www.iFourWinns.com

I'm looking to buy an H220 soon and have been on many sites checking them out. I feel this boat would be plenty for my family in size. What I'm wondering from reading other posts is the engine size needed for this size of boat? My use will be a little of everything but mostly on the watersports with the kids. Skiing, tubing and wakeboarding. Obviously bigger would be better, but will a smaller engine such as the Merc 5.0 260hp do the job pulling tubes and loaded with people? Also, any thoughts on Merc vs Volvo? I see most have VP's in them but I'm in Merc country. The lake closest to me will only service Merc's. Go figure. Yet a Four Winns dealer is only 30 min away. I'm constantly online looking, so if you know of sweet 220 in the 05 - 07 year range that is in a respectable ballpark of the NADA price hook me up. Thanks.

No

I test drove an equivilent to a 210 with a 5.0, and this was a pooch with only myself and the dealer in it. A 220 is actually a much bigger/heavier boat than the 210. Get the biggest power plant you can. You'll never have to wonder if it's enough, and give you the best in terms of resale value as well.



Then Merc it is!

Volvo? in a boat??? I thought they just made boxy cars. Hehehehe.

Look around and you will see many opinions about that issue. I say it's all about service availability.

Best of luck on your search.

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

I'm going through the same hunt for a used boat. This seems to be a hot topic of discussion on this board regarding engine size. The VP 5.0 fuel injected motor is 270Hp while the 5.7L is 280Hp. For me, the extra power makes no difference in how I use the boat. Anything over 40MPH is gravy IMHO. Do I care if my boat takes 0.8 seconds longer to get on plane, no.

I'm not knocking the performance junkies out there one bit. However, if you have really small kids or older family members on board, they don't usually appreciate WOT.

The 5.0L will do the job. However, if you expect to have 7-8 people on board all the time and pull a skier, you want the 5.7L

_________________
2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

IMHO, you would appreciate the 5.7 motor over the 5.0 if you load the boat up or do alot of watersports. However, if the 5.0 is all you know - you probably won't miss the 5.7. It is sufficient.

The 5.7 Volvo rated at 280hp has always been said to be 'understated' -- it's more around 300. The 5.0 that's 270hp has been tweaked to get up to that level and you probably won't see any 'more' from that motor.

If you can find a 5.7 boat... and it's 1-2k more than a 5.0 boat - all else being equal, the 5.7 is worth it. is it worth 5k or sacrificing on other options as a difference, probably not.

Don't worry about the duoprop on the 220 either... on that hull design, it's not really needed. If it has it, great, but I wouldnt pay 'extra' for it.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Previous boat was a 07 H200SS with a 5.0L GXI Volvo. In that boat is was plenty of power, but going to a H220 I would look for something bigger for sure. Don't think you will be happy with the 5.0L in a 220 IMO.

_________________
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)

Actually I do expect to have a boat load much of the time. lol Also I'm not a performance junkie, just want to go play nice in the sandbox with you guys. Yet I find 220's and 230's nearly 10K over NADA book value. Yeah right.

If any of you have a sec check this boat out.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2006- ... 0-95853479
I have talked to the owner a time or two about it. Duo Prop and 320hp. Depth sounder, cruise control, wake board tower, WB speakers and racks, Bimini top. Looks ok. Paint above the rail line is a lil faded. I can pick it up for 25K.
Any thoughts?
Thanks

Looks like a decent buy. I show the NADA between $20-$23k, just based on the pics and description. With the covers, life jackets, and other stuff not mentioned, you are probably right on.

I recommend you talk to Busacharger, as his boat is nearly identical to the one advertised. I've seen his, compared to mine, and am impressed.

Best of luck!

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

You mention fade above the rub rail. If you don't have a place to store it inside, I recommend a mooring cover, especially where you live in the South East. Sun fading can usually be buffed out. The canvas fading is another story.

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

I'd keep it at $25K when it comes to offers. I personally feel that a DP/Bravo 3 is not a *must* but is awful close. You'd be giving up the benefit of the extra HP in lost torque by running something less than that. Volvo v. Merc= Coke v. Pepsi, Ford v. Chevy, etc. EXCEPT that I would always buy whatever is most easily serviced in my geographic area. If you're in Merc country, that is the way I'd go.

_________________
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)

There is a Four Winns dealer half hour away so no problem getting service. Simply the shop at the lake I will be mostly will only get parts for Mercs. Probably not a big deal overall. Is one more reliable than the other or about the same as far as maint? From the last post I assume about the same or volvo wouldn't be in so many. I have read on here that Merc is cheaper to buy parts. Is this correct? Personnaly I would rather spend the bucks and have a quality product than fix it many times over to save a dollar. Since this is my first boat I'm trying to suck as much info out of you guys as possible. So apologize for silly questions and thanks again all for your input.

To be honest, in my experience there's not a lot of difficult things to "service" on a Volvo, maybe Merc as well. If something goes seriously wrong, yes, it might be slightly more difficult to get parts/ get one repaired compared to the other. Marine engines and the externals of their transmissions are if anything are more primitive and simpler to service than recent car engines, things are so much easier to get at ( but still pretty awful in some instalations).

As to the "305" 270 HP vs the "350" 280 HP Volvos, the main difference is in torque, which is what you need in a boat with any sort of payload. I believe it's a well known American saying that "there's no substitute for cubic inches". I wish my boat had the 8.1 big block !

Graham

Volvo Penta vs Mercruiser is the same as Chevy vs Ford.

If you have a dealer within easy distance to either, it really doesn't matter. Change the fluid and keep up with the routine maintenance and both will give you many years of reliable service.

_________________
2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

Regarding engine size, go big. I can't recall a single posting on this site complaining about having too much power and wishing they took the smaller engine!

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Honestly, I think you're overly concerned on this one. You're not going to choose one and find it to be utterly inferior to the other. Each brand has its defective models that unfortunate buyers out there have told horror stories about. Each one has had corrosion issues as well. Both seem to have remedied the corrosion problems, whether by re-design or by replacement of the faulty units.

Really, if you have access to a Merc dealer and a FW dealer that are reasonable distances, then just get the best deal. I think I'd do some homework to find out what the Merc dealer and the FW are like to deal with. Do they stand behind their product, quality of work, are they easy to deal with when it comes to down time, do they try to charge you for/perform work that is unnecessary?

I think these questions are the best ones to have answered in making your decision. If one of them has a poor reputation, it might make your decision for you. If they both are equal, then shop for what you feel is the best deal overall for your money.

And don't apologize for asking questions. Information is the enemy to someone who is trying to get you to pay too much or make a poor decision. Get as much of it as you can!

_________________
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)

The saying is "there is no replacement for displacement" as I listen to all the little tuners try to compare to American Muscle hahahaha

_________________
Bryan Mutter

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