www.iFourWinns.com

got the 5.0 volvo motor, just curios, can you do quick power adders to marine motors? i meen like better ignition parts(cap wires and plugs) and higher flow filters and things like that? i know on a auto v8 these things are reasonably cheap power adders and dont know if boats are the same or not. tried to search but keep coming up with crazy speed boat stuff like 40ft big block boats. Can you do these upgrades and do they use the same parts as auto stuff, thanks guys

Not really. On a boat it starts with making sure your wide open throttle (WOT) RPM's fall into the specs for your boat. If not that has to be addressed first (usually by changing props), then maintained if you make other mods, change the elevation at which you boat, etc. There are boaters everywhere who still try to apply all the car mods they've ever done to their boat, and don't understand why it has little (if any) effect.

Assuming all is working as it should, some boat brands/models go faster than others, by design. Four Winns boats - with the possible exception of Liberators - are not terribly fast designs. Instead they're designed for families and all-around good performance and smooth ride. Trying to squeeze more performance out of them gets very expensive very quickly, with very little return on investment.

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

i see what ur saying, but making the motor run better has to have effect on the boat, i just dont know i f car parts are the same or not, marine or no, a higher hp motor is still more powerful, in theory free flowing intake and higher spark/ lower resistance ignition should lighten the load on the motor and raise its rpm band therefore making more speed and power

You can bump power in a boat just like a car, you have to keep in mind you need marine electronics to reduce open air spark. Then you have to upgrade your "drivetrain" aswell by re-proping and even new outdrive.

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Could not have said it better.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Just a note before you considering tinkering - marine electrical items CANNOT SAFELY be susbstituted with automotive - electrical items MUST be Marine or IS (intrinsically safe). Not to say people haven't done it in the past, but in the past people have blown themselves up in doing so.

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

thats what i was looking for exactly, just curious if there was special boat engine parts or not, so basically it has to do with fuming in the cavity? i guess in automotive you dont have as much chance for water and you have better venting, by the way does anyone know if running the blowers all the time is bad for them? when we wakeboard and stuff, we are starting and stopping the motor constantly so i just let the blower run sometimes

At least you have an excuse. I just forget to turn mine off.

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

+1 to Mikes comment...

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

+2 to Mikes comment

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

I don't think the cheaper blowers are designed for continuous running. I also forget to turn the blower off sometimes as well. Until recently that is; it probably overheated and started making a horrible noise, can't imagine why with 15 degC air temperature. It sounded like the bearings/ bushes were on the way out. I switched it off and back on 20 minutes later; back to the usual noise level again. It's not done it since ( yes, it does run !)

Graham

"does anyone know if running the blowers all the time is bad for them?"

I don't know if it's bad for them, but I've been running mine constantly for the last 4 years.
On my 190 the vents are on the back of the boat. Unless I'm going really fast in reverse, I'm not getting any air.
My mechanic recommended keeping it running after my fuel pump went. He thought the heat
could have contributed to the pump going early.

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2002 Horizon 190 5.0gl

Blower?

you guys actually use that thing?

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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

Too funny!

Seriously though, running a blower all the time may not extend the life of your blower, but it's a heck of a lot better than not running it when needed. I replaced a few on my old boat - they are not very expensive, what $35 ? Cheap insurance.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

JimR

I agree completely, running the blower all the time is a 100% safe thing to do; until, that is when they do fail/ seize prematurely, you then have no blower until you can replace it! ( I'll stick a new one in next Winter even if the old temporarily noisy one is still working)

Graham