www.iFourWinns.com

I'm the new owner of a 2003 H200 5.0 penta non EFI. Luckily, I knew the previous owner and new about his OCD with this boat. His care has showed and it is beautiful.

I had a few questions about things I'm already wanting to buy for next season.

Wakeboard Tower
I wakeboard a lot (although I'm not really good) and this boat does not have a tower. I figured this was a good opportunity to get to pick my own tower. I'm into the reverse arch towers because it's a new look that I like and it usually has a "minimalist" design.
I was wanting to know if anyone had a Big Air Plasma Wakeboard Tower? I can get it installed at Wake Pro Marine in DFW for $1600 OTD.

Here's a pic (I'm sure you've seen it before)



Prop
I noticed this weekend while being pulled behind the boat (from the transom hook ) that it was difficult to keep the boat on plane at 17-20mph. I've searched other threads around this forum and haven't quite found a good recommendation for my model. I'm pretty sure that I have the stock prop on my boat.

Ballast
I don't always have 9 people in the boat, and I'd like to add ~500lbs of ballast to enhance the wake. I didn't know if too many people on this board had built their own system or if it was just recommended to have it installed.

I have the H180 with 5.0 Volvo Penta.
I changed the standard 3 blade aluminum prop to a 4 blade stainless with 1 degree higher pitch.
That and I added a hydrofoil. It made a huge difference on holeshot and the speed at which I plane.
Much quicker now and can plane at 15 mph.
Top speed dropped to 50 mph from close to 60 mph. I can live with that.
Rob

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Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing
2001 Horizon 180

Your gonna find that that boat is hard to make a firm wake do to the stepped transom. I wouldnt spend alot of money on ballast till you see for yourself with cheap weight, fat chics work well.

EDIT sorry just re-read, I looked at the pic and was thinking its the stable vee design. Does the 03 have the stable vee???

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I'm not really sure weather or not my year has the stable vee design. Here is a profile pic of the boat on the trailer. Is stable vee detrimental to a "wakeboard" wake?

Yep, and you have a stable vee

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Respectfully disagree that you can't get a good wake out of the stable vee design. Maybe in a 20' this is different, but I can get a good wake (for an I/O) out of mine with a 600lb ballast bag sitting between the bow seats. Again, maybe this is different on a 20'er.

If you are trying to compare it to the best inboard tournament wakeboard boat, obviously it won't. BUT, my wake is good enough to ride behind and get some decent pop and air. Now I just need to find someone to ride behind it who is good at wakeboarding, because I'm not.

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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)

Thats what I am comparing it to, square back wakeboard boats. That step lays the wake ALOT flatter then a wakeboard boat. If your at the level of alittle air and crossing the wake on a good day you'll be fine.

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you must be watching the speedo and not GPS. These boats max out at about 50 mph no matter how much reasonable horspower you put behind them. Flying Sushi has documented a large descrepancy betwen the dash speedo and his GPs. In the past he has posted pictures.

I am not a wakeboarder but I sure thought my H260 put out a large wake.... So do the old guys in the Islands that stand on their front yard flashing a big SLOW down, NO WAKE!" sign

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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

A big wake is not necessarily a good wakeboard wake. You need one that is hard as a rock with not air in it.

Can you edit that, I think if you were able to fit a 1075 in a 20 footer it would pass a 4.3L.

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Better?

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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

Better, you mean Four Winns doesnt offer that boat with a 1300 horse Raptor?? So much for me ordering a new H180 next year.

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I am aware that this will not duplicate the wake of a tournament boat. I would just like a reasonably good wake that I can struggle valiantly to do tricks and possibly clear the wake.

Not looking to spend a pantload on upgrades, but rather just wanting to make this boat better for what I would like to use it for.

What kind of tower do you have? From your sig pic it looks like the Samson tower. I've noticed from other install pics that it seems to protrude really far forward.. and it seems like the bimini might not be in a good place to give everyone sitting in the back area shade.

Do you have a pic with the tower installed and the bimini open?