2002 240H Opinions and Questions

iaff284 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:47 am

Hey All, We are looking to upgrade our current boat (1994 Crownline 225BR) to a 2002 Four Winns 240H. It's appears to be in great condition and has the 350 Mag MPI with a Bravo Three. I am mechanically inclined as I have rebuilt the 350 in the Crownline and do all my own service and repairs (including sewing all new upholstery for the rear seating) My only concern is the stringers and transom. I don't want to get into a mess with this Four Winns. I can repair anything mechanically or cosmetically but I don't have the space for fiberglass repair. Can anyone tell me what they used for the cores on the stringers and transom. I am hoping it is foam core or coosa. Anything else I should look for would be helpful!

captkevin · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:59 am

Great boat. Does it have individual gauges or the vdo automotive style dash? If vdo they can sometimes be a issue. There is a company that rebuilds them for around $300 bucks. There used to be a factory conversion kit available but no longer. Also believe there is a company that makes them now. Think they run around $600 give or take. Some of more talented owners have built there own. Otherwise great boats.

GottWhat · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:25 am

Download the catalog here: http://www.fourwinns.com/customer-service-catalogs.aspx

According to FW's catalog, the 2002 H240 has fiberglass stringers. It also has a fiberglass cockpit. You should be good to go.

iaff284 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:27 am

Thanks for the info CaptKevin....It has the individual gauges. I had read online where the VDO all in one were a problem. I am mostly curious as to the stringer and transom construction. Everything else I can repair/rebuild myself.

iaff284 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:29 am

Thanks for the info and link Gottwhat.....It identifies the fiberglass construction but there is no mention of the core material.....unless they are all solid fiberglass?

GottWhat · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:57 am

iaff284 wrote:

Thanks for the info and link Gottwhat.....It identifies the fiberglass construction but there is no mention of the core material.....unless they are all solid fiberglass?

They did not identify a core material so it seems to imply they are solid fiberglass. It may be worth sending FW an email for verification.

With that said, I do not recall seeing any posts here about rotten stringers on the newer 2000+ Horizons.

LouC · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 11:04 am

I would email them and ask. It's kind of unusual to see solid fiberglass stringers in a production boat; there has to be some kind of core material. Even with all composite construction you can still have de-lamination if water gets in and freezes.

captkevin · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 11:05 am

The older style 240's are much nicer & bigger than the new models that replaced them. Not sure what year they changed 2004?? but they have molded in swim platforms that count as overall length. Friend had a 2001 & it was a great boat. Rode fantastic. Very deep & comfortable boat to ride in.

iaff284 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 11:13 am

Thanks for the info all, I know that irregardless of the core material, stringers and transoms can delaminate due to water intrusion. I would just feel better know that the core is still solid and not mush. The salesman says that he used to sell Four Winns at a dealer in 2002 and he thought that they used a material similar to Startboard. I have emailed Four Winns customer service and will report back when I here from them.

LouC · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 11:26 am

I looked at the catalog and it shows the fiberglass schedule but it does not identify the core material.

jmb23802 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:57 am **Posts:** 23

I have a 2003 Freedom 170 and the owners manual also states "fiberglass stingers" for my 170. I have no idea what the core material is, but the stringers are about 6" wide and from what I have read around on the web it seems they might be fiberglass with foam core. Please update if you hear anything from Four Winns as I would like to know for sure (without drilling core samples) as well.

My boat is obviously not a 240 but it is from the same era and mine has a plywood core in the transom and some plywood backing in the hull behind the swim ladder screws. The good news is, the plywood core in the transom is not much bigger than the engine and you can clearly see the outline where it is glassed against the backside of the hull so if it develops problems and needs to be replaced it should be a very straight-forward repair without much of any deconstruction once the engine is out and the outdrive is removed.

iaff284 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2015 11:09 am

I heard back from Four Winns Customer Service this morning. The replied "Hull side coring balsa, Stringers get foam". So I am assuming the stringer fiberglass is structural and and the foam is put in for shaping until the glass cures. Sounds like the transom is balsa.

rpengr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2015 2:57 pm

iaff284 wrote:

I heard back from Four Winns Customer Service this morning. The replied "Hull side coring balsa, Stringers get foam". So I am assuming the stringer fiberglass is structural and and the foam is put in for shaping until the glass cures. Sounds like the transom is balsa.

Sounds like Frenchie needs a better translator

iaff284 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:44 pm

rpengr wrote:

iaff284 wrote:

I heard back from Four Winns Customer Service this morning. The replied "Hull side coring balsa, Stringers get foam". So I am assuming the stringer fiberglass is structural and and the foam is put in for shaping until the glass cures. Sounds like the transom is balsa.

Sounds like Frenchie needs a better translator

I don't understand your post rpengr.....

rpengr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:44 pm

iaff284 wrote:

rpengr wrote:

iaff284 wrote:

I heard back from Four Winns Customer Service this morning. The replied "Hull side coring balsa, Stringers get foam". So I am assuming the stringer fiberglass is structural and and the foam is put in for shaping until the glass cures. Sounds like the transom is balsa.

Sounds like Frenchie needs a better translator

I don't understand your post rpengr.....

"Frenchie" is the nickname that we often give the CEO of Four Winns.
"Hull side coring balsa, Stringers get foam" doesn't make much sense to me...sounds like a bad translation.

www.iFourWinns.com

2002 240H Opinions and Questions

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