www.iFourWinns.com

To begin, I'm a newbie with an 02 H200 and just put it for sale and am ready to move up to either a new 240 or 260. I'm on the West coast in Southern CA and haven't found a dealer with either boat in stock to actually look at them. From what I'm hearing, the 240 isn't actually a 24' boat room wise as it has a 2' swim deck. 26' sounds huge to me, but if that's the case, it's really a 24' in theory. Would I notice a huge difference in towing behind a half ton crew cab? Also, I'm hearing that I should go with the VP 8.1 on either boat which is not a problem. Is top speed about the same with either boat and is fuel economy "liveable" with the 8.1? Lastly, does the quick and quiet exhaust add a few miles per hour?

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

Q&Q might add a very small amount of top end with the 8.1, but not "a few miles per hour" IMO. Towing the 240 behind a 1/2-ton with tow package isn't a problem in flat areas and occasional hills, but if you're in mountain country or definitely with the 260 I'd want a 3/4-ton. The 240 with the 8.1L, full tanks, dual batteries, toys, etc., will run around 6,800 lbs. with the trailer. For a good starting point, look at your truck's rated towing capacity, take 2/3 of that, and compare that to the package you're considering purchasing, and then consider the length of tows and terrain you're likely to encounter.

You're correct about the swim platform, which is why the exact same boats used to be called the 230 and 250 until the '06 model year.

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

Thanks Mike, that helps! Don't do too many steep hills, so it sounds like that won't be an issue. My Silverado has the 5.7 with 300 HP so it does pretty good.

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP

Oh, and whatever you do, POST PICS of it.

Also be aware that many of the hitches included with factory tow packages are rated for 5K lbs. I highly recommend you replace it with a class IV rated for 10K.

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

Good info. I keep my boat at Boulder City on Lake Mead, so it really doesn't get towed an awful lot. I think I've got a class iv, but I'm going to check to make sure tonite! It's a 2007 Silverado 4x4 and I'm pretty sure I optioned for the heavy duty package. And, I feel much better about the size now knowing it is pretty much a name change from before.

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP

You can BARELY tow a 260 with a GM half ton. I know, as I did the research as I had a 2007 Yukon with the 5.7.

By the time you have a full tank of gas, on trailer - you are literally at the max with a 260.

If you can afford it -- go the 260. It's a stunning boat.

What about an SL series?

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

We have been there….. We owned 240 before our current 260…. We had struck by those 2’ itch and it was well worth for us to go up to 260....... 260 ride much better and stable on rough water. (as it should for 2’ longer) A rule of thumb is to get biggest engine you can afford and you will not be disappointed with 260 with 8.1L. She will hit top speed of 54.5mph with F6 (VP DP) prop. 260 is not as large as many people think and it really a 24.5’ boat. Still the boat is very comfortable with 8 to 10 people on aboard. I wish I could get Captain`s Call exhaust. However, I did not push my luck with admiral too much.
I do not believe the exhaust will make too much difference on 240 or 260 since hull design is not made for top speed … if any adds only one MPH…. it will add a heck of noise although... The boat, trailer, fuel, water and few typical junks will weight just about 7800lb so you could pull with late model ½ ton truck. However, ¾ ton truck is ideal. We tow our boat with a diesel F-350 so it did not feel any difference between 240 and 260.

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

Thanks Flying Sushi! Everyone on here has given me some really good advice and I appreciate all of the responses. It looks like my only area of concern is towing. I checked and my truck is rated at 7500 lbs and a gross combined of 13,000, so I'm right at capacity. Turns out, I could have ordered the 6.2 engine and it would have been rated for 10,000. Not knowing I'd be buying a 260 two years ago, I opted for the 5.3 with 315 hp. The good news, the launch ramp from where I store it is only a couple of miles each way. I was going to plan a trip to Lake Powell this summer which is a 4 hour drive from Vegas (which is next to where my boat is), but I may have to postpone that until I buy my next truck in two years, which will be a 3/4 ton or a 1/2 ton rated for 10,000 lbs!

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP

You should be ok with the truck you have for around town stuff like you plan on doing. And if you end up buying the fourwinns boat from the corona fourwinns dealer You should be able to make it to mead, (slowly) And if you do not feel comfortable with getting it to mead then just ask the dealer to have the boat delivered to your storage place, They will help you out with that, They have a driver for that. Good luck with your boat purchase, And have fun with it.

I know you said NEW 260, but look at the older ones. They actually have more room in them and total LOA with swim platform is 28.5. I know Marc has an 01 for sale. I don't know what year the size changed, but my 260 is HUGE compared to the new ones.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Thanks for the plug Dave! I totally agree with you about the space on our boats compared to the newer models. The OP can PM me if they would be interested. Unfortunately my 260 has to go in the spring so I can get the funds together to rehabilitate the Vista 245 and build/get her a trailer.

I would apprecite it if anybody knows somebody looking for an older H260 to have them contact me.

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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

I do think some of FW's older models were bigger comparing the same name model and not onlythat the newer ones seem to have more wasted space and are less well set up for engine servicing...my '88 200 for example is 20'9" whereas the late models are 19'8"...and it's much easier to get in there for more than minor service such as changing a starter (which all IOs need sonner or later) or getting at anything on the rear of the engine....
If you want the max space and performance in a smaller boat...to me an outboard is the way to go...just to start out an outboard package is roughly 400 lbs lighter than an equivalent sterndrive which is a big weight difference (with obvious performance advantages right there) and getting the engine out of the boat frees up a lot of space at the rear...too bad not too many makers make outboard runabouts anymore...they are mostly fishing style boats...but when both Fuel Injection and Cat Converters become standard equipment accross the board on most I/Os...I bet you will see OBs make a comeback....because the cost penalty won't be as much and people will realize the maintenance advantage of OBs saves you money over the time you own it.....

FW USED to sell both the 200 Horizon and 205 Sundowner with OBs...if they still did...that would be my next boat....


Here's an example....a 300 hp ETEC Evinrude weighs in at 528 lbs.....a 5.7 300 hp Volvo....1070 lbs 500 plus a bit more weight advantage

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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

As you can see I have an 07 260 and tow it with Avalanche LTZ with tow package. No problems except going over the passes (Snoqualmie, Blewett, Stevens andor White)) but with patience and a pee stop before going over the passes I am fine. I did upgrade my front brakes as a precautionary measure...better rotors and "police" rated pads. My previous boat was lighter (maybe 800-1000 lbs) so I do feel this one behind my AV. BTW, the LTZ has the air suspension whcih airs up when I put the boat behind it.

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Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA

Thanks Optimus,

I'm feeling much better now that I've talked to a few people, plus first hand from folks like you, and the limited amount of towing I'll do. My crewcab is a 4 X 4 and is rated for 7500 lbs so like you say, I may not win any races but I shouldn't have too much problem getting there.....

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP

On any long uphill pulls I would watch the tranny fluid temp like a hawk. or get a good transmission cooler installed. Or best of both worlds use both as I have in my AV.... Which is rated at 7800 lbs. Otherwise you shoudl be good to go. Just don't load down the truck with a lot of stuff AND pull the boat any long distance.

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Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA