www.iFourWinns.com

Hey guys, I'm going to be a new boat owner just in time for Memorial Day... This will be my first boat purchase. The boat comes with the cockpit and bow covers but was thinking of getting an additional cover to keep it out of the sun. Any suggestions on covers to purchase?

Thanks

CONGRATS!
Are you planning on trailering with the cover?
If you just need it for sun protection, you'll need what is called a mooring cover. Cheap ones can be found at Wal-Mart. They'll get the job done for what they are intended for.

If you store it in an area that has bad weather, high winds, lots of rain/snow, you may want to spend a little more.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

Congratulations! So you'll be new at trailering, launching and loading? Memorial Day weekend wouldn't be my 1st choice of when to do all that for the first time, but there's never a bad time to own a new boat.

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

Congrats on the boat purchase!

If you take it out for the first time on Memorial Weekend, be sure to get to the ramps early to avoid the crowds. A crowded memorial weekend boat ramp would've made me nervous as hell on my first outing

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2007 Four Winns 220SS (Sold!!)
2006 Toyota Tacoma

CONGRATS!
I just picked up mine this past weekend in NH. It is a wiked awesome boat, you are going to love it!
For covers I got the trailering cover along with the bow and cockpit canvas. I don't think it was cheap (can't remember) but it is definatly a quality product!
Welcome to the forum - great group here with little to no infighting (but still fun ) but to participate it is mandatory to post pics and a story of your new rig. I just made that up but it should be mandatory, and I am still delinquent on mine so I will shut up. It's stopped raining so tonight I will get the final pic I need . . .

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

I swear I will post pics as soon as I get the boat. Thanks for the comments. I wont be trailering a long distance, just don't want the sun to beat down on it too much while its parked. I do have some experience docking, unloading and such. Just my personal first boat. I appreciate all the comments and looking forward to posting some pics for you guys...

If at all possible, get a good coat of UV-blocking wax on it before you take it out. That's the single most important thing you can do to protect it.

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

Thanks for all the good comments! I guess I'm looking at Thursday or Friday receiving the boat. If I get it to late, I'm thinking of holding off until memorial weekend is over and go out with some friends. Not sure. I have used the 3M wax on my truck and worked very well...has anyone used this before?

Thanks

3M makes a million different waxes so it's hard to know which one you mean. Some of theirs are considered among the best. Another favorite in the boating world is Maguiar's Flagship Premium. What's important is that it be UV blocking (UV is what causes gel coat to discolor and oxidize and it can do it reasonably quick) and, depending on who you ask, it should not contain carnauba. Another thing you should do soon (although not necessarily before the first outing) is to get a bottle of 303 Aerospace Protectant and use it on all your vinyl. Don't use Armorall on anything in the boat.

Also - I hate to sound like a wet rag, but unless you're real confident handling the new boat, I like your idea of holding off until after the holiday. But of course I don't know your skills or what the ramps & water are like where you boat, so it may be a moot point.

Being an '06, I assume this is a pre-owned boat. Are you getting the original owner's manuals with it? If so, it really would be a wise investment to spend some time going through them. How many hours are on your boat?

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

Hey 230 Mike,
Thanks for the recommendations on the wax and protectant, picked some up today. The boat has 60 hours on it, the owners manual is included also. Im thinking of going with a cover from http://www.boatcover.info. I will be keeping it at work and I don't have a covered place to keep it out of the sun. I'm in the Coast Guard stationed at a small loran station and have plenty of room. Although I'm in the CG, boat driving is not my job, so I'll be getting to know the boat while improving my driving skills. haha.

Cool! I bet you were happy to hear when they renewed the Loran funding awhile back .

Storing outside's OK, just pay attention to a couple of things:

1. Wax the HECK out of it, especially the upper parts that are more exposed to the sun. Wash & wax it a couple times a year, even if it isn't used.

2. Go with a GOOD cover (I don't know anything about the one you mentioned and don't really have specific recommendations - anyone else?). You want it to obviously keep water and junk out, but you also want it to breathe. A very small amount of water in an air-tight boat will mildew in no time flat.

3. Keep a close eye on the cover's supports, to make sure rain continues to run off and not collapse the cover and flood the boat.

4. Make sure your bilge pump works and that your battery stays charged up and connected just in case all the above fail.

5. Put a good trailer lock on it!

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

Let me add a couple things for the '06's you might want to do if constantly tinkering with your boat is a hobby like mine versus a chore. The carpeted trailer guides are bolted on with non-stainless washers and nuts. (Dumb-read this forum on FW trailers). Go to a hardware store and get some good stainless washers and nuts otherwise they will rust, then they will rust your steal support and eventually corrode off. I had a '96 until my '06 and its an unsightly aging process.

Invest in a good cover. Preferably one that comes down below the rubrail. Have one specially made if it will be outside all the time. $750 on a good cover is a wise investment for a $30,000 boat. A $200 won't do the job.

Get 303 on the vinyl and I highly recommend the Mequirers premium flagship for a gelcoat in good condition. Trust me, I've tried them all and it is the easiest and best so far. Micropolish (I can't remember by who) is also very good.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

Thanks guys! I will be seriously taking all of your comments to heart to take care of this baby. I cant wait to wax and treat the vinyl for the first time.....Thanks for the info on the covers, I was going to wait to see what you guys had to say before purchasing one.

Finally got a picture of the boat.

Ohh, niiice. That royal (navy?) blue with the yellow/silver graphics is such a nice color. That thing looks mint in the picture - are there any hours on it or was it left over? I suspect the canvas & bimini looks sweet in blue as well.
Don't forget the 303 fabric gaurd - the dealer did mine before delivery but I think I will re-do it just for the sake of double the protection. I have a feeling the black canvas on mine will take a beating.
Are you as surprised about the amount of room to service the engine in a 210 as I was? Wow, for such a large boat that engine is really stuffed in there.
Only thing I notice is that you are missing the bow strap from the bow eye to the trailer. Seems a bunch of people don't think its necessary but after someone (I think it was 230Mike) mentioned the point of them is not to hold the boat down but rather that the boat & trailer become a single piece - that you are basically adding a suspension to your boat rather than a trailer with a load on. If the boat can bounce on the bunks then you risk damaging the gel or worse - the hull. I'm convinced so I'll be taking the time to put it on.

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife