www.iFourWinns.com

I don't want to be a double poster... but I thought some of the Horizon guys might not take a peak in the "for sale/buy."... since another Horizon would be my first choice if we move forward with it.

Also have a question for those who have moved from a 190 or 200 to the larger Horizons (I know it seems that the 210/220+ is where they really start adding the "goodies")... what are the things I'm going to lose (that you gained stepping up) in these boats. I know I can find them in the brochures but until you've sat/owned them, you really don't notice a lot of the little things. I know one of the corkey things I'll miss immediately is the walk through in the back... (other than the biggies like the Duoprop ect). What others?? Thanks all! It won't take much... but convince me that this is crazy talk... This boat has everything we've (ok me) want in a boat... short but long story in that the tow vehicle is a bit of an issue after some car swapping in our house (now just the 10' Pilot to tow with).

Below posted over in swap...

Alrighty... I really don't want to do this but this may be a solution for us (other than of course the best solution of just keeping it ). Thought I'd post to see if there was simply anyone looking to trade up to a little bigger boat. Link below tells the story... not sure we want to let it go but if the right boat is out there then we may... http://desmoines.craigslist.org/boa/1966284525.html


All the best!
Steve

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

The biggest thing you will miss is the space. In your instance, I wouldn't trade down in size. Look into a dry rack storage or outdoor storage at a marina that has a launch available, get a weight distribution hitch to make pulling on the roads safer. Travel closer to home and enjoy the boat you have now. Trust me and many others here that have upgraded, you WILL want to go even bigger as you use your boat more and find it's shortfalls to your needs/wants.

If you really determine that you want to go smaller I would take your boat to a dealer and trade it straight up (or close) for a '11 180LE. They are very economical to purchase and run. Or atleast go for a testdrive in a smaller boat and see what you will be downgrading to.

No matter what.... don't loose any money on the deal. Know your costs you have into your boat and analyze every deal that is presented to you before committing.

Good Luck

_________________
Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Thanks Mark... I know we'll miss the room as soon as we swapped. The first thing I noticed about these boats was the incredible amount of storage on them. It allows my 7 & 11 year to have there own private quarters with doors too (in front of the driver & passenger seats).

The kicker is that our lake is less than 10 miles from home and the vehicle does handle it good enough for that. We don't have a marina option anywhere close. So even though it's not recommended we could get by with our what we have since we're so close to the lake. We typically only make 1-2 trips out of town (1-2 hours tops) which would probably be axed... but we could do it. I agree regarding trade... I won't take a hit on it... no need to. Thank you!

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

Hey...in Iowa myself. Which lake you going to?

Before trading down have you considered seeing how much a slip rental would cost?

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2005 Horizon 210, 5.7L Volvo

Greetings Mike! We're up here in Cedar Falls... there's a little lake at the local state park we go to. It's crazy on the weekends but with our work... we're able to sneak away during the week when no one is out... we have our own private lake (other than a few fisherman).

Where do you spend most of your time?

All the best!
Steve

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

Can't comment on the difference in boats but I know my old 88 200 is like a foot longer than the newer ones at 20'9". The beam is narrower and the boat is adequately powered with a 4.3 4bbl. Next boat will be bigger maybe 23'. As far as tow vehicles, my original tow vehicle was a 98 Grand Cherokee with a 4.0 six. OK for around town but underpowered for highway driving. I still have it and use it for local driving.

Last summer I bought an 07 Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi with Quadradrive II. This is a great tow vehicle for its size, rated at 7200 lbs. The Hemi pulls like a freight train and the best thing about this deal is a 2 year old one can be bought for about 1/2 the original retail with an 80K warrantee on the powertrain (Chrysler Certified Pre-Owned). I finally decided to make the depreciation game work for me instead of against me.

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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

Sounds like a great setup! I swapped out my 06' 4Runner Ltd V8 not to long ago... if I still had it, problem would be solved. All well. .. that's life and we simply don't know what may come up tomorrow... heck I could buy a 30' boat tomorrow (not really but THAT would be fun).

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

I personally would have a tough time going down in size after making a significant move up earlier this year. For the first time, we can switch between skiing & tubing without stepping all over one another. That being said, I would much rather have a smaller boat than no boat.

Since your current tow vehicle does o.k. on your runs to your normal watering hole, have you considered renting a tow vehicle just for the few times a year when you want to venture further down the road?

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

Thanks J... I pulled the ad for now. As you know... we have a little down time down coming up when the snow starts flying. I'll sit tight for now and figure out what to do by spring. I'll tinker with minor things for kicks over the winter (blown speaker, new/smoother shift cable ect). I don't need/want a big vehicle anymore for my needs. It's more a matter of whether or not we want to hit the road with it. Thought about renting something now and then... and may do that but would rather not if we didn't have to. If I need to go back to a bigger vehicle I will. I've really enjoyed going back to a smaller awd suv/car for my daily driver (it doesn't hurt get 30 mpg either ).
I agree regarding boat size (you have MUCH more than I do though). I learned to ski behind my in-laws 16' Tri-Hall/85hp Evinrude... great runner/great boat... but I was always stepping on someone's toes or someone was getting wacked with a ski.

btw... looked back for your boat pics through your profile... saw your original post not to long ago... great post... great family pics! I have a 14, 11, & 7 year old... my oldest is finally really taking to the water sport thing. Good to see a few Iowa guys on here. All the best!
S....

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

In Dec 08 I traded down (in size only) from a 24 ft Baja to an 08 H190 and have not looked back. Love the Horizon and it is the right size for easy single-handed handling as well as plenty of room for the wife and I and our 2 grown children. Much better on fuel, much more overall usefullness. I bought it while I lived in Illinois and now since I live in FLorida, I use it even more. No use having a boat you can't just back up to and go wherever you want reguardless of the distance or the price of fuel.

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08 H190
190hp Merc
Striving to be the man my Beagle thinks I am.

Glad you are keeping it for now..beautiful boat....your towing concerns would be solved nicely with one of these...I got mine at this dealer in Long Island NY last summer...this one is even a little nicer being an Overland model.....And I'll tell you the 5.7 Hemi is like a rocket in the relatively light Grand Cherokee...you hit the gas and it takes off like a '69 Charger with a 440 under the hood.....BTW these prices can still be negotiated downward...I know I was able to....

http://www.huntingtonjeep.com/vehicle.asp?v=1211632

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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

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

Steve...I'm over in Des Moines. We boat mostly at Lake Panorama just west of Des Moines. Great lake in my opinion. Saw your ad back up on CL.

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2005 Horizon 210, 5.7L Volvo

Looks like a really nice place... my H220 was actually purchased there at Coulter's Panorama Marina. Did you get your H210 there?
Small world...

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