www.iFourWinns.com

I just bought a 2005 Horizon 230 and I am trying to decide if I should trailer, Rack, Moor, or Slip my new boat this season, and I would like to here from other owners about your experience with all the above.

Some of my concerns are the ease of raising and lowering the bimini, and how much of a pain it is to snap up all the canvas cockpit and bow covers. Both these questions are in reference to preparation for leaving outside, or trailering.

I also am wondering where the heck you store stuff like canvas and life jackets on board as th eboat looks like it doesn't have much storage with the open bow.

thanks!!

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

Welcome to the forum!!!

This is something that you can take advice from other boat owners, rather than just H230 owners.

Whether to moor, slip, rack etc....depends on a LOT of factors. How far from the lake do you live? Can you (or are you willing) to keep it in your garage? Does your schedule permit hitting the water at all during the week? Do you like to work on your boat yourself?

For me, my boat fits in the garage. I live on the lake (but we are not allowed to build new docks/slips). My schedule rarely permits during the week trips. I do like to work on my boat when the task matches my skill level. So, with all of that in consideration, I keep it at home in the garage. Another factor in storing a boat is cost and security. The fact that it is kept in my garage means I dont have to worry about storing my covers somewhere on my boat. They stay in the garage for the summer and I only put them on during the off season. I am able to fit ALL of our life vests in the bow storage of our boat without any trouble. Adults are on one side, kids on the other side. Also, I put my bimini in the down position on the short legs when its in the garage. I have to put them up inside the garage if I am going to tackle any task that requires the engine cover to be lifted open, but thats not a big deal.

Another HUGE thing about storing at home is that it gives me the ability to wash it after EVERY trip out. We are pretty serious about keeping our boat looking good and that means washing off the lake scum after every trip.

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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

Welcome - you made a nice choice.

The bimini on the '05 is a pain to raise and lower, and is almost impossible without a 2nd person unless you don't mind beating up the upper windshield frame and/or the combing pads. That's why they went to a different bimini design in '06 and are still using that design. The '05 design is very strong and stable even running at top speed, but raising and lowering it takes practice.

I stow 3 large life jackets and all of the bow filler cushions in the bow storage. It's tight, but that's quite a bit of stuff.

As to the covers - I use them when trailering, but I would recommend against using them as the only protection for outdoor storage. When we arrive at the lake, the covers come off and go in the tow vehicle; they aren't stowed in the boat.

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

I store all of our vests in the upper section of the backrest storage space located in front of the helm. I store the bow fill-in cushions and water toys (nerf football, water cannons, ect.) in the lower section of the same space. I leave the bow storage boxes for the dock lines, fenders, and my box anchor. My ski locker holds a 10 x 10 EZ-up, 4 collaspible chairs, an inflatable towable and my soft ice chest. I think you'll find there is a lot of storage on your 230. Also I remove the small waste basket and store items I rarley need in the space under the sink next to the water tank. Like Mike said above, the covers come off and are stored in the tow vehicle when the boats in the water.

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

Good info guys thanks. Do you find that the ski locker stays dry?

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

All my storage compartments stay completely dry unless I put something wet in them. Our tubes go in the floor locker and of course they tend to be dripping wet until we get home and take everything out to dry. I keep all the locker doors open in storage to encourage drying and to extend the life of the gas lifts.

One thing you're likely to find is that your floor locker may not drain back into the bilge as well as it should. Many of the Horizons have debris left over from manufacturing blocking the drain routes until you get in there with wire, a fish tape, etc., and get it cleaned out. In some cases people had to have their fuel tank adjusted so as not to block the way.

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

We're having our ski locker drain repaird this year...it wasn't blockage from debris (or at least not something easily blown out by the repair folks [I gave up trying to get it clear with a wire]), so the suspect seems to be a shift of the gas tank.....will let you know after the work is done.

Hi Mike!! ...been awhile...............

Ernie

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JustBreathe
'05 230 Horizon

Ditto on the bimini. Too much of a pain in my book to "ever" take it down anymore, except at year's end to store in the garage before she gets shrink-wrapped (wish I had the garage option!) Whatever concerns I had about driving with it up were outweighed by potential damage to boat and owners trying to take it down.....it's now survived many 450 mile one-way trips without blinking.

We have the cockpit covers down to a science, whether putting them on at the ramp after a day, or in the boat while she's in a slip at the lake or the bay. Four summers off and on many times and they are still going strong --- a year ago we had an extra layer of canvas sewn over only 3 of the snaps. We regularly put some snapstick on them (it's like a silicone "chapstick" for zippers and snaps) and it has kept them working nicely. And be sure to "use" the snaps and not just pull on the fabric. That will wreck them quick. We store the big one in the car when launching in the bay, and the bow cover stays with us....needed it on one time when some big swells caught us on the way in and came crashing over....

Ernie

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JustBreathe
'05 230 Horizon

Howdy Ernie, good to hear from ya.

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