www.iFourWinns.com

Hi All,

Nice to see a dedicated FW site.

I spend a bit of time on BABC and TBM, and have done some searches over there, but I thought I ask.

My little 'ol Freedom 180 has no support for the ski locker cover.
I could install a gas strut from Checker or Pep Boys or whoever, but I wonder if anybody has pics of their install. If I remember, the Horizon was a nicer model, and may come with a strut as a factory install.

I'd sure rather look at a picture than try to figure it out myself.

Thanks



PS = why no 'Freedom' forum?

A little off topic, but I'm a Freedom 170 owner. You're the only other Freedom owner I've seen. Now I don't feel so lonely.

glad to meet ya. There are tons of Freedoms and Horizons here in S.E Wisconsin. They are good bang for the buck boats. Most lakes around here are a little small for the Vistas. I must admit, years ago I loved the Liberators.


D

Mine has a strap with a snap. When lifted in the open position you snap it to the passenger side console (for lack of a better word) and it stays open.

I don't know how those struts work but wonder if the cover is heavy enough to keep it closed. There is no way to latch it shut.

_________________
2009 Four Winns SL 242
Searching for that "One Particular Harbor."

Jeffski,
You're absolutely right. The cover is very light. I was thinking I could fashion a 'prop rod' like the wife's mini-van. Maybe attach one end, maybe not. I like your strap idea too. I need to look if there is place I can snap it to.
Thanks!

D

My '06 200 SS Has the hardware for the gas strut, but NO Strut! Another Dealer/ Make Ready Issue?

Regards

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

how about a "spring strut"?

dale, did you come up with a solution yet ??

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Na, not yet. Been super buried in youth baseball. (I might add if I didn't love it I wouldn't do it....)

Really leaning toward a dowel or broomstick 18" to 24" long to use as a prop-rod. I believe the lid is just too light for a gas strut.

D.

Well... our 230 Horizon has had the gas strut pop off the starboard rear ski locker twice. The dealer fixed the first one, but it came off again shortly after. Poor design. A piece of wood is glued to the ski locker hatch, and the hatch has a slight curve in the design --- so there is no way it can lay flat and have a good seal --- so the wood popped off. Worse yet, you can see a flat "dimple" where the wood was, probably from the months when the glue really worked. No real solution that I can tell, except to bolt thru the hatch --- once I find something cool, like an emblem or a handle or something to have on the outside, I'll figure out a way to put it back. Until then, we're doing without. The port side is still attached, but we rarely use that side, as that's where the batteries are now (and that's a whole other 230 Horizon debate!).

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JustBreathe
'05 230 Horizon