www.iFourWinns.com

...from a newbie to Four Winns and this forum.
Hi all, last year I purchased a 2002 Horizon 190, my first Four Winns boat although I have owned a few others and have been boating for some forty years or so. I have always admired the Four Winns brand and am really pleased with my new boat, the quality, styling and performance have met all my expectations. I have made some mods and upgrades thanks to some great ideas I have picked up on this forum.
The questions I have are;
The Faria depth sounder in my boat has a deep water alarm, I can understand the need for a shallow water alarm but deep water? Deep water for boating I always believed was a good thing. What is the reasoning for a deep water alarm?
How many of you carry a spare tire for your trailer? Any experiences you have had with flat tire and didn't have a spare? I had an experience many years ago with my last boat trailer (single axle) when a blister developed on the sidewall and I had no spare at the time. Fortunately, I spotted it in the side view mirror and was able to pull off the highway and locate a tire shop for a replacement before the tire blew. My new boat trailer (a tandem) doesn't have a spare and I am seriously considering getting one. I am a retired aircraft mechanic/inspector and am meticuous about maintaining everything I own, the tires are relatively new and are properly inflated and I maintain the 55mph speed limit when towing. We only drive three miles to our local lake and none of it is highway but we are planning a trip to Shasta lake this year and that will be interstate. I guess this is a no brainer, get the spare for peace of mind.
One last thing, I have discovered a loose ground wire that appears to have come from the fuel fill fitting in the hull but am unable to see where it connects to the metal fitting. Any ideas where this wire connects?
Thanks for any input.

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Doug
2002 Four Winns H190 5.0 GL-SX

Welcome Doug...post pictures of your boat when you have a chance, everyone appreciates boat pics.

The only thing I can think of is for an anchor alarm similar to what you can set on GPSs. If you anchor in 5' of water and have 20' of rode out, maybe set the alarm to 25'...Not sure there is a need in a bowrider, but only my guess.

The spare is the first accessory I bought along with the trailer mount. I've used it, so the investment outweighed the frustration of being stranded. Granted you have some flexibility with the tandem, but it would still be a good idea to carry a spare.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

I think the previous comment on the depth sounder has it correct.

I have added a spare to our tandem trailer and consider it essential. I have only had to use it maybe three times in over 25 years of trailering.

As far as the ground. They are often placed under a screw so there is no really visible location. Not having a similar boat I cannot comment more specifically. I do think. that you have it correct though.

Good luck with your boat.

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

I can't even imagine towing more than a few miles without a spare. No idea on the ground wire but I'd make it a priority to get that taken care of.

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

Spare tire....a trip longer than 3 miles. YES. I always throw a spare in anytime I trailer. I use to not, NEVER had a need for one, but finally bought one for the piece of mind. I carry the same spare with me when I haul the utility trailer, or jet ski trailer (it may not be the exact size but it will get me home with ANY of these trailers same 5 lug hub). I bought it to fit the boat trailer because it was the heaviest and not really something I want to disconnect, leave by the side of the road while I run to get a tire fixed or a new tire. If your upcoming trip is a long one, I would buy (at least) 1 spare wheel bearing to throw in the tool box (again a just in case thing).

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'90 Horizon 220 5.8

Spare tire is a must for any towing... Also make sure you carry an adequate jack to lift your trailer (with boat) when you need to replace a tire unless your cell phone to AAA is your "jack".. This passed weekend I happened to help a guy with a boat trailer who had a flat tire on the side of road. He had a spare tire but did not have a proper jack to lift the trailer up and change it. His face was priceless when he saw me with a floor jack and cordless impact wrench in my track to help him out...

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

I use both alarms on my depthfinder. Shallow is for the boat if it breaks away from the anchor and drifts into shore, and the deep water alarm is if we drift out too far. Works both ways.
Yes. I have a spare on the trailer and have used it a couple of times over our 40 yrs of boating. Different boats, different spare tires of course.

I had a blow out on the Howard Franklin bridge which connects Tampa to Pinellas county. High speed and had to drive off the bridge with the flat as there is no room to even stand next to the vehicle. Trashed the rim (not a big deal as I wanted new ones), but I had no spare. Had to unhook the tow vehicle and run to a boat supply to get one and it was rush hour and begged the guy to wait for me or take my credit card and leave the tire and wheel outside his shop. On the way, our truck got a flat! Probably from driving in the itty bitty breakdown lane of the bridge, so I had to stop and change that! Ended up with 2 flats in the back bed of the Sporttrac.

Purchased two new rims and tires the next day and a mount for the spare and the new wheel and tire became my spare.

Here is a link to the holder to mount on your trailer (I just posted it on another thread).

http://www.sturdybuiltonline.com/Traile ... p_231.html

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

Here's mine...
[img]http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab244/DougPr/CIMG8554.jpg?

here's another...

sorry 'bout the different pics...just learning pic posting here.

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Doug
2002 Four Winns H190 5.0 GL-SX