www.iFourWinns.com

I am now the proud owner of my 1994 Four Winns Horizon 190. My father has owned the boat since 1995 - bought from a guy that put less than 20 hours on it in a half season.

I have boated all of my life, but am a first time owner now. My family and I love it, and my old boat is in mint condition and serves us very well.

I have been lurking here for a bit and enjoy the reading and informtion.

I'll get some pics soon.

Thanks

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1994 FW Horizon 190
5.0 OMC Cobra

Welcome!

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Welcome to the forum!

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

I have a 93 210 Horizon and it is a great boat. You will enjoy the heck out of yours.
I bought mine 9 years ago with 400 hours on it from the dealer who sold it new and stored and maintained it since new. Sure the new boats look great and have some nice features, but mine is as shiny as they are and we get just as much fun from it as we would if it was new, and of the 5 boats I have owned 3 were brand new, so I know what I am talking about.
Best of luck with the boat and I hope you enjoy yours as much as we've enjoyed ours.

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Steve K
1993 Four Winns 210 Horizon
5.8L EFI OMC

Thanks for the welcome.

Steve, I know exactly what you mean. I always am looking at new and other later model boats for sale, but never like any of them as well as mine. My boat is 100% original and everything is in like new condition. Everyone is amazed at the condition of it. I like having a nearly 20 year old boat that looks as good as (most of the time much better than) just about every other boat out there. A 210 would be great though!

I just added a bimini this year that has worked out great with the heat. The only other upgrade I am considering is the carpet. Still is ok, but it is the only thing showing wear.

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1994 FW Horizon 190
5.0 OMC Cobra

The older boats have some better design features in that there was more usable space and in some cases easier engine access. The newer bow riders have molded in glass that is part of the top cap and goes down to the deck. This makes working on anything on to rear of the engine like starters or manifolds very difficult. On the older models that area is wide open. On the plus side, the newer ones use composite construction talhat is less rot prone. The gel coat used now is less prone to oxidation.

From my experience in fixing rot, the best thing you can do if the boat has glued down carpet on plywood cored decks, is to get rid of it, re-glass the deck and have it gel coated or painted in a non skid marine paint. The carpet holds moisture and causes rot. A gel coated deck or painted deck allows it to dry out. The other important thing is to seal all screw holes for seats with 3m 4200.

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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

Congrats! ENJOY

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2012 H210SS called "IMAGINE"

I added a bimini to mine a few years ago and it paid for itself the first summer.

I am thinking about replacing my carpet too. Mine still looks pretty good, but has a few small stains and it a little worn in spots, and the new marine carpet is very nice.

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Steve K
1993 Four Winns 210 Horizon
5.8L EFI OMC

LouC - Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't thought of doing something like that with the floor. I know rot can become an issue, but it is all good as of now. Boat is/was always "dried out" as good as possible and never stored outside. I'm always a stickler about trying to keep as much water out of the boat as well. My wife gets irritated at how I make everyone dry off and not get in the boat soaking wet.

Maybe pulling up the carpet would tell me just what condition all of the floor is actually in, and may be a good idea. All other floor "checks" pass. With continued good care, I was hoping for just a carpet upgrade.

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1994 FW Horizon 190
5.0 OMC Cobra

Taking out the carpet is a big job, not because of the carpet per se but the damn glue they use to glue it down is hard to remove.
It depends on how long you want to keep the boat, if just a few seasons why knock yourself out. But if you are going to R+R carpet anyway and want the boat to really last, the deck will last much longer if you get rid of the carpet and gel coat it with non skid mixed in or use a heavy duty marine deck paint with anti skid. The carpet holds moisture under it for months.
In my boat, all the rot started in areas under the carpet that did not dry out. Under the seat bases, and anywhere a hole was drilled and not filled in. Even moisture in the air, when it is not allowed to evaporate, and is at the right temperature, will allow rot to develop.

The pieces that did not rot were the plywood gas tank cover and the engine compartment dividers/bulkheads, even though these had carpet on them, they did not have anything on top of them to prevent the moisture from evaporating.

Now with the gel coated deck, it dries out very fast, in my case there is no way I could store it inside and getting rid of the carpet was my best option to make that big job last.

People say its the foam under decks that make boats rot, while that is true to an extent, they start rotting faster from the carpet on top and unsealed holes.

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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