www.iFourWinns.com

Yep I would prefer the sound of an inboard anyday, here most of what you hear is the buzz of Optimaxes, Yamahas and Hondas, as well as the noise generated by the old school 2 strokes. I usually winterize by the end of Oct to avoid having to do it in colder weather, but an outboard is going to be on the back of the next boat I buy to be sure.

_________________
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

Hopefully it is just the manifolds. If it is the block that would scare the heck out of me even with the very good mechanical skills I have. Manifolds really aren't that big a deal if that all it is and most likely the problem as they would pop before the block would.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I am hoping for you that it is just the manifolds. Good luck with that and I hope all works out.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Jason,

Hopefully your only damage, so far, is the manifolds. However, even if the block is OK right now, you need to get it thawed out and drained .... and anti-freeze added (to displace any water that does not drain). You are still at risk of cracking the block.

_________________
Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Right now until the insurance adjuster comes I have a heat lamp keeping the engine warm for the time being. Once the adjuster comes I will be taking it to the dealer to have the repairs made. If it is just the manifolds I might try to replace them myself.

_________________
2008 H200SS
4.3 merc
2008 Chevy 2500

Hey Jason..

Just curious as to why you wouldnt have winterized your boat. Not trying to be a smarta** here. I mean here in Michigan, you could never get away with it. Not sure what the temperature is like in the winter in NC, did you think it wouldnt get that cold? then when it did it was too late....?

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

There are a few reason for which I didn't winterize the boat. First I'm a dumb a$$ and should have winterized it, second it wasn't getting very cold around here seeing that I live right on the coast, third and this comes with my lack of experience and lack of boating knowledge is being on the coast there are a lot of fishing still going on and I have seen boats in the water and being trailered all the time. What I didn't know is that they are all outboards and you don't have to winterize them. This is another error that I will only have to pay for repairs once in my boating lifetime.

_________________
2008 H200SS
4.3 merc
2008 Chevy 2500

You know all of us has made some mistakes with our boats, there seems to be no way around that. My brother had a beautiful 22' Cobalt back in the early 90s, trashed the Volvo DP on a rock, $6K repair, good he had insurance. The first time I winterized mine, I tried to use one of those stupid tanks that lets you suck the AF up the drive. Well I used it and fortunately for me, I checked the block drains to see if AF was in the block, well it was mostly dirty water! If the thermostat doesn't open all the way (and it might not idling on the water hose on a 40 degree day in November here in NY!) then most of the AF winds up inthe manifolds, not enough in the block. So I drained the motor and just manually backfilled with AF, that's how I've done it ever since. I tell people to NEVER use those stupid kits, I took mine and made it into a flusher for my trailer brakes!

_________________
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

Yeah we have all made mistakes... I call it going to boating school. After the first season with our 268, I had 1250.00 worth of fiberglass repairs. A scrape form the trailer, hitting some steel on a dock, and 1 spot I have no idea what happend.

As far as winterizing, I dont think its worth trying to do it yourself. To much at stake for the low cost of having a dealer that does 500 - 600 boats a year like the one I go to does. Cant rember the exact price, but it is under 200.00 to do the motor, generator, outdrive and trailer. I do the water system myself (figure about the worst that can happen is a split water line). Also the dealer I go to, has a policy of their not responsible if done any later that the 1st of November.

Good luck, I hope the damage isnt too expensive.

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Honestly I feel I do a better job than the dealers do because I am taking a day to do one boat, it is not hard if you have good access to the drains and can get to the oil filter, fuel filter etc. To do my deluxe version of winterizing (warm up engine, change oil, filter, fuel filter, drive oil, fog motor, drain motor, manually back fill with 5 gallons of -100 antifreeze) costs me close to 100 bucks or so just in materials, but that is because the best -100 AF is so expensive, but it keeps the engine really well protected all winter and minimizes corrosion. Takes me about 3 hrs or so.

_________________
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 replaced my manifolds last November because they were cracked due to a poor winterization drain prior to the previous winter. There wasn't any serious water leaking all last season, but I noticed "rust" stains in the bilge and on the plug wires which warranted a closer inspection. I ran the engine up to temp. (on the muffs) and used a mirror & light to have a look and found a slight crack on the outside of each manifold. %$#&*!!!

Went with Osco after market manifolds for about $600 for the pair with new bolts, gaskets, and new riser bolts & gaskets aswell. New VP manifolds were in the neighborhood of $1800.

Easy install. My biggest worry was breaking a bolt, but they all broke loose quite easily. Took my time ensuring mating surfaces were clean and free of old gasket material. Torqued bolts as per specs, and I was done. Also a great oppurtunity to change the spark plugs.

Another point of interest; in order to clean the bilge area thourghly, I unscrewed the bilge pump to clean around & under it. As I lifted the bilge out of the way, the outlet on the bilge fell off due to being britle & old. So a new, higher GPH bilge was installed aswell.

_________________

2010 278 Vista
5.7 GXi DP

Past:
1999 225 Sundowner
5.7 GSi SX

Hey Starfish

Not to highjack thread

Are you on Vancouver FD. I are the Rosenbauer dealer in Michigan.

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

jsimon,

I am with the Dist. of North Vancouver which is across Burrard Inlet from Vancouver.

_________________

2010 278 Vista
5.7 GXi DP

Past:
1999 225 Sundowner
5.7 GSi SX

Small world.... My brother Steve is a retired Capt from North Van Fire Dept
Just wondering if you know him?

Jeff Villeneuve

Steve was with the City of North Van and I am with the District of North Van. I don't know him but I have heard his name mentioned (all good!).

_________________

2010 278 Vista
5.7 GXi DP

Past:
1999 225 Sundowner
5.7 GSi SX