www.iFourWinns.com

I am new to boating. I am bringing my 240 Horizon into the dealer for the 100 hour maintniance. I asked about cost and the dealer ater $90/hr plus parts. Seems high to me although I have not been in the market. I have confidence in the dealer,as I bought my car there a few years back, but am wondering about the rate. I live 2 hours from my boat, I live in PA and the boat is in MD, and am not familiar with the local mechanics. The 2 hour tow is not a huge issue but the rate makes me consider using a FW mechanic in MD. What do you all think? Other considerations?

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David
240 Horizon
Swan Creek

I don't remember what the going rate is here in the center of the country, but I'm thinking it's around $80.

What parts did they say you need at 100 hours?

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

The dealer did not specify any part that would need to be replaced, but rather if a replacement part was required.

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David
240 Horizon
Swan Creek

My dealer told me that they were $100/hour at Lake of the Ozarks. I'm sure that some of that rate is because they are right on the lake and pretty much have you over the barrel if you need them. I'd think that $80-100 would be about right in most areas.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

$90/hr in southeast TN.

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'06 Horizon 210

The dealer I use, $85/hr

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

I was also quoted in the $100/hr range.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

I work on airplanes and we charge $105 an hour

I'd find out exactly what the dealer is going to do, then do everything yourself that you can do competently. Only have him do what you don't want or can't do...................

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Previous Four Winns: 2003 Freedom 180, 150 Johnson XL, purchased new July 2005, sold Sept. 07
Current Four Winns: 2002 Horizon 170, 115 Yamaha V4, purchased May 2010 from family friend.

Good suggestion JW, that's what I plan on doing. Oil changes and maybe impeller replacement, I think I can probably handle.

Winterizing, I'm sending to the dealer for.

I don't think twice about bringing my car in for an oil change, but then again they don't charge me $100/hr.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

It's all over $100/hr for cars or boats here in NY.
The winterizing is actually not that hard, the first time will take about 2-3 hrs but it will go a little faster the next. If you have closed cooling it takes even less time. Basically for winterizing I am running the motor on the muffs, change the motor oil, filter, gas filter, and drive oil, fog the motor, then fill it up with no tox antifreeze. The one thing I do pay for is when the shift linkage on the Cobra drive has to be adjusted, that needs a pro, at least I feel that way.

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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

When I owned my I/O boats, I'd take my time and spend about 5 hours winterizing. I did a REALLY good job. My local boys charge about $275 for the complete service, so either they're cutting corners or are just really good at it. I never complained paying them the $275, as I felt for the hours spent that was a great price.

Of course, I didn't really enjoy winterizing or trusting the dealer to do it like I did, so I'm back to outboard boats SO much easier to keep!!

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Previous Four Winns: 2003 Freedom 180, 150 Johnson XL, purchased new July 2005, sold Sept. 07
Current Four Winns: 2002 Horizon 170, 115 Yamaha V4, purchased May 2010 from family friend.

$95/hr in NH

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2006 Horizon 190, Volvo 4.3GL, Sunsport
towed by 2007 4Runner 6 Ltd

A$85 per hour here in Oz (US$68/hr). Long way to go to save a buck though...

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

105/ hr. here. A rip off if you ask me but what ya gonna do. The shop I work at only charges 80 a hour for mechanic work on german cars BLAH

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Four winns 180 horizon