www.iFourWinns.com

Yeh four winns seem to be very popular now. I saw an SL leaving the marina, they are nice boats and also that same day i saw a 378 vista as well as a H260

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Peter

2005 four winns sundowner
8.1L VP 375hp
http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/4winns/

Christian, you could say we have done more salt water work than fresh with our FW over the last 12 months (its been just over thant since we purchased it now)
We do a reasonable amount of wakeboarding and skiing in the fresh but the best memories have been in the salt latley.

Corrosion has not been much of an issue at this stage, i am noticing a little built up on the button clips etc so i scrub them a bit harder and it cleans them up quite well. We use a mild dishwashing liquid inside the boat most times to clean the vinyl, and a mcguires car wash to clean it. I have found over the years that waxing a boat gives it the bes chance (including the stainless & alluminium) you will be supprised the results in the bathroom taps as well, it keeps watermarks off stainless fittings...

As for flushing the motor, we dont use any salt protection/flush but i do give it a considerable run time (about 2 x beers) to flush out when we get home with fresh water. i must admit though, the quality of stainless fittings is pretty sub standard, (not blaming FW as all boats are the same) imagine owning a sail boat...

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2008, H210, Volvo Penta 5.7ltr, 300hp, SX Drive

Hi all, you can tell we are getting close to christmas, this site has gone pretty quiet....
unless you are all out in the boat.. i plan on going this weekend.

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2008, H210, Volvo Penta 5.7ltr, 300hp, SX Drive

Hasn't it just? I am heading up to Morgan next weekend (on the River Murray) and that boat is getting wet come what may!!

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

I'm off to Ben Chifley dam at Bathurst over Xmas/New Year... 1000 mile tow, but worth it for the fun!

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

As soon as Christmas dinner is complete we are off to Couran Cove on South Stradbroke Island in the boat for a week.

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Brian
2006 Horizon 220
350mpi Mercruiser
Jeep Grand Cherokee V8

Hi all, this is my very first post, even though I joined up 6 months ago, I haven't taken the time to write a post before.

My family and I spend most of our time skiing and wakeboarding on the Tweed River, we have holidays at the ski park in Grafton and sometimes go cruising up the Broadwater, I know Couran Cove very well, its a great place.

Clarke!

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

Gidday Clarke
Welcome to the forum. Post plenty of pics,especially this time of year it helps all the people living in the Northern Hemisphere get through the winter
Safe boating
Ardy

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Hi, You may already know this But I thought I better say something just in case.

Is the boat "trailer" in your photo hooked up to your truck at that time?

Because if it is then You might like to know that the front of the trailer is sitting way to low.

It needs to be level while hooked up to the truck or you are going to ware out the tires fast and also could ware out the trailer brakes, And could use extra fuel in the truck while towing, Among other things also.

The top of the trailer ball normaly averages around 18 inches from the ground while unhooked from the trailer.

That photo just made me wonder about your safty is all.

G'Day Clarke and welcome. I especially like the personalised rego number on your boat - very slick.

Just need to change which side your spare is on the trailer so you don't get cleaned-up by passing traffic should you ever need to use it!

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Unfortunately my CX9 does tend to sag a little in the rear when towing, Its probably not as bad as that first photo indicated, but still needs addressing. I have been trying to get some air bag coil supports from Poly air but they dont make them for my vehicle, so maybe I'll have to get stiffer rear coils, otherwise it tows really well.

As for the spare wheel, it was fitted on that side by Springwood Marine in Brisbane, if I change it now it will leave clamp marks on the plastic coating of the trailer?

Thanks for the warm welcome guys
Clarke

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

Spare is actually fitted by FW at the factory. If you carefully unbolt it and swap sides it may just leave a dent in the gatorhide, but usually not much. If the Gatorhide lifts like mine did (should have swapped it over sooner), I just put a bit of black insulating tape over it!

I tow mine with a Territory - it also sags a bit, probably because these trailers run a fair amount of drawbar weight but I don't sweat it and have never had a problem. Just got back from 2200km of towing last week! If you really wanted to be picky about drawbar weight, you may want to try and slide the boat back a couple of inches on the trailer next time you load it, but you would also have to move the bow roller back as well. I have always thought about this, but never actually done anything!

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Moving the boat back a few inches would make a big difference as I did this to my last boat and it towed better.

The only thing is the FW trailer isn't adjustable, so it would require some welding.

As for patching the gatorhide, I use a product called "Liquid Tape" made by Plasti Dip. It comes in a pressure pack can in a variety of colours and is actually a liquid plastic that has a 100% seal, designed for electrical connections but dries the same as gatorhide.
Its available from some electrical stores at about $30 per can or can be found at the link below

http://www.plastidip.net.au/find-a-distributor/queensland

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

Isn't the CX9 rated for 3,500lb only? If it's still the case ,then a 5,000lb rig will make the back drop for sure.

Glad someone else mentioned it. Not a set up I would feel comfortable with towing any further than around the block.
H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp (Boat,Engine,Fuel,Gear & Trailer weight = 4,931 pounds)
Mazda CX9 (A smooth, six-speed automatic is standard and maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds )
Yikes ! Mate.

I don't feel so bad now about possibly towing an H180 with my Lexus RX300, also rated for maximum of 3500lbs. H180 Boat, Trailer, Engine, Gear, Fuel and trailer is about 3,200 pounds.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy