www.iFourWinns.com

Looking to buy maybe this weekend. Just wanted to know if anyone owns or has owned this model. For 2250 and mostly recently rebuilt, sounds good to me.

The specs from the seller
-1986 Four Winn's Horizon 170. Open Bow. 17'6". Seats 8-9 -Mercruiser 140hp I/O. Alpha one outdrive -This year the carb was rebuilt by Sunset Marina -New Starter installed by Sunset Marina -Completely restored transom,floor stringers,and flooring. This boat does not leak one drop of water,and no rot anywhere -All new seals and gasket kit replaced in outdrive when restoring the transom -I have 2 extra props that go with it,1 is brand new,and the other is rebuilt -New Battery -4 life jackets,2 adult and 2 kids -20 pound anchor

Any input would be great!

Looking forward to becoming part of the forums if I buy it.

Thanks!

RotaryRacer had just posted a 1985 Four Winns Catalog:
http://fourwinns.com/content/assets/doc ... atalog.pdf

The first concern on a boat that old is Wood Rot. They said that the transom, stringers and floor have already been re-done, so the question is: did they do a good job? Any records of the job, or pictures. Did they use marine plywood, cheap plywood, pine, or non-wood options? I would look under the boat at the running surfaces, looking for any surface that is concave or convex where it should be straight. That could mess with the boats handling (less than 1/8" is probably OK). If the rebuild was done properly, you could have a boat which will last many years.

Also, about 97% of boat buyers will not buy this old, so you are in a buyers market. Price should be quite negotiable. It wouldn't surprise me if you could get that boat for closer to $1000.

Size: Many people on this forum describe the Horizon 170 as being comfortable for 4 adults, and crowded with 6, so don't expect it to be practical with "8-9 passengers". 2 adults and 4 kids is probably good though.

There are many other maintenance items to be concerned about, but I am going to let others chime in. If you do your own mechanical work, it could be a good fit for you.

Good luck, and welcome to the forum.

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Having done something similar to a boat of about the same vintage, I have to wonder, why did they do it? If properly done the repairs would have exceeded the price they are asking, even just for materials. This is a hard to evaluate project, do they have any pictures to prove what was done? I have bunch of mine so if I ever do sell it I can show the buyer what was done. Without pictures that you can trust, I'd be suspicious. And then if you buy it and eventually want to sell it, you'll have to prove the same thing to the next buyer.

_________________
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

There are pictures and info in the original craigslist post.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/3571737149.html

Just don't jack my sale! ha

If they have receipts from the marina, I would be inclined to trust that, no?

I'm going to check it out with a friend on Saturday so I can see everything for myself.

I'm wondering how the merc 140 will be for towing people? At 220 I can get up on bigger boats, but I had some trouble on my friend's small baja with only a 80

Like LouC, I also went through the floor and stringer rebuild on a 1987 boat (19.5'). I spent close to 3000 including labor, marine plywood, foam, new fuel tank. Also like Lou, I kept detailed pictures of the repair. 2-1/2 years later, I sold the boat for $1100 including trailer (engine needed rebuild). I felt lucky to get that much for it.

This seller may think he can get his money back out of it, but it is not likely. Three rules for old boats:
1. BUYERS MARKET
2. BUYERS MARKET
3. BUYERS MARKET
especially true for a small boat with only a 4 cylinder I/O. There is much more demand for the 4.3L and 5.7L models.

I'm not saying you shouldn't buy it, but I think you could probably get it for about 1/2 of that price. Lou: what do you think?

Or spend more to get something newer. Here is a 2002 for $6500
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2002-Four-Winns-Horizon-170-348930

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I would agree offering less, its not that the guy didn't spend money on this, but you won't be able to recover your investment. Its hard to sell boats that age, unless they are a saltwater style boat like a Whaler or Grady that really keeps its value better than any freshwater style boat. I wound up keeping mine because I actually like the hull design better than the newer boats, it has more room inside, the engine compartment design (tweaked by me) makes it as easy as it can be to work on the I/O, and the deep vee gives great ride and handling characteristics. So I figured the money I spent, gets spread out over a number of years of boating. It still has the original engine and drive.

I actually almost sold it before I had it painted, I was looking at a really nice much bigger boat (89 Steiger Craft 23 foot with a Volvo 280 drive) but then I realized, I'm back to all the possible old boat headaches. So I said well I already re-did this one, I'll get it painted and keep it say 7 years or whatever, that way I feel like I at least got use out of the money I spent. I did REALLY like that Steiger though, much more seaworthy than most boats its size.

If you want to have some decent resale, I agree get something newer. The whole concept of a cheap boat is really misleading, because cheap boats soak up cash and then they are hard to sell when you want to move up. More expensive late model boats can soak up cash but not so much if you are careful and they at least have some resale.

I looked at the pix, the boat looks nice, but since he went with carpet again, you cant really see how good a job he did unless he has good pix. I redid mine with non skid gelcoat and got rid of the rot causing carpet. Now that was 6 years ago and the deck on mine still looks great and no carpet means it does not hold moisture. I would NOT buy any boat with carpeted wood cored decks, PERIOD.....

_________________
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

sooo the boat sold today before I even got to see it on Saturday.

Thanks for the help everyone, still appreciated.

I guess I was wrong about "Buyer's Market"

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

No problem. Found a 1989 200 that they put a 351ford v8 in. asking 4000,which I feel is steep. Also found a 1990 rinker for 4000obo. So we'll see