www.iFourWinns.com

Several more NOOB new owner questions. I am going to be doing some rough ocean water from time to time, and several things come to mind right away.

1. Do you need the optional clear plastic snap-on window insert that connects the windshield to the Bimini when things get rough?? I don't have one and was thinking about getting it. All I have is the factory Bimini. I am thinking about when it gets rough out how bad the spray is, or even just if I get caught in a rain storm. Should I order one of these? Is the boat pretty dry in rough stuff?? I don't have snaps on my windshield frame but these is a slot. Do I have to drill to install them or do they slide into the slot?

2. The Anchor locker looks as if it could really take on a good amount of water in big chop, the drain hole is only the size of a pencil (hope it doesn't clog), and the top of the anchor locker is open to the compartments under the bow seats/bilge. Is this an issue? How much water have you take on from the Anchor locker in big stuff??

3. I don't have a windshield wiper and wish I did, I was thinking about simply using rain-x on the windshield. I have always had a wiper, and I feel a little "naked" without one. I have used rain-x on several cars with good sucess.

thanks jeff

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

IMHO "rough water" is fairly subjective. I have been on my lake in some bad t/storms where the rain is driving down, high winds blowing, and trying to get back to the marina - there was no way to avoid getting soaked! My other experience has been taken some large wakes from other boats including one that did come over the bow (which was probably my fault anyway). Even running on a sunny day with great weather, at the right speed and hitting the right size wave or wake, I have taken spray over the windshield.

I don't see the need for the cockpit attachment and from what I can tell from pictures, that looks like something that is going to be in your way if you are underway. A wiper might be nice to have, but if I think its safe to say that if you are in rough waters in an open bow boat, you should expect to get wet. Not sure if this helps or not.

Also, just more FYI - If I ever get caught again in a bad t/storm again (that particular one blew up suddenly), I will more than likely put the bow cover on, close the walk-thru windshield, get the kids under there, and just ride it out.

Take caution in using rain-x on the windshield, I am not sure if the glass is the same as a car. I have not yet found the right cleaning solution to make mine crystal clear yet. But I have set that one as a lower priority.

Oh yeah, I tell all my salt-water friends, be sure to take an EPIRB with you.

TRH

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'06 Horizon 210

We've been in some pretty rough water (where I wouldn't want it to be any rougher without having a bigger boat), and I've never seen a case where that zippered connector thing would have any benefit. The wiper might have been useful a couple of times, but the 240 is a pretty dry ride.

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

We have been caught in the number of rough days at open lake (Lake Ontario), which can be very scary with bowrider. I have camper canvas on both my old 240 as well as current 260, which is very nice to stay dry in rough water as well as rain or shower. For the most of times we only put the front and back panels up and kept side open. As trhardy1 said we put bow cover up and close walk through door. 230/240 is a good size bowrider so you are ok as long as bow does not go under braking swell much. Water will comes in a little but you should be able to ride it out. My old 240 had a windshield wiper but I thought it is so small and useless. In rough water I always stand up while under way so I do not see front through windshield and through clear panel above. Therefore I did not order my 260 with wiper...... We do not miss it.

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Where do you boat? The 230 should be very good in most water. Have always been impressed with the ride of Four Winns boats. The 230 is a nice size boat & don't think you would need windshield wipers. Good luck

Planning on using it mostly in coastal ocean areas of the Massachusetts coast, it can be quite rough out there!

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

The stable vee SUCKS in rough water. The flat runners makes the boats like a jon boat with a deep vee center.

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Not happy to hear that! So should I assume it pounds!?

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

We sometimes boat in open Atlantic Ocean water -- when you are in three footers or so you will definitely be adjusting your speed. If you have tabs you can usually find a combination of bow down which helps the boat slice through waves. Without trim tabs you will be even slower. You might even end up just slogging along bow up pushing water very ineffeciently without tabs. Tabs allow you to plane at a much lower speed, that helps a lot.

When you are planing along with a decent head sea and some swells, you will take spray over the sides occassionally.
You either live with this -- or you can put up a connector to the top.
We have a connector but have only used it when it rains and when we need to go somewhere in a rain squall -- rain squalls are common here in Florida during the entire summer (our rainy season)

We have also put the bow cover on in a rain squall -- it works for that -- but wouldn't help if you really put the nose in and took green water over the bow. I have not done that but my son did when running an inlet, and he had maybe three -fourinches of water filling the entire boat -- he said it drained quickly into the bilge and he did not have any issue even with six adults aboard. (240Horizon) If you did that very many times you would of course have a buoyancy issue -- the Four Winns 240H is not a self-bailing boat like a Center Console (I won't get into the self-bailing debate on whether that works anyway -- been there done that)

The biggest thing about rough water usage is common sense -- slow down when needed -- including going to an idle if needed. I have had to do that when five miles off shore once or twice.

In general the boat is far more capable than a crew will feel comfortable -- The people will complain long before there is a real boat stability issue -- listen to the people, if they are uncomfortable from rolling/ pounding/ and such --- then take some action such as changing course (or finding shelter if close to shore) You don't have to go directly to get somewhere ---you can surely tack on a more comfortable course just like a sailboat would.

In general I am very comfortable in the boat and find it decently seaworthy. It is not a center console with a big flared bow, however, I would not hesitate to go 20 miles off shore if I desired. Assuming that you have the skills (monitor the weather/boathandling) and equipment to handle that (GPS/Chartplotter/VHF/good safety equipment/ etc)

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

I would have to disagree with that. Even in my 180 the stable vee does a great job through rough waters for the size of the boat. Isnt the purpose of the stable vee to handle rough waters but give up some performance? I have been in other boat brands of my size and a couple feet bigger and the four winns hull rides very well compared to them. I was actually impressed how it handles 3 and 4 foot swells given its size. it isnt a fun ride but not much slaming.

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2007 H210
2011 Chevrolet Tahoe LT

In my opinion the stable vee is designed to

1-- plane quicker -- when the boat tries to go bow up it displaces water and increases buoyancy aft of the center of gravity/buoyancy. This makes the boat get on plane quicker -- and with less bow up attitude.

2-- rather than being just a flat extension of the hull -- which would do that same thing -- it is notched and raised above the hull when on plane -- this decreases the wetted surface area and reduces the drag at speed -- so there is less of a penalty for it when on plane.

3-- I doubt it reduces pounding -- that has more to do wth the ammount of V (and design) of the bow at entry, and also a lot to do with the chine design. A wide flat or reverse chine pounds more than a narrower or rounded chine.

3-- The stable vee design does limit some flexibility in trimming the boat to certain attitudes. You just cannot get the bow up high to increase speed. (boat hull design is always a compromise --there are always tradeoff's)

My thoughts

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

I do not agree with that… It is not a fast hull but my old 06 240 rides rough water better than my friend’s 05 Cobalt 240. I do agree that trim tabs would help a lot but FW does not offer for 240 for some reason... Additional 2’ and having trim tab does make difference in rough water ride for my 260….. They are very stable hull and cut through swll.
I think stable vee works well in rough water…

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Well I am happy to hear that some folks feel the hull is decent in rough water. I am hoping to put her in for the maiden voyage this weekend, most likely off coast of Marblehead MA so we shall see how she does. I come from many years boating in my Grady White 232 Gulfstream hardtop with 9'6" beam, and I don't expect the fourwinns 230 to be near as offshore seaworthy as my old boat, but I have been out in some really rough stuff in several types of boats, and so big waves don't scare me much. I selected the 230 specifically for it's somewhat deeper V Hull design, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that this "lake Boat" will do OK in the choppy stuff

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

Anytime you have a flat spot on a hull you will feel the chop alot more compared to a hull that does not. ei; Crownline Chapperal

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let us know your thoughts after you go out -

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop