www.iFourWinns.com

Hi everyone,

I just purchased a used 2005 230 horizon as my first boat. I have a few questions im trying to get figured out.

1. Where is the best place to buy parts? I need a new sink (the drain broke off it) and a the closest dealer to me (in PA) just quoted $55.00 plus 15.00 shipping and 6% sales tax , can I do better somewhere else? I also need a rear (white) light.

2. I need to replace the belt which seems to be wearing down (belt dust around alternator.) I'm assuming i need to get my engine serial number and get the manual to find the part number. So I guess back to #1, where should i buy this?

3. Is there a dual battery kit I can buy that someone already knows works/fits on this boat? Any one have a walk though/directions for this?

4. I've taken the boat out about 3 times and twice now when at no wake speed the engine has cut off. It started right back up and it's only happened twice over the course of 2-3 days. Any ideas, or is it me not keeping the rpms high enough?

Thanks everyone for any help/advice.

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2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon
5.0L Volvo Penta GXi

How many hours are on it? Sounds like a tuneup may be in order. The belt on the Volvo 5.7 (and probably 5.0), is Volvo #3586326 but you can get it at Napa too, it's just an automotive belt. If it's throwing dust, are your pulleys rusted or mis-aligned?

Dual batteries need to be installed on the port side of the boat (for balance) and incorporate an A/B/Both/Off switch.

I can't imagine getting a better price than that for the sink, but then I haven't needed to look for that. The light should be available from Overton's, West Marine, or any of the usual marine parts places. You need a LONG one for the 230 so that it can be seen above the bimini.

Other immediate items to be concerned with (unless you're certain they've already been done) are the raw water impeller and drive anodes. Impeller is #1.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

213 hours.

Also, I'll need a new prop soon. Is there one everyone recommends from experience or just go with what fits?

Pully's don't look rusted but ill check alignment tomorrow.

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2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon
5.0L Volvo Penta GXi

So this is an SX drive? Props can usually be repaired. Let us know what part of the country you're in and someone might have a recommendation for a good prop shop (which can also get you a new one if you really need one). I would start with the stock prop in good condition, and get some experience with that before experimenting with different ones.

I will be brutally honest with you - this boat is not going to be a speed demon with a 5.0 & SX drive. It's a great package, but a bit undersized for the weight & length of the 230. Depending on how you plan to use the boat, you may be entirely happy with it, or not.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I am located in Maryland near annapolis.

Yes, SX. I know what you mean and when boat shopping it almost turned me off from this boat. But being that I don't go out too far, this is my first boat and im surrounded by a lot of 6mph zones, I went for it and so far I am ok with it. Drives well so far, but as I get more experience my opinion could change. Hopefully not for a while though.

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2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon
5.0L Volvo Penta GXi

Well up there you should have no trouble finding a good prop shop, hopefully someone will chime in from the area. If you have trouble though, I can recommend http://www.midwestpropeller.com. They're great folks, a family business, and they repair and modify props sent to them from all over the world.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

+1 to Midwest Propeller. They are local to me as well so I have lots of dealings with them over the past 20 years or so. Good people to deal with.



It is definitely NOT your failure to keep the RPMS high enough. That engine should purr at idle and in gear. With that age of boat and the hours on it I'd second the tuneup and check the fuel filters, fuel/water separator, etc. Have you put any fresh gas in it? Any idea how old the gas was that was in it when you bought it?

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

No idea about the gas age. I can go get it filled up if you suggest, or does a mechanic need to drain it first if you think the gas may be old? Winter is around the corner here, should I be storing it with a full tank of gas anyways? It's at half now.

So, should I just call a mechanic and ask for a tune up? About how much should I expect to be charged and does that include checking all the things you mentioned? Or should I look up how to check these things myself first, then get a tune up if needed.

Sorry about all the questions, still trying to get up to speed here haha.

Thanks again.

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2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon
5.0L Volvo Penta GXi

Getting up to speed as a new boater is something that you can expect to take a year or more. The ideal situation is for you to know what is needed and then either be able to do it yourself, or be able to find a GOOD marine mechanic so that he knows what he's doing but you know know what he's doing too. . Local word of mouth is priceless here. Once you know of a good candidate or two, talk to them about what the boat is doing and how they would price the work. Different ones will include different things in their "packages."

If it helps you to get a level set, if I were in your shoes with the same boat and took it to my mechanic and had him go over all the things I would want him to go over, and had him do an oil/gear lube change, filters, standard winterization, drive pull/alignment check, etc., I would expect to pay around $600, possibly a bit more depending on how many parts are actually needed.

If you're mechanical at all, you can change your own anodes easily and your own impeller for not too much work. Shop labor is going to run $80-100/hour for anything not included in "packaged" service, so anything you can do yourself adds up fast.

In any case I would expect the dying engine to need some troubleshooting, so I recommend you start out finding a mechanic and getting that issue resolved. Have him winterize it, change oils, filters, etc., then you can spend the winter relaxing & figuring out which things you want to tackle yourself next year. Another heads up, unless the previous owner(s) have already done it, you're likely going to have to do some work on the trailer too.

On the gas, what to do with it depends somewhat on how much is left. If its possible to burn it up and replace with fresh that's usually the best advice but if its really bad it could have to be pumped out.($$$). Whether to store over the winter with a full tank or empty is a age-old debate. I just go with whatever is left, make sure it has Sta-bil in it, and don't worry about it. But you're starting with an unknown so your situation is different.

Keep the questions coming.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

+1 on Midwest Propeller! Great guys to work with down there, and they do a great job. I heard you can ship (no pun intended) propellers to them, but I'm local and haven't tried doing that.

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Current Boats:
2012 FW H260, 8.2 B3X (DTS) "Ctrl-Alt-Delete"
Previous Boats:
1984 Century 5000, Merc 260 Alpha 1
2012 Yamaha VXR

Kansas City, MO

I paid $37 for my replacement sink..........just like yours, mine broke around the drain...........

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2005 Four Winns Funship 214 VP 5.7/Duo Prop

You could try a caravan/ trailer store; I've found they are usually some 30-40% cheaper here in the UK compared to a marine store, for the exact same item ! Is the sink in the Horizon different to that in the Sundowner of the same time period ? My 2004 Sundowner has a sink with a pretty conventional (domestic type) screw on outlet ( hole in the sink, a 2 piece outlet that fits either side of the hole).

Just from looking online at a picture, your sink looks exactly the same. Ill see if we have caravan/trailer stores around here, ive never heard or looked for one before. Thank you.

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2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon
5.0L Volvo Penta GXi

Here is the company that makes sinks for Four Winns......

http://ssicustomplastics.com/products/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_66

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2005 Four Winns Funship 214 VP 5.7/Duo Prop

Awesome Thanks!

I'll give them a call today, seems like they only list oval sinks on the site. Is that were you ordered your replacement from?

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2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon
5.0L Volvo Penta GXi