2013 180 outboard

SydPete · **Joined:** Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:25 am **Posts:** 6

Hi everyone,
I have been looking at the H180 outboard for a while and always thought the styling was a little dated. I stumbled on some photos of the new 180 today, great new styling to follow the schemes of the larger boats! I can't post pics from my phone, but the link is below. Enjoy!

http://www.texassportboats.com/m_galler ... 02015&ps=6

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:34 am

I had a discussion on facebook about this boat and their engine choices with four winns. They purposely limited the engine size to 150hp. Not because that's all the hull could take, or because it was a weight issue. It's because if they strapped on a 200 it would blow away speed wise anything else they offer and they don't want their base model boat being the baddest thing on the lot. It's a shame really.

brijr77 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:47 am

I like it. Looks nice

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:13 am

Wow. I'm surprised they already have a new hull design for the O/B model. The last 180 o/b was released as a 2011 model.

Very interesting that they already have a new hull.

Has anyone seen specs for this 2013 H180 hull? Length, width?

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:59 am

I like it, the interior looks to be of a higher quality than the previous model, now FW give us one in the 20-22 ft range....

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:23 am

I like the re-design of the H180 O/B. The "slab sided" treatment looks good on this size boat,

SydPete · **Joined:** Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:25 am **Posts:** 6

I much prefer the new styling over the current 180. The bow looks a lot deeper and the "bench seat" look of the rear seat on the last model is all but gone. Unfortunately we will have to wait a while to see one in Australia.

Let's hope they also allow the new 150 hp four stroke Merc as an option in this model too!

Now I just have to wait for more pics:)

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:25 pm

Just so you know, 99% of all Florida boating is fresh water. Only in a handful of spots is it safe to take a boat like a bowrider in salt water areas. Just in my area alone within a 30 min drive circle I can choose from at least 10 popular boating lakes (all fresh of course). Many around here have bars and other attractions you can dock to. Or you can hit the St. Johns River and boat from Orlando, FL to Jacksonville. It does get brackish when it gets close to the ocean up there in Jax

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:53 pm

ric wrote:

Just so you know, 99% of all Florida boating is fresh water.

Prove it with some published data.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:07 pm

Okay well we're discussing pleasure boats, and Florida has more fresh water boating lakes then McDonalds drive thrus. If you want to discuss fishing and fishing boats then you should say so, that's a totally different genre of boating and boats... boats Four Winns does not sell. Now in towns like Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa where they are port cities with exclusive neighborhoods on intercoastals larger cruisers do see inland salt water use, but Four Winns also caters to that market with inboard boats. A handful of other people do use I/O bowriders in those protected waters but it's rare. 18-25ft center consoles dominate those markets. A boat from Orlando there's a 99.9999% chance it's never seen salt. There's no reason or want to drive a bowrider 1hr each direction to boat in choppy waters when there's a handful of amazing boating lakes right here, with bars, restaurants, and other attractions.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:30 pm

Data please......

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:50 pm

Cap'n Morgan wrote:

Data please......

Living and boating here for 25 years...

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:06 pm

Cap'n Morgan wrote:

I like the re-design of the H180 O/B. The "slab sided" treatment looks good on this size boat, not so much on the new H210, H230 and H260 or on the V275 and V305.

LouC wrote:

now FW give us one in the 20-22 ft range....

They will, stay tuned........

Why wait, if I was in Florida or East Coast Salt Water, I sure would not have an I/O bowrider. It would have
to be an outboard. And there are several models that would accomplish the functions of a bowrider/fishing/ski boat
already available. One I like alot is the SeaFox 216DC. It has a head, bow filler, rear bench and can cruise over 200 miles with the Yammie 150 at 27.3 mph burning 6.7 gph. If I can afford to retire down south, there will likely be one of these on the lift outside our house.

Or you can buy a Rinker 196 OB today.

Admit it Lou, you will never get another boat to replace your Four Winns. Despite the 1,000,000 times you have said it on message boards. You will be buried with your Four Winns when the time comes. But it is nice to dream at least. :wink:

Ha Ha you are right Captn, esp after that nice pricey red Imron paint job! Actually I have learned over the 10 years I have had it to make the I/O last and work well in salt water.
My neighbor has a Key West 2020 Dual Console with a Yamaha 150 OB, nice boat for the area. It would be hard for me to totally give up the simple car based Chevy I/Os, I've worked on similar engines since the 70s and modern OBs as nice as they are, are not so DIY friendly.

But I am still moving ahead....we picked up a new Suzuki 2.5 Four Stroke for our 10' Walker Bay, its my son's first real boat....nice little toy to tool around the bay....

vipergg · **Joined:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:24 pm **Posts:** 29

Yeah I'm going outboard next time,too much maintenance on io's.
You don't have to worry about things like bellows On outboards,easier winterizing etc...
The new 4 stroke OB's are real quiet and brands like Yamaha are extremely reliable.

jacknbella · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:33 am

I too, am planning to ditch the I/O for an OB. I'm also gonna buck the trend of going bigger. I want a 19-20 footer, tops! Screw the wakeboard tower as well. Too much of a pain in the you know what to raise and lower. As long as I'm at it, give me a single axle trailer too....2 less tires and hubs to worry about. AND, it's much easier to manuever in my driveway. As soon as FW offers a 19-20 footer with a 200-250 hp Merc OB, I'm all over it. Don't get me wrong, I love my H220, but after owning and maintaining it for the last 4 years, my needs and desires have changed. My two cents...

www.iFourWinns.com

2013 180 outboard

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