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St. Louis Dave
PostPosted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:19 pm 
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Lake Michigan - Unsalted

Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:38 pm
Posts: 867
Location: Comstock Park / Grand Haven (Barretts)
millhaven_nice_guy wrote:
I'll put my two cents in here...
I truly believe that a big motor is not necessary if you are going to keep and use the boat for cruising and the ocassional ski/tube. But it will affect resale value later because everybody wants the "big" motors. Unfortunately, most of us buy boats that are too small for our applications (mostly due to budgets) and end up with "two-foot-itis" after the first season. Let's face it, we spend the most time on our boats in the first season of ownership because it is "new". We also get to second guess our decisions too. The loss on the resale plus the misery of regret lead us to the trade-in or resale debate.... and the process starts again.
We probably could have just bought the boat we wanted for the cost of the aggravavtion/losses/depreciation.
Performance between a V6 and V8 (220 HP is 220 HP) should be minimal in most applications especially these days with EFI and the hopped up valve trains on the V6's. Maybe a bit better pulling power/holeshot, some fuel savings. They make these things all run 45-50 mph with the outdrive gear ratio and prop from the factory. What more do you want?
My original H200 had the 5.0 litre carb (220 HP) and I loved it's performance for our application... We never towed anybody though! The people I sold it to have used it for pretty much the same application as me and are very happy with it too. My first season was 70 hours and $1100 in fuel.
I upgraded late in the season to my H260 with 7.4 litre EFI (kept two boats in storage for the winter $$$) My second season on the water was 30 hours and the $1100 in fuel costs but fuel had risen by atlest 40 cents per litre.

As I read all this I am not too sure what I was really trying to get at.... Buy the boat that suits your perceived application if you think you will be upgrading in the near future then buy the V8 to maximize resale.


Marc, you like the big block as much as I do..... :roll:

It's only money right? You only live once?

Like everyone has posted, you won't be sorry by going with the higher HP motor. I'd add another engine onto my boat if I could! Just think, a 260 with over 700 HP..... :shock:

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

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Burdette
PostPosted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:16 pm 
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Sting Ray

Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:22 pm
Posts: 66
Location: Stouffville Ontario
Hi
I had a 1979 Peterborough with an 1984 Merc 115 hp outboard.We would tow the kids on skis,in tubes etc.We purchased a 2007 H180 with a 3.0l Volvo.The boat handles great has lots of power for us and seems to be good on fuel. I think the boat is a great fit for my family.We probably don't tow as much as you might so if your going to tow alot I would go with the V6.If your looking for an 18 or 19ft I think you would enjoy one with the V6.The larger the motor the larger the boat and more money(new or used).If you dont need or want the bigger boat test drive a 180 or 190 wth the V6.Test drive a Four Winns in the size that fits with the V6 or the V8 if you go above the 19ft.Test drive with a few people and or a Skier. Go as new as possible.
Just my two cents

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Andrew
07 H180
2000 Buell X-1
Stouffville Ontario
Canada
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bikerboater
PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:42 pm 
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Seahorse

Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 23
My 04 has a 4.3L carbed engine. Has all the power I need, my kids are great skiers, boarders... But you all know what happens when the tube comes out! (Now that I think about it, I should save my money on all those expensive skis/boards)

4.3L has all the power I need, I do wish I had the fuel injected version. To be honest, I do "Wish I had a V8".

On the other hand, I have hard enough time GETTING to my 6 cyl. Can't imagine how to work on a V8 crammed in the back of my little boat.

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2004 180 Horizon
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LouC
PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:12 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:26 pm
Posts: 5688
Location: Long Island NY
I have a 4.3 V-6 but with the 4bbl carb vs the more common 2bbl, you can feel the surge of power when the secondaries of the Quadrajet open up. My boat is 20'9'' but a narrow beam of 7'8" and relatively light weight (2650 according to FW but I bet it's closer to 3000 lbs).
As far as engine accessibility, I'd look carefully at the rear compartment, many newer small FWs have a lot of molded in fiberglass that my boat doesn't have, which makes certain service jobs (esp the oil filter if not remote) very difficult. On Volvos, with the engine mounted impeller, you will have to be able to move the bench seat foward to get at the impeller if it's a V-8 with sunsport seating. The V-6 is about 3.5 inches shorter than the V-8. But I agree, bigger is better, up to a point.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
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2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
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spazboy
PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:33 pm 
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Minnow

Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:24 pm
Posts: 12
I have a 2008 H200 with a 4.3 FI and it has all the power I need and I get good fuel mileage with it. Bigger is not always better,even in a boat.
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Busacharger
PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:28 pm 
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Location: Smithville, MO
I'd go with the EFI V8. It's much easier and cheaper to use less of the power you do have than it is to increase the power that you don't have later when you've decided you need it.

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Mike
Smithville, MO
08' Hayabusa, 2011 Subaru Outback, 03' Infiniti G-35 S.C.
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hot57chev
PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:50 am 
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Minnow

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:17 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Sidney BC Canada
Well thanks for all the input, I think I am still sitting on the fence, both engines would work, I guess it falls into what boat I find with the other options we like too.
Fuel injection would be a great bonus I think.
But silent choice exhaust would sound hot on the V8 lol :)

Ok Gents & Ladies, here’s one more question for you
I have noticed some of the four winns I am looking at come with a dash panel all enclosed more like a car style, instead of the separated mounted gauges and speedometer?
How can this be water proof as much as separate sealed gauges?
Anybody had any problems with this new integrated dash panel?

I live in British Columbia Canada, and the deals in California seem to be worth a trip down there,
Sun shine here we come.....
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230 Mike
PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:55 am 
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230 Mike
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Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 7:59 pm
Posts: 5141
Location: Kansas City, Table Rock Lake
Do be aware that "silent choice" is anything but silent; even when closed, it often will leak or rattle, and that's normal. It will do nothing for performance on anything less than a big block (although I love the sound as much as anyone).

Also consider resale value when choosing your power package.

If the funds allow, I'd always choose the "more power than I need most of the time" approach.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
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Graham R
PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:45 pm 
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Location: Chester, UK
re the dashboard types;

VDO made the integrated automotive type. Some owners has serious problems, some had none (like me!). They can be a little difficult to see when standing up, but I found mine accurate, especially the speedo, which works from 0mph as it uses an electrical paddlewheel sensor, not a pitot tube. Some of the later VDO gauge clusters would indicate sea/ lake water temperature.

I now have a later boat, with the Faria seperate instruments. They do look smarter and are easier to see ( due to a modified dash cowling design, rather than the instruments themselves). I find them less reliable than the VDO unit I had though!
The tachometer pegs at various rpm and needs a hefty tap to get it going again.
The tachometer and trim gauge lenses cloud up
The fuel gauge oscillates (even when the tank is absolutely full and the boat is not moving)
The speedo only starts working well above the harbour speed limit (I have a chartplotter, so I can use that for checking my speed in the harbour).

If the VDO cluster fails, FW offer a replacement set of Faria gauges. I don't know whether the speedo still uses the paddlewheel sensor, or it changes to the pitot tube type. I've not checked to se if Faria actually offer an electronic speedo that uses a paddlewheel.

Graham
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hot57chev
PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:29 am 
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Minnow

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:17 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Sidney BC Canada
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I am looking at a 2003 Fourwinns 190 Horizon
Does this look like a EFI
Does Chev still use throttle body or have they gone to injectors?
Hope my attempt at adding picture works
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Aussie_Horizon_190
PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:33 pm 
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
Looks like a carb one to me. Also after looking closely, says 5.0 GL which is definately carb. Chev used injectors, not TBI in 2003.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport
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hot57chev
PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:04 pm 
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Minnow

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:17 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Sidney BC Canada
The guy seems like a small dealer or a back yard flipper and advertises it as a EFI, after contacting him he says oh its a carb.
Its on the top 3 list lol.
Glad to hear GM went to injectors, would like that option. I think it would save some fuel in the long run.
Thanks
Jeff
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Teacher Todd
PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:37 pm 
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Location: Prineville, OR
My advice would be to take your time. There are great deals out there. As far as v8 or v6, I have to go v8. I would put a v8 in my lawn mower in heartbeat if I could make it work. Never can have to much power all though the fuel gauge begs to differ.

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1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
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hot57chev
PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:01 pm 
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Minnow

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:17 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Sidney BC Canada
Teacher Todd wrote:
My advice would be to take your time. There are great deals out there. As far as v8 or v6, I have to go v8. I would put a v8 in my lawn mower in heartbeat if I could make it work. Never can have to much power all though the fuel gauge begs to differ.


Choices choices, an 18 foot or 19 foot
V8 or V6
Carb or EFI
My head is spinning lol, Ive looked at so my ads for boats I am loosing track of whos who and whats what.
Now the hold up is waiting for my passport so we can get down to the states and have a first hand look at all these deals.
a 19 foot with a V8 efi would make me smile:)

Jeff & Kelly
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hot57chev
PostPosted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:03 pm 
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Minnow

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:17 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Sidney BC Canada
Another question
Are Four Winns stringers still wood?
or fully encapsulated wood?
I see glasron are all fiberglass molds no wood at all
Its really hard to get a 100% sure answer from any sales man.

Jeff
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