Used boat purchase..2005 250 vs 2006 260

vmaxhp · **Joined:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:31 am **Posts:** 9

Good morning! I'm in the market for a used boat and I'm looking at two Four Winns. The product brochure from FW describing the 05 250 and the 06 260 show them to pretty much be the same layout. From your experience, any differences?

Also, I live at 5500' elevation. One of the boats has a Volvo 5.7 with DP. Is that enough power for the high elevation and this weight of boat?

Thanks!
Rick

french829 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:51 am

2005 vs. 2006 Four Winns changed the name of several models--but the body styles remained pretty much unchanged. There were some minor fit and finish changes such as stainless steel sink/cupholders vs. white and things like that. The H230 became the H240 and the H250 became the H260. Length of the boats remained identical.

The H250/260 is a heavy boat--I believe close to 4800lbs with no gear, fuel, water, or people. The 5.7 is decent and will probably top you out in the low to mid 40's I would guess. If it was me--I would probably look for a 7.4 to 8.1. I just think you never regret having more power.

vmaxhp · **Joined:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:31 am **Posts:** 9

french829 wrote:

2005 vs. 2006 Four Winns changed the name of several models--but the body styles remained pretty much unchanged. There were some minor fit and finish changes such as stainless steel sink/cupholders vs. white and things like that. The H230 became the H240 and the H250 became the H260. Length of the boats remained identical.

The H250/260 is a heavy boat--I believe close to 4800lbs with no gear, fuel, water, or people. The 5.7 is decent and will probably top you out in the low to mid 40's I would guess. If it was me--I would probably look for a 7.4 to 8.1. I just think you never regret having more power.

Good to know. Yeah, I was thinking the 5.7 might be a tad on the light side for this size boat. I had the 5.7 with SX on my 3600lb Crownline, and it did a nice job. The FW is 1/3 more weight. The used 496 (not HO) I'm looking at has a B1 out drive with a 3 blade 19. Who puts a single prop on a 5000lb boat?

I took it for a test on the lake. LOTS of cavitation coming out of the hole.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 12:39 pm

The 5.7 is great in the 230/240 but once you get into the 250/260 you want a big block. And yes, I would not buy anything longer than 24' without a B3 or DuoProp.

rpengr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 1:13 pm

And I'm not sure of the exact formula for power loss for altitude, but I think you are losing about 18% at 5500ft above sea level.

FrenzyLenz · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:54 pm

Rick - I've been debating selling our 2008 H210 Frenzy lately. Bought the boat new in 2010 and used only two full summers due to military deployment.

We use at 5500' in Pueblo CO, and as kids grow older, they are less and less interested in boating with mom and dad...besides, we are less than one year out from putting our oldest kid in college.

Starting to accept that the boat is probably the first expense to shed. Otherwise she's in great shape and only has 31 hours...can't believe that's all I've managed, but we spent a lot of time anchored in the cove.

Don't entirely remember the specs for horsepower, but for a 21' boat, the 5.7L has plenty of power over a 250/260. Don't know if the bigger boat is what you really desire. If interested, let me know. Wasn't ever planning on actively selling, unless a buyer just happened to come along. When people tell me "nice boat", I always ask if they want to buy it...somewhat as a joke, but also half-way serious about it...heck I don't really even know what the thing is worth, suppose I should start learning that dollar value soon.

Scott

Flying Sushi · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 8:02 pm

We once owned 06 Horizon with 5.7Gi SX and single prop just did not cut well for us..... Move to H260 with 8.1Gi DP and absulutley loved that boat.... At higher altitude engine would loose power so I would recommend to get a big block H260 with DP or BIII ....

vmaxhp · **Joined:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:31 am **Posts:** 9

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on an 05 250, 80 hours, Merc 8.1 Bravo I. Nice condition other than some cosmetic scrapes on the side. Asking $34k. I had a Crownie 225 BR, which got trashed trailering it back from lake and someone hit it from behind. I like the bigger boat, more seating, and transom shower, and female friends like the enclosed toilet. Personally, I'm thinking, you fill it, you empty it.

With the B1, I get a LOT of prop slip coming out of the whole with the 19p 3 blade stainless. Winter project to replace the lower with a B3. In the meantime, I've got an 18p 4 blade Powertech that should help.

The bimini is real canvas. Thoughts on a good way to water proof the bimini? I'd like to get a canvas full enclosure so I can spend a night or two on the lake upon occasion.

Thanks!
Rick

230 Mike · **Posted:** Thu Aug 29, 2013 2:39 am

303 Fabric Guard for the canvas. It was the original factory recommendation and has worked well for me.

french829 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 29, 2013 10:01 am

+1 on the 303. I treat the canvas once a year.

Xavid · **Posted:** Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:14 pm

I have the 05 260 and it has the 6.2 l 350 mag mercruiser with b3 drive. I have been happy with the power and it has been no problem whatsover in tubing and skiing. In retrospect I would prefer the 8.1, but I think it a minimal difference for my needs. The top ayearly gets a wash and then 303, as does the snap on canvas. I have the camper top but havent used it in the 3 years i have had the boat. I will when I can convince my wife. The canvasses I have, incl the bimini look new still. You will likely have a tilt to the port side from the dual batts being stupidly placed where they are, on the right rear of the boat. I still havent gotten around to (or had the gumption to) move them to balance her out. Might want to make sure the trailer tires arent the original carlisles even without much trailering or wear - they will blow like mine did and everyone elses. The new Carlisles are supposed to be the best now (Mike - are yours still doing as well as you hoped?).
I would recommend doing what you are doing - the best engine of the 2 with the lowest hours as the 2 year/models are otherwise nearly identical.
I paid 30 something for mine 4 years ago with 200 hours, meticulously kept. I'll bet you could get that one for a few thousand less than 34k now, but not much less.

Xavid · **Posted:** Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:14 pm

I have the 05 260 and it has the 6.2 l 350 mag mercruiser with b3 drive. I have been happy with the power and it has been no problem whatsover in tubing and skiing. In retrospect I would prefer the 8.1, but I think it a minimal difference for my needs. The top ayearly gets a wash and then 303, as does the snap on canvas. I have the camper top but havent used it in the 3 years i have had the boat. I will when I can convince my wife. The canvasses I have, incl the bimini look new still. You will likely have a tilt to the port side from the dual batts being stupidly placed where they are, on the right rear of the boat. I still havent gotten around to (or had the gumption to) move them to balance her out. Might want to make sure the trailer tires arent the original carlisles even without much trailering or wear - they will blow like mine did and everyone elses. The new Carlisles are supposed to be the best now (Mike - are yours still doing as well as you hoped?).
I would recommend doing what you are doing - the best engine of the 2 with the lowest hours as the 2 year/models are otherwise nearly identical.
I paid 30 something for mine 4 years ago with 200 hours, meticulously kept. I'll bet you could get that one for a few thousand less than 34k now, but not much less.

rpengr · **Posted:** Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:27 pm

Xavid wrote:

I have the 05 260 and it has the 6.2 l 350 mag mercruiser with b3 drive...
...I paid 30 something for mine 4 years ago with 200 hours, meticulously kept. I'll bet you could get that one for a few thousand less than 34k now, but not much less.

Well, 4 years ago it was only 4 years old. Now at 8 years old I would expect it would be at least 10K less?

230 Mike · **Posted:** Fri Aug 30, 2013 5:17 pm

Xavid wrote:

You will likely have a tilt to the port side from the dual batts being stupidly placed where they are, on the right rear of the boat.

I believe you mean starboard. Stock dual battery install location is both batteries on starboard and you will likely need to move at least one, preferably both, to port.

Xavid wrote:

(Mike - are yours still doing as well as you hoped?)

Yes, but in fairness they've only gone around 1,000 miles since new. We did put a set of the same tires on our high school band trailer last year and one of them blew on the way to Florida between Christmas and New Year's. I mean it shredded. However, it's a 24' enclosed trailer loaded up to max weight and was being towed by a guy who's primary interest was getting there fast - so who knows how fast he was going or how long he'd been running that hard. And of course he may as easily have just hit something.

I did note that when I pulled the boat out of storage for the first time this season, none of the 5 tires had lost even one pound of air since putting it away 8 months prior. That's no judge of tire quality, but even my "good old Canadian Marathons" from '05 would all lose around 5 lbs. over that same off-season period.

ric · **Posted:** Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:07 pm

Big block, duo prop. No substitutions on a boat that size, especially at that altitude.

www.iFourWinns.com

Used boat purchase..2005 250 vs 2006 260

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