If you didn't own a Four winns...

ejjones55 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:52 pm

What's the brand you would recommend if Four Winns didn't exist?

I love FW also and want to get a Horizon, but don't want to miss something decent either.

Bayliners are junk I know that.

Maxum, Glastron, etc decent?

...please don't kick me out of the forum

deafwish · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 4:29 am

This really depends on what you intend on using the boat for... :wink:

TFD2001 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:00 am

My next boat will likely be a Formula 400ss..

rpengr · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:43 am

ejjones55 wrote:

What's the brand you would recommend if Four Winns didn't exist?
...please don't kick me out of the forum

Don't worry, we aren't afraid to talk about other brands around here.

In my opinion:
edit: Cobalt, Crownline and Formula are top notch (better than FW)
Chaparral is close to even with FW
maybe SeaRay is just below FW?
Rinker, Maxum are below that.
Bayliner at the bottom, however their large boats might surprise you.

LouC · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:06 am

Don't forget Cobalt...
You know those graphics that peel and look like crap in a few years?
On a Formula they are painted on in Imron....

ejjones55 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:41 am

Thanks everyone.

I'm married and have two kids. They are 6 and 4 years old. I want the open bow because I want the room for people and we will never be the type to sleep over on a boat.

I'll be on the Detroit river and Lake Erie as well as trailering to many inland Michigan lakes.

Lots of tubing and skiing and just cruising.

I'm thinking at least 19' and at least 5.0L V8.

simonj · **Joined:** Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:24 am **Posts:** 29

Formula or Cobalt would be on the top of my list.

I think Regal would be up there too.

GottWhat · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:00 am

If you are talking NEW bowriders (the rankings could differ if talking about different types of boats), my top tier includes:

Formula, Chris-Craft (new ownership really turned them back around) and Cobalt.

Below that I would go with:

Chaparral, Sea Ray

One step down:

Bryant, Monterey, Regal, Cruisers Sport Series (formally Azure). This is where I think the new Four Winns boats are.

Another step down:

Larson, Glastron, Crownline (their bowriders were better before they went bankrupt and were at least a tier higher before).

A little bit lower:

Rinker, Stingray.

Bottom step:

Bayliner, Tahoe

Some companies are no longer in business and/or just coming out of bankruptcy so they were excluded: Maxum, Mariah, Caravelle, Azure (see Cruisers above).

Keep in mind that these rankings include larger bowriders where it is often easier to see the differences in quality, features and amenities. Typically, smaller <20' bowriders are more similar with less features and amenities. So there may be less difference between a 19' Rinker and a 19' Sea Ray but you can more easily tell the difference when you step up a few feet in length. I am not saying there is no difference, it is just different to perceive.

PS: My kids are 7 & 4. We boat on Lake St Clair. We had a H180 last year and upgraded to the Cobalt 246 bowrider this year. We found the H180 to be too small for LSC. Plus, the larger boat has a head compartment.

pet575 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:11 am

Completely agree that Crownline ain't what it used to be and that Chap is higher than it was even 5-6 years ago.

Also agree that in a shorter size you're going to see them more clustered because they usually start busting out their distinguishing features in the 22 foot-plus range. 17-21' boats can't vary a whole lot due to the limitations that their size places on them. The nicer ones are constructed the same as their bigger siblings, though.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:48 am

ejjones55 wrote:

Thanks everyone.

I'm married and have two kids. They are 6 and 4 years old. I want the open bow because I want the room for people and we will never be the type to sleep over on a boat.

I'll be on the Detroit river and Lake Erie as well as trailering to many inland Michigan lakes.

Lots of tubing and skiing and just cruising.

I'm thinking at least 19' and at least 5.0L V8.

Bayliner makes a good soild boat, BUT its just a plain simple boat. Crownline and Chaparral are VERY good boats too. Remember one thing, no matter what boat you pick. It will have a Merc or Volvo powerplant.

GottWhat · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:55 am

Paul I. wrote:

Remember one thing, no matter what boat you pick. It will have a Merc or Volvo powerplant.

If you buy a boat from any manufacturer owned by the Brunswick Boat Group (Sea Ray, Bayliner) it is going to have a Merc as they also own Mercruiser.

ejjones55 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:14 pm

Great advice everyone thank you.

This is the first boat I will own myself so I'm trying not to break the bank on it. I've been in the $6k-$9k range which lands me in the range of '92-'99 boat year. Also would prefer at least 20' and a 5.0.

My brother had a '94 215 Sundowner that was nice and I've liked FW ever since. I just want the open bow.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 2:17 pm

Chap, Monterey.

I love Cobalt but IMO the value just isn't there in light of their competition.

NickH · **Joined:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:55 pm **Posts:** 67

The wife and I were just havimg this conversation last night. We took the boat to dinner and docked next to a fairly new (2013-2015) FW H230. What a nice boat! It was first time I had seen one of the new style Four Winns in the water. I would put it up against a top-tier boat any day.

We then talked about our next boat (man I love her!

) and I said I'd choose Cobalt, Four Winns, Chaparral and Monterey as my top picks. Our next boat will be a 24-27' bowrider, hopefully less than 5 years old.

GottWhat · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2015 2:40 pm

230 Mike wrote:

I love Cobalt but IMO the value just isn't there in light of their competition.

Check out the new Chris-Craft line if you want some real sticker shock! Formulas ain't cheap either.

With that said, value is relative. Someone with a Chevy might not think a Mercedes is a good value and someone with a Mercedes may not think a Bentley is a good value.

www.iFourWinns.com

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