www.iFourWinns.com

Hello to all. I am new to this forum but have been reading many questions and events of this site over the past few days. I have learnt so much already and feel I have made a correct choice.
I have just purchased my first boat 2 weeks ago. It's a Four Winns 2008 H180 with a 135HP Merc. I've been out 3 times already in the broadwater and love it. Hopefully I can download these photo's this time around. Otherwise, I will keep trying.
Look forward to learning more and getting involved through this forum.

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Scott
Gold Coast Aust
2008 H180 3.0Ltr Merc

Hopefully I'll have better luck this time with the photos...

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Scott
Gold Coast Aust
2008 H180 3.0Ltr Merc

Congrats on the new boat Scott... a lot of fun days ahead!

Now... we want BIGGER pics than those tiny things posted...

best wishes with your H180!

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Current: 2006 H200 5.0 GXI SX Blue/White
Previous: 2003 H220 VP 5.7 Gi DP
Black/White

Thanks Shawk, I'm not sure what i've done wrong with the pics. Can anyone tell me how I can increase the photo sizes or does it stem back to when they were first taken? I've read past threads but couldn't find anything about the size... and of course size does matter...

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Scott
Gold Coast Aust
2008 H180 3.0Ltr Merc

Thats better, I just had to change photo editor hosts.
Well to give a quick rundown, my H180 is a 2008 model with a 135 Merc which has done 30hrs, it has a Garmin 525s GPS, 27Mhz radio and Sony CD stereo already fitted, came with all safety equipment and full upholstery covers and has the sunsport seating setup. I'm currently getting a quote for a canvas cover flap to act as a door between the bottom of the centre window and the deck as a wind deterant. All the lights on the trailer were replaced with LED lights and yellow blinkers to conform with Australian standards. Everything about the boat is standard and plan to keep it pretty much that way. Oh, I do plan on naming her in the near future.
I've had a couple of quotes for a service and they have come in between $500 and $640Au. Does that sound in the ball park for a 30hr service? That does include the outdrive removal too.

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Scott
Gold Coast Aust
2008 H180 3.0Ltr Merc

G'Day Scott and welcome aboard. Nice boat - looks just like Ardys in South Oz...

Servicing costs - yep, for that sort of money I would expect the drive to be removed and alignment checked. For a regular service - filters & oil I would expect around $300. I paid just on $1000 for a bigger service - filters, oil, impeller, outdrive oil change, tune-up etc.

Now it's out of warranty I do all the service and repair work myself - buy the filters and parts in from the US and save a bunch. Will have to take it to the dealer next winter to get the bellows replaced - happy to pay them to do that job!

Same with the trailer - for example you can't get the axle seals easily in Oz - I just buy them from the US and have them mailed over - takes 4 days!

Any questions, or if you need any help, just ask - lots of experience on this site and lots of people in Oz with local knowledge.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Beautiful looking boat Scott. Welcome to the forum!

About the cover for the walk-through.......We just put our bow cover on when the weather gets cool. That blocks all the wind into the cockpit. We took it out this past spring when it was 27F (-3C) and we were very comfortable.

Happy boating!

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2010 H190 4.3VP
Tow Vehicle:
2007 F150
Previous boats:
2009 H180 3.0VP
1996 Horizon QX 3.0VP

Thank Alec for the servicing advise. Yes it does look like Ardys. I like his binimi set up better.
I'd like to think I'm almost 6 foot and the binimi I have would be at least 6'6". I'm planning on cutting the stainless bows down to around 6 foot as I also want to put a set of removable clears on the front with zippers and side curtains just for those emergencies when the weather turns bad. It was the only request my wife had when buying the boat... so I thought I can live with that. Just waiting for the quote back from the upholsterers.

Thanks NHPrinter, I have had the bow cover on whilst driving along and yes it totally blocks out the wind which is great. I think the canvas flap will just be a quicker option especially if I want to access the front of the boat. Appreciate your comments though.

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Scott
Gold Coast Aust
2008 H180 3.0Ltr Merc

Gidday Scott welcome to the forum, nice looking boat you have there but I am bias as you could imagine. the 100 hour service costs around the 5 to 6 hundred dollar mark but they check the allignment while they are at it .
Enjoy

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Yes Ardy, I can understand your bias-ness (if thats a word) as I have followed your threads back to 2008. I've booked in for next Wednesday for a service. At least that way I know where the engine is at and I can assess how much I will do myself in the future.

We are going out this Saturday as the weather is forcasting fine and 23. Can't wait...

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Scott
Gold Coast Aust
2008 H180 3.0Ltr Merc

Sounds great they are a good boat what prop are you running on it?
We are due to get our feet wet ( go skiing ) in a few weeks time

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

It has a 21" ally prop on at the moment. Not sure what pitch. It does 44mph at 4850RPM. I hear lots of stories of "fores and againsts" to fitting a stainless prop, Againsts mainly that if you hit something the stainless prop is very unforgiving on the gearbox.
The fores being a better response at the throttle and less slippage in the water. I guess too the stainless prop should save fuel wouldn't you think? Would the fuel savings offset the cost of a stainless prop?
I do notice a slight slippage or a cavitation feel mainly between 3/4 and flat out. At the moment we aren't sking behind it and aren't trying to break any speed records but anything to save a dollar on fuel would always be good. Your thoughts?

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Scott
Gold Coast Aust
2008 H180 3.0Ltr Merc

I run a 19inch stainless vengence prop which gives me a top speed of around 43 mph @ 4800rpm. I don't get any ventelation from the prop even in hard turns. It seems to do everything fairly well but I dont have anything to compare with. Fuel use is roughly around the 11 to 13 litres per hour depending on what water activities we are doing ( slalom skiing uses the most for obvious reasons). If you beach your boat I would recomend getting a keel strip to protect the bottom of the boat that hits the beach. We have had it now since January 2009 and put 110 hours in the first14 months. As for economical cruising, on the plane and around 3000 to 3300 rpm
hope this helps and enjoy the boat

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc