is up? Where do you boat?

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

The two Horizons you are comparing possibly have different hulls. FW switched certain models in their range from the "Stable Vee 2" hull to the " Stable Vee 3" hull around 2000, including the 230 Horizon. This resulted in new model designations for the Sundowners ( 205 ===>215, 225 ===.235 etc). They switched hull design again (and reverted to the old designations) for the Sundowners in 2002, calling the hull design simply " Stable Vee". Maybe "Stable Vee" = "Stable Vee 2" and they didn't like to admit it ? A dealer I spoke with, certainly believed this. Maybe they switched back on the Horizons as well. No idea why they switched and switched again in such a short timeframe.

Maybe there was a factory "fix" to correct the characteristics of the "Stable Vee 3" hulls and possibly the problem you experience?

Graham

I have a 2000 230 as well and would like to know more info. Are we talking about running on plane or sitting still and loading passengers at the dock. If while on plane...do you consider it dangerous...like a chine walk? I have been very pleased with the handling of our boat.

Nibu, who is your Dealer? The 'can't find the mold' comment would be of great concern to me, I'd ask for the contact at FW that passed on that alleged response. Or even better, call over to FW customer service yourself to hear it from them direct. They can be hard to reach these days, but are pretty good at returning calls.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

When the boat is loaded with 8-10 adults, the gas tank can be near full or empty, or when we have our camping gear loaded on the boat and are cruzing down river (We boat a Lake Powell). The boat roll from one side to the other. When a correction is made with a trim tab (When I first reported this problem to the dealer they said I just needed trim tabs) the boat will respond for a little while and somewhat level off. Consequently, I am constantly having to try to adjust the trim of the motor or the trim tabs without much success. It is very frustrating and sometimes almost dangerous. I noticed that even when the boat is not heavily loaded, the boat turns very differently from the right to the left.

My brother bought a 2003 Horizon 240 and it does not have any of these problems. It actually turns very similarly either way and it does not roll.

My dealer is SS Marine in Orem, Utah. The dealer just told me that the individual at Four Winns corporate does believe they have the molds that would fix the hull, but they are stored in storage and have had a lot of snow. He suggested that I call the individual myself. I called and left a message at the FW Customer Service/Warranty. I have not heard back yet. Thanks,

This is very interesting. I think you are on to something here. The SS Marine dealer told me that there was a problem in 2000 but it was corrected in the 2003 model. His statement was the Hull design had a flaw that was corrected. This would account for why my brother's boat a 2003 Horizon 240 does not have any of these problems and seems to turn much more consistently either way. Thanks.

I also wonder whether a hook has developed, perhaps more on one side than the other.

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

So, if I am following, you will need to get your boat from Utah all the way to FW in Michigan so they can use a mold to reshape your hull? Wow. Have you discussed who will cover transport there and back?

No doubt that having this done will be worth it. Horizons generally are great handling, extremely stable hulls. From your description, I'd think that there will be a world of difference after the fix.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

I have called and left serveral messages with the Warranty representative at FW. If he can find the molds, I think they would make the corrective additions to the hull and send them to the local dealer here in Orem, Utah for installation. However, it would almost be worth driving the boat back to Mighigan because the problem is so annoying. If they could solve this issue, we would fall in love with the boat all over again. Thanks for the thoughts.