www.iFourWinns.com

Hi all, I'm newly registered to this forum however I have been ghosting the hallways for some time doing some research. Now I am happy to say after researching for approximately 5 years and changing my mind several times I have purchased a 2009 180 Horizon at the Toronto Boat Show. I am really excited and can't wait for the snow to disappear so I can finally get out there. From everything I have read I think I have made the right choice in purchasing a boat that will do pretty much everything I want it to but also reliable, well made and within my price range.
Now it's time to start learning as much as possible about my new first boat prior to getting it in the water. So far my impression of the Dealer has been positive and will update when I meet with them in the spring if anything changes.

Thanks all, Jeff

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2009 H180 3.0 Volvo Penta

Congrats on your purchase....

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Congrats and welcome to our little world. Grab a beer, a few hours, and start looking around.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Welcome and congrats,I have an 07 H180 ( same boat),I love it and I am sure you will too.Which dealer did you purchase it from?Did you order it with any options?:mrgreen:

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Andrew
07 H180
2000 Buell X-1
Stouffville Ontario
Canada

Congrats and welcome. What engine and drive to you get? Any other options on it?

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Congrats Jeff and welcome! May the thaw come quickly

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

I bought through Town and Country Marine in Lakefield Ontario. I bought the boat (navy in colour) with the 3.0 Volvo Penta and outdrive, it also came with the standard Sureload matching trailer. This engine size was my only concern with the boat as I was planning on the 4.3.

I ordered the cockpit and forward covers, Depth Sounder, Sunsport seats, and he added the safety and mooring package for free. All said and done with the added prices and boat show discount it is costing me 25K on the back of my truck. I originally came for a non-current 2008 which would have saved me a whopping $600 from the 2009. He had a pretty interesting story about why the boat was for sale.

As far as whether I made a bad choice on the engine will be determined in the near future, he could have added the 4.3 for about 4K more or I could have bought the H190 with the 4.3 standard for about 5K more. Then all of a sudden I was looking at 30K+++ so I said forget it. This will be my first boat and I have been in a boat with a 3.0 and found it pulled just fine for being out and having fun which are my only intentions. All said and done I think going to a Four Winns for a first boat over something like a Sea Doo Challenger or Tahoe with a 4.3L was a smart decision. The quality and options were far better.

Any advice/tips? Jeff

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2009 H180 3.0 Volvo Penta

Only advice is to enjoy and hope it is summer before you know it. Congrats on the purchase.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Jeff
As I said I have the same boat only mine is a 2007.Mine is the same colour,I have the 3.0 VP which I think works great.This was my first I/O, my last boat was a 115 Merc O/B and I dont miss it.I also purchase mine from Town and Country and so far I am very happy with the quality of the customer service.
The only advice I can offer is if you are considering a Bimini Top I would strongly suggest you order it as a factory option.I just ordered a Four Winns Bimini and also the front filler pads for the bow area.With labour to install the top,with tax it was about $1280.00.By ordering it on the booking order I saved about $160.00. If you get the Bimini as a factory option it will be much less.
I think the 180 is the best boat package for the price you wont be disappointed.Where will you be boating?
If you have any questions this is the place to ask.
Enjoy Andrew

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Andrew
07 H180
2000 Buell X-1
Stouffville Ontario
Canada

Welcome aboard! I have found the folks here are great! Someday I'd like to have the "new" purchase experience. That way I can point my finger in another direction than myself when something goes wrong.

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2000 Horizon 230

Welcome Jeff and congratulations on your purchase. Like yourself I have just taken delivery of an 08 H180 with the 3.0 merc 3 weeks ago, and tried it out the following weekend and LOVED it. I had the same reservations about the smaller motor but I have no regrets as it performs very well indeed, and wasn't going to part with another 5K tho upgrade to the larger engine anyway.
I should warn you that you risk being linched if you don't post a few pics soon (hehe) by this bunch, as winter is taking its toll on my Northern Hemisphere counterparts.
Ardy
South Australia
Red H180

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Thanks guys, I will be boating on Rice Lake which is where my cottage is located. I plan on seeing how the summer goes but pretty sure I will be ordering the bow filler cushion at least. I will for sure post some pics when I get the boat, as of now it's shrink wrapped at Town and Country. A bimini would be nice though it did not come from the factory with one as an options, this is the story:

This is one of the first 2009 H180's ordered from Town and Country in June 2008. For some reason it did not show up when it should have with the rest of the boats, so they continued waiting for it. The story from FW was it seems that blue is a very popular colour for FW. FW told them this so I figure either it was missed being manufactured do to a screw up or it took some time to be built and sent due to the colour. Either way the boat showed up brand new in the late August of 2008. As many of you in southern Ontario will remember, the summer of 2008 had rain almost every other day (not an enjoyable summer) and record high gas prices. This added up to not many boat shoppers and Town and Country not wanting to spend the money to advertise it.

The benefit for me however was that the Canadian dollar was above parity with the American dollar that summer, so it was a very good time to buy American products in Canada.

All this coupled together left a very nice boat, not sold, at the end of the summer with an affordable price tag. Right time and place for me to pick it up, lucky me. There are a couple options I would have added and deleted from this boat from the factory but right now I'm too excited to care.

Jeff

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2009 H180 3.0 Volvo Penta

Jeff your cabin on Rice Lake in Wisconsin or is there another Rice Lake up there in Canada?

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

The boat show claimed another victim!!!!

Congrats, welcome to the fourm and enjoy your new boat.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I believe he is referring to Rice Lake in Ontario, Canada which is part of the Trent Severn Waterway system.

If you see this boat (on Rice Lake)



Flag him down and say hello to "Norm" --- He bought it from me!

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive