www.iFourWinns.com

Has anyone added electric lift shock to the engine cover or do any of the Horizons come with electric lifts? Mine is a little on the heavy side and we store stuff under it on both sides. My wife can't open it herself. Thinking of making it electric some how. Any ideas?

_________________
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)

My 240 came with the electric hatch lift. I could not imagine not having it. I disconnected the lifting rams in an effort to adjust and sync them. My engine hatch was much heavier than I expected. I had one hell of a time holding the hatch up and reattaching the rams.

_________________

Jeff
2006 H240 6.2 MX 320HP B3
La Habra, California

+1. I tried lifting it once without the lifts. Never again unless it's an emergency.

_________________


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

Hmm. Wonder if the lift for the bigger boats would work. I know I may have to modify something which is not an issue. Guess I'll have to look at some when I'm at the dealer this weekend.

_________________
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)

I don't know why not, as long as you have enough unoccupied surface in your bilge to mount the motors on each side of your engine. The lifts themselves are probably expensive, but it would be a worthwhile upgrade IMO.

_________________


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

When I got my old Horizon the original lifts were long gone and I got tired of lifting it in a hurry so I replaced the lifts. I think they were 60 lbs ones, I know they come in different levels of lift so you could try finding out how many lbs the OE ones are and go up to the next size before going to the expense of electric lifts. My boat has the full sun pad, the core is a big piece of 3/4 in thick plywood so it's pretty heavy, I have lifted the whole thing a number of times because I had to replace the wood this fall. The old one had rotted where the hinges are, so I replaced it with a piece of pressure treated plywood and just re-used the padding and vinyl.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I'm thinking of just using some 12V linear actuators on each side. About $150.00 ea. and wire them to a factory style switch mounted on the helm. Going to ponder this for a while and do some more research. Open to any other suggestions.

_________________
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)

I was just thinking about this last week when I was on my boat. That damn hatch is heavy as hell. My wife can barely open it. I will be curious to see what you end up with.

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

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

You must have Sunsport seating. One trick I've found that may enable your wife to open the deck lid/ engine cover is to open the rear deck walk over system cover, like this:



Then hit the release for the deck lid/engine cover and open it by pushing (not lifting) on the upright walk over cover. The upright walk over thingie acts as a lever or something - makes a huge difference. Don't ask how I got this photo of your boat.

_________________
2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

That is interesting, but something tells me by doing this you are putting stress on the flip up hinges that they are not designed for.

_________________
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)

That is the reason Four Winns tells me i'm on my third set of hinges. Funny the last set that broke NO ONE open the hatch by useing the walk though, I made sure.

_________________

Maybe, based on my experience I'd suggest trying it and deciding for yourself. To me, there doesn't appear to be much stress placed on the hinges or walk over cover when used in this manner. I've noticed no adverse wear after two seasons on mine, and I believe I've been opening that cover a lot more than most folks would.

TxJole, as I recall, it's your sunpad/ engine cover hinges that keep breaking, not the hinges for the walk over cover. You sure Party Cove isn't partially responsible for the wear on your hinges?

_________________
2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

I've got the manual on mine and my brother has the electric on the exact same model. He would probably say he wouldn't do without his electric, while I'd say I don't need it and my wife lifts it just fine. Matter of perspective, I guess.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

100% positive, my Four Winns has been in party cove MAYBE 3 times.

_________________

More I think about this the harder it is to decide to do it. Questions for the guys that have it. How do you access your engine when the batteries are out for the winter?

_________________
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)