www.iFourWinns.com

Yesterday we went to Spicers to pick up our new H210 SS (I've already posted pictures) and actually left Spicers with out our boat. How can that be you ask! That would be due to the fact the boat failed its sea trial !!!!! You would figure after spending 40K on a new boat that this wouldn't be the case. I have read nothing bad about Four Winns, so discovering this yesterday was a little disturbing to say the least. I understand things can happen, or need to be adjusted and tweaked but in our case here the engine cooling valves were not opening therefor resulting in HIGH engine temperatures. How in the HELL does a new boat come to a dealer directly from the manufacture with this probelm???? Spicers said it may be a week or so before they can figure out what needs to be done to rectify this event. They plan to call Mercruiser to seek tech advice. So this leads me to my question: is this the start of what's to come later? Or have any of you purchased a brand new boat and dealt with similar issues and maybe this is just semi normal with a new boats. Im a pilot by profession and know that new airplanes have bugs that need tweaking but NOT engines LOL!!

What's your thoughts here? Should I ask Merc to through in the extended warranty for free, since I wasted a an entire day not to mention the disappointment of myself and family.

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2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL

If you're a pilot, I hate to say it but you're going to have to ratchet down your expectations for quality and customer service. The things boat builders are allowed to get away with is nuts IMO, and it isn't just FW. The recent economic woes haven't made things any better.

This particular problem is most likely just a defective part that didn't get caught, and will be an easy fix once identified. All that said, it's wise for the purchaser of a new boat to plan on having a number of repairs during or at the end of the first season.

I'm sorry your delivery got messed up, that has to be frustrating beyond words.

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

Yeah, Im hoping its just a simple fix/adjustment. Either way I plan to speak with someone of authority at Four Winns this coming week and express my displeasure as I believe this should have been caught. After searching through our owners manuals for the boat we discovered inspection sheets for multiple things (gel coat, interior, engine, electrical etc) and the one with the serial numbers for the engine and outdrive has sign off spot "Inspected by......" and what do you know, ITS BLANK...HAHAHHAHA. It was never signed off.........so much for quality control and standardization. This was a huge purchase for us, one we thought about for sometime. So Im sure Im letting the Sticker shock feed into this.

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2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL

Disappointing for sure. There will be some more bugs with a new boat, Expect it. they will make things right for you, but your short season just got shorter. Some 2009's and 2010 leftovers around for low to mid 30's.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I'm sure things will work out for you. Just be patient.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Im not so certain about what you said with regards to finding left over 2009's or even 2010's for that matter. I searched everywhere, even calling out of state dealers that I was willing to drive to. I also made a call to Four Winns themselves and spoke to a VP of marketing and he did a search for me for both 2009's and 2010 H200/H210 SS. There were none in the US, two or three in Canada. but those do not have the required catalytic converter and you have to pay duty fee's and the logistics are kind of funky bringing them back to the states.

I have been screwed in used purchases before even after a good check out of the item being purchased, so I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth and wanted new. Plus I like having the warranty with everything.

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2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL

I was the same way, that's why I insisted on new at the time. And in the long run those are valid reasons (warranty, you know how it was broken in, etc.) - but the downside is, you get to find all the things that didn't get caught (when they should've been) and you get to spend what could have been time on the water, getting them fixed. This is one of the reasons it's so important to have a good dealer and a good relationship with them. I didn't feel like my boat was just "hitch it up, go to the lake, have a good time, put it back away" until the end of the 2nd season. Until then, there was always one more thing that needed attention. My point is, you aren't alone or unique in this regard; unfortunately it's one of the "joys" of buying a new boat.

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

It's true that customer service in boats leaves much to be desired. That's one reason why I will probably never buy a new boat, the other being I hate being in debt, I have a hard time financing something for a long time I can only use for 6 months our of the year at most. I would rather buy a lightly used boat next (say 2-3 seasons old) and have it checked out by my very good mechanic. I will only buy power packages that he or the other guy I can use are familiar with. It took one visit to him to make my 88 FW reliable (14 years old when I bought it). I had a bit of work done by him the next year (normal repairs at that age, bellows, trim lines, seals) and since then it has not been back in the shop for 5 seasons...

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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

Well Im starting to feel better about it. Spicers was upset also that this happend and wondered who signed off the engine on our boat. I don't blame Spicers at all, so far they have been great to work with. Spicers even offered to drive the boat to our cottage or our house down state which is 2 hour and 45 minutes away. In the heat of the battle and after spending this kind of cash I just became upset. But its true as they say "Sh*t happens". No biggie. You bring up good points about knowing how it was broke in and used and taken care of. All are a nice piece of mind. I've known people that spend tons of money on cars or boats and they dont take care of them, and they abuse the heck out of them. Not to mention, we plan to keep this boat for a while......dont we all say that!!!

_________________
2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL

I'm not so sure I would let the dealer go without blame. They should have seatrialed the boat before you arrived... days before so they could notify you if and when the major problem came to light. If they don't have this policy then perhaps you should suggest it to them. A happy customer is a repeat customer. All the mechanical systems I install in my job get reviewed thoroughly during installation (equates to manufacturer quality inspections) then the manufacturer's rep comes and starts all the major components (dealer prep and inspection) then we test run for atleast a week to work out any kinks/make adjustments and finally we train the owner on his new system and hand him over the reigns along with as built drawings and operation and maintenance manuals (seatrial/ owner inspection). In the ten years I have been doing this we regularly get applauded on the thoroughness of this process and the understanding the new owners enjoy by being a part of all the onsite portions.

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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

So previously owning a Bayliner didn't break you in?

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

lol......I know, Bayliners are cheaper made boats than Four Winns. But, I have to say that little 19' Bayliner that I bought 4 years ago was awesome for a starter boat. It had 50 hours on in when I bought it, and served us well each and every year. Never once had a problem with any mechanical items.

_________________
2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL

Maybe because it was a used boat

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I purchased a fourwinns 2011 180...all the fourwinns he had sold that year had a defective temp gage. The boat dealer is still waiting for replacement gages since summer months, as of today I never had a temp gage work in my new fourwinns. No other issues, its been a really nice boat for my first one.

They are crapping their pants because they are worried you might just walk away from the deal. They would probably tow it 1000 miles if you asked them to...

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2008 H210SS Yellow VP 5.7 GXi 320 HP (sold May 2010)
2008 Mercedes ML 320 CDI Diesel

OK so I didn't read through this whole thing BUT having just had our in water show in Newport this past weekend we had a BRAND NEW V285 that the engine didn't last 45 mins and one whole side has shut down... the new Catalyst motors have some crazy things going on. So I can fully believe that the boat didn't pass its sea trial. This is by no means something that Four Winns would have picked up at the factory since the boat runs in the pool for not very long so they can check shifting and some basic functions. I'm sorry your experience started off on the wrong foot but it will get better.

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Bryan Mutter

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