www.iFourWinns.com

Hi there. I must say I love these forums.

I have found a purple 1995 19' Horizon with the OMC Cobra 5.0 efi engine. The boat appears almost perfect however the engine wont start. The guy I talked to said the boat was hardly used and he's selling it for his elderly friend who used to love to sit in it even when not in the water. I guess it's been polished many times as this was the only thing the owner could do. The seller told me it needs a new fuel pump which they have but it's not installed. What I'd like to know is any info on this boat and what I should look for while inspecting it. What tools should I take to install the fuel pump well enough to run the engine. Can I jump start the boat from my truck? Is this engine and the efi system a good system?

From the pictures he sent me, the seats are all perfect as is the rest of the padding and the outside of the boat is perfect as well. There doesn't appear to be any build up of anything on the outdrive.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

I was looking at boats last month when I started. Lots of cheap boats with expensive issues. Most of the best had questionable interiors but ran great.

That said, it's about a 20 year old boat, of course it will have issues.

That said - if it won't start, it won't start. Is it the battery? Is it the fuel? Starter? Electrical?

This could become very expensive, very quick - new motor, etc. can easily run you $2500 just to start.

I would shy away from this one unless you knew exactly what was wrong with it. If it won't run, you are left with a lawn ornament.

As I have learned, it is B.O.A.T. not Boat. That is "Bust Out Another Thousand"

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

Im sure everybodies finances are different, but go buy a new or closest to new you can afford. My old boat was nickel and dimeing me to death. I ditched it and got a brand new h190 with a warranty.

If you buy used have a marine mechanic give it a once over. It will cost you but not nearly as much as an expensive surprise down the road.

If it doesnt run, walk away. Theres always another boat.

I guess you're both right. Perhaps I was caught up in the moment of seeing a pristine, and I mean pristine, looking boat. I found out that the previous owner didn't winterize the boat which cracked the motor and so a new motor was installed professionally just before the current owner purchased the boat. He, in turn, winterized it an then never took it out on the water and it's been stored in a garage the entire time. It wont start because there is no battery, he took it out to store it and it went flat over time, and it needs a fuel pump installed which he has, he's just never installed it.

I'm going to go play with it and see if I can help him get it running. If it starts and runs, then what? Should I reconsider?

I recently just went thru about the same dilema, purchased a 1993 190 Horizon with the 5.0 EFI also. I am now the third owner, as the original owner cracked the block when the heat in his storage building went out one winter. The second owner purchased the boat in 2003 and professionally installed a remanufactured motor in it, and then put 87 hours on it over the last 10 years. Needless to say the boat is extremely clean but I did have to do a complete tune up as the plug wires, rotor, and cap were original OMC parts from 1993. I also have the reciepts from when the boat was purchased brand new and the new motor installation.

Does the low pressure pump come on when you turn the key? If so and will not start after that the high pressure pump could be bad, a simple EFI fuel pressure gauge on the fuel rail will indicate that. The low pressure pump is easy to change, but the high pressure is a little more difficult due to the location on the back of the engine.

The 5.0 is quite easy to work on, but I do all my own mechanic work. It all depends on how much money you are willing to spend to fix it or have it fixed by a mechanic, or time to get this boat running correctly.

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2008 H200 Frenzy Edition 5.0 GXi

1993 Horizon 190 5.0 EFI (Sold)

Thanks for all the replies.

I had just edited my last post and then saw your reply Zims. Sorry about that. All I did was add:

"He, in turn, winterized it an then never took it out on the water and it's been stored in a garage the entire time. It wont start because there is no battery, he took it out to store it and it went flat over time, and it needs a fuel pump installed which he has, he's just never installed it."

I don't know if it's the low or high pressure pump. Hopefully the low.

This is such a nice boat and I'd hate to miss out on it. It even comes with a brand new looking trailer with removable tongue and a 10 hp Yamaha 4 stroke trolling motor. All this for $5k. This is around the maximum I can afford. Most other boats in this price range and lower seem to need around $2k in upholstery work and a good polishing.

Edit: I just found out that the boat was ran run with the current fuel pump however it was recommended that it be replaced. He said it was the inline pump but that still doesn't tell me which pump it is. So, hopefully, I just need to hook a battery up to it and give it a go.

If you are stuck on it - do the battery and fuel filter. Check all the fluids and get the oil changed. Sounds like the oil has probably sat for awhile. If you can pump out the fuel tank - do so as that gas is probably bad as well. Fill it back up - put some fuel system cleaner additive into the tank. Go out on the water for 30min-hour and run it like you would on a normal trip. Go through all the motions. Test out all the buttons and switches. Then trailer it and look for leaks around and under the engine. Rust on the engine block is bad, as are big puddles under the engine. Check the oil again. Check to make sure it is not fouled with water (will have a chocolate milk appearance from what I hear) and bring it back. Let it cool off for 30 minutes and then restart it.

That is just the minimum that I would do - all in all - you can check with a local boat shop to see how much they would charge to check it out. It can be expensive - but can save you a lot of headaches later. Negotiate the cost of the check up into your final offer - Heck, even tell the guy you want him to pay half right off the bat. That may be the tell-tale sign of if it is a good boat or not - If it's not, he will probably refuse.

When all is said and done - I went through a consignment service to buy mine. They did the check and charged the owner for it. They then took me out on the river and we ran it. At least I have somewhere to go if my boat develops a major problem they overlooked.

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

I just found out that the outdrive is a later model and was produced when OMC and Volvo teamed up. The dealer said there are parts available for it if needed. This was a relief. So, should I run it for a bit to let it warm the oil up, then replace it or should I replace it first before running it? Is there an oil drain plug under the engine like in a car, under the oil pan? How many quarts, 4?

According to the seller, it was professionally winterized so I'll have to reconnect the hoses and reinstall the drain plugs. I'm guessing it will smoke like a banshee at first. Will the out drive impeller be in working condition? As far as removing the old gas, I'm not sure how to go about this. It had fuel stabilizer run through the system 2 years ago so I thought about adding fresh fuel. Seems like when using stabilizer on my engines here at the house that two years of not starting didn't really hurt anything. Everything seemed to start and run fine however, they are not efi engines.

Def change the oil before startup. Oil change is done via the dipstick tube, gonna need a pump to get it out. Should take 5 1/2 quarts.
Pro winterizing usually doesn't include removing the freeze plugs, if those are out, something isn't right. Also, pro winterizing means adding anti-freeze, so the hoses shouldn't be removed, if they are it just means the block was drained with nothing added. The impeller should be replaced as it has been sitting forever and it def probably is "set" in one position, plus it is rubber and is probably dry rotted.

Def drain the tank too, fuel additives will not keep a tank of gas from going "bad" after 2+ years. Any marina can drain the tank. It is a BIG job bringing a boat back to life after it has sat for so long, so be prepared for every little thing needing replaced. Belts, hoses, fluids, impeller, maybe fuel pumps, maybe wiring.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I have to laugh, I really do, at times, because of the inane and idiotic nonsense sellers will try to pull over on people. The boat is 19 years old and it DOES NOT RUN....and they want $5,000 for it? There could be a whole bunch of problems with that engine when it does run. So unless you SEE and HEAR it run, run like hell unless they drop the price even more. Its great that it does not need 'glass work or seating done over but if there are problems with that engine, you could pay out the 5K to buy it and then another 3-4K to get it running and reliable. I tell the owner if you want to sell get it running, or drop the price to 2K. And leave.

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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

I bought an older that was sitting for years. I didnt even try to start it. but ... was thinking i would have to do engine work got lucky and only had minimal work . if the boat is in the price rang of your budget and what you are looking for get a battery and see if it will even turn over. dont try to start it without changing the fuel. just crank it for a few seconds .look at the engine compartment see if it clean with no sludge look at the engine see if there is rust on the manifolds or around the expansion plugs. pull the bottom water pump hose see if there is antifreeze there is a lot of things. you can check with out even starting the engine .but like what every one else has said plan for the worst hope for the best
after all that you still want to purchase the boat start by offering 3000.00 and see what the say

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

Boats that age, that run, are not that easy to sell, boats that age that do not run, and have not run for years, are even harder to sell. As in they will sit for YEARS. There are some around here. They sit, till someone who unfortunately does not know what could be wrong, comes along...
If you want it you could as noted above make a low ball offer, because you really do not know, anything at all about the mechanicals of that boat. And we only mentioned engine stuff, if there are drive problems, keep in mind any repairs to this if its in the joint venture age range, are Volvo prices. As in, a rebuilt SX drive, is at least 4 grand. If you have a bad trim ram, if it can't be rebuilt, they are 500 each! And it goes on...
I would not be against buying a good condition older boat IF you can sea trial it and and IF there are no obvious problems. In this case, you really know nothing, and the owner wants your 5K. Lots a luck. The owner wants it gone, well then get it running, and running good (clean out tank, replace pump, etc) or DROP THE PRICE.....

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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

Ok. Just a recap on everything I know about this boat.

The interior and exterior are almost perfect.
It has the later model Cobra outdrive, the joint Volvo / OMC outdrive.
The engine runs but it's recommended that a new fuel pump be installed which the owner has. Not sure which fuel pump it is.
The reason it doesn't run currently is because there is no battery. I'm going to jump start it from my truck and use the outdrive muffs.
The hoses are disconnected and the drain plugs are removed.
It has the fuel injected 5.0 engine.
It has a perfect looking trailer with removable tongue.
The engine was replaced some years ago because the original engine froze due to a failed garage heater. The new engine has less than ten hours on it.
The fuel has stabilizer in it but it's two years old. I'm guessing the oil is two years old too.
The old gentleman who currently owns it never used it other than to sit in it and polish the exterior. He is moving and can't take the boat with him so his friend who is much more computer savvy is helping him to sell it.

This Tuesday I'll be looking at it and trying to start it. The boat is a little bit of a drive from my house so I haven't seen it in person yet. I'm planning on doing my own maintenance on my boat anyway so I'll buy one of those oil pumps and change the oil in this boat. I'll hook all the hoses up, check the play in the steering, hook the muffs up to the outdrive and see if I can start it. I will try and drain the fuel as well but I'm not sure how I'm going to do that. I think someone mentioned that any marina can help me with that and since the boat is currently at a marina, maybe I'll be able to do it. If it runs, I'll back the boat into the water and try and run it again. I don't really want to take it out on the water since I'm not sure if the impeller will work.

I'll report back when I'm done.
Thanks again for all the info and advice.

In Lou we trust...(that said I purchased a used boat with only a 20 minute test ride on the water...so far so good. the trailer is a wreck though which is the one item I wish I had back)

If you go look at this thing, leave your money at home. You sound a lot like me and put yourself under a bunch of made up pressure to get the boat before anyone else does. Even if its a great boat it IS 20 years old and will require a LOT of work.

That said, look at it, run it, kick it and drive home to sleep for a day or three before buying it. Just my .02c after watching these forums for a few years myself.

It really could be a hidden gem, but odds are there is a pretty good reason its been sitting so long.....proceed with caution. (and take lots of photos for us when you go look at it(

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Jon Miller
1998 four Winns Horizon H200
Volvo Penta 4.3 GL
Newtown, CT

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

This.

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
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