www.iFourWinns.com

Grady Whites, Boston Whaler, Fountain and many other fine off shore boats are open bow. These are no more self bailing than that bow is.

Is it possible for a wave to come over bow, yes but would be one hell of a wave action. I've seen waves come over bows of freighters too.

Nice boat but it don't matter for me either....I couldn't fill it up with fuel.

Guys, the bowrider is a perfect boat. Girls sit up front while underway to get in the sun. Guys manage the helm, radio and get to watch the girls do some wave bouncing while shaded by the canopy.....AND....AND.....sound of the wind drowns out any nagging BS from the bow.

Closed bow means the view gets pissed on by the...its too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, go slower and go faster. Not to mention....why can't my bug eyed cousin and his amazon wife come on the boat!

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

I still don't get the arguments. This is a Vista V435, Four Winns second largest vessel and you think it can't handle the great lakes???? It's not a new design. Four Winns literally took a V435, cut a hole in the roof, installed the bow seats, and called it the H440. It's an ocean going vessel with room to comfortably sleep 6!

_________________
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
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

I explained my reasoning here. If you look back in other posts, I do like the boat. Great concept and would be perfect for an inland lake when you can anchor in a cove all day. For how we boat on Lake Michigan, not a good boat.

If we have somewhere to be in 3-5's, I will head out. I've been in 7-9's coming back and the 318 did just fine. As we all know, the boats can typically take a lot more than we can handle. For a Lake of the Ozarks boat, or a Florida boat, this would do great.

When I bought my 318, the cabin was essentially unused. They traded it in on a bowrider to take to the Keys. Perfect situation for the H440.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

As someone who boats on Lake Michigan as well, I'm sure Jeff can agree that you typically don't just anchor and hangout all day like you would on a smaller, inland lake. This boat would work for that, but a cruiser works better so you have a full cabin when you head to another port for a get a way.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

When they first posted the teaser pictures of this boat, I fully and totally thought it was a terrible idea with poor execution. I couldn't see the point and strongly questioned the "hot tub"/"bath tub" in the bow.

Now that actual people have taken actual pictures of the boat and frenchy posted his video I think this is an innovative and trend setting boat.

Have you seen the pictures of the cabin? Sure you don't have a door to the stateroom but look at the size of the bed area. And the kids have more than enough room in the forward bunk area.

I think the only real compromise in the cabin is the size of the galley, BUT WAIT, you have galley features in the cockpit which will get way more use anyways.

And lets be honest, do you spend more time on your boat actually underway in rough weather or sitting in a slip sipping a cocktail?

I'm not arguing that this is a boat that fits everyone's needs. It certainly doesn't. But, it seems silly to me to say it is not suited for use on big lakes, when the only arguments against it are it being less "sea worthy" b/c it has a bow cockpit or that there isn't enough cabin room compared to a 31' boat.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

I'm not arguing it's sea worthiness, only that it wouldn't fit our needs on Lake Michigan. How we used to boat on an inland lake she'd be ideal.

Comparing it to the 318, of course it's the same size cabin. But to a 435, no comparison.

Great design and innovative style. I'd buy one if I was going to use on an inland lake or in Florida. For Lake Michigan, give me the 435!

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Regarding the boats ability to take water over the bow.....are there any regs on these designs that require the ability to shed an amount of water in x amount of time? IE boat couldn't be certified for certain sea conditions or waterways if it wasn't up to par, similar to IFR/VFR airplanes etc.....obviously the operator could take the boat into uncertified conditions

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

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

I'm not sure if you guys are trolling or not. The H440 is a Vista 435. Four Winns literally takes a V435 and cuts a hole in the roof for the bow seats. The H440 has exactly the same cabin space of a V435, it's just a flipped layout (stateroom in the rear instead of up front of the V435). The H440 also has a larger bathroom due to the stateroom being in the rear and the bunks up front. The stateroom is also larger in the H440. It's an all around better layout and use of space if you compare the two.

Ya'll are very confused.

_________________
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
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

If it took a wave over the bow, there would be about 350 gallons of water sitting in that tub weighing the bow down to nose into the next wave. That is nearly 3,000 pounds of weight added to an already beefy front end. If the drains to that seating area are only 1", do you think the water will all drain out in less than 5 seconds before you hit the next big wave? Has anyone seen what they did for these drains in that area? Is there no bilge pump of any kind to pressurize the drains? Not sure how they would do it anyway...

If you haven't boated on the great lakes, its not the ocean. The waves are a lot less time in between, than the ocean. Not saying that I do not like it, it would be awesome to own one, but I would always be concerned on the big lakes with an open bow that could easily hold a ton of water unless the design makes that water drain out extremely fast.

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2006 Vista 278
First Boat:
2005 Sundowner 205
Columbus, OH

So lets do the maths...

I can't say I know what equations to use, but luckily there is a handy internet calculator.

Also, you can see some substantial drains in the back corners of the bow cockpit. Watch the video and pay attention when Mr. Lavigne is first standing in the bow before he raises the table.

Let's assume that the drains attach to 1.5" hose leading to appropriately sized scuppers.

Let's also assume water is 1 ft deep in the bow, which means there would be 15 psig at the inlet of the drain. The drains vent to atmosphere so the pressure is 0 psig

Primary Pressure 15 psig
Secondary Pressure 0 psig
Diameter of orifice 1.5 in

http://www.tlv.com/global/TI/calculator ... ifice.html

The water will flow at 181 GPM...gallons per minute PER drain.

If the water is deeper and there is more it will drain faster initially b/c the pressure will be higher at the drain inlet. As the water gets shallower it will drain slower.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

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Not Penny's Boat

1993 190 Horizon 5.0L EFI
http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11136
1977 14' CMF Skiff SOLD
2015 Emotion Stealth Angler 11

It costs exactly the same as the V435. How's getting a whole extra seating area a waste of money?

_________________
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
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Speaking of money, did anyone else notice the note on the FW website:

Starting at
$577,683*
US only Jan 1-March 31

*MSRP 728,769

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

B/C you can get an old Bayliner MY for less than half that....if you recall the conversation from a couple of months ago.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

If I had the money to buy an H440, I'd also buy a Bayliner MY just so I could tow it out to sea and sink it with a 50 cal with my buddies.

_________________
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
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread