www.iFourWinns.com

I recently purchased a 2005 horizon 250. I have had boats in the past 21’ Searay 210 BR, which we had for over ten years and loved and a 23’ Rinker 232, which we had for just a couple of years and while we loved the layout something was always loose or broken. Anyway, after 9 years away from boating we purchased this 250 and we love the layout and have put 40 hours on it this summer so far. I have a concern that the boat has a slight list to the starboard. I notice it at the docks and when there are two of us on the boat. When I filled the water tank it was really noticeable. I didn’t notice anything on the test drive, but it was a very windy ( 2’-3’ chop). It does not have trim tabs so the boat does want to lean to starboard while on plan. Although it disappears with a little trim. I did have a second battery installed which is on the same side as the original.
The dealer feels that the second battery is causing the boat to list. Does this boat need trim tabs? I would appreciate any comments.

Are the batteries and water tank mounted starboard also? If so, sounds like it would be worthwhile moving at least the secondary to port.

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

I have the same year, make, and model, and the same list to the right. The subject had been well described on this site, and it is the weight of the batts that is the culprit. Poor engineering, on an overall well designed boat IMO. (Certainly there are other issues such as the trailer problems, ski locker drainage, etc.). I am going to have to move one or both batts eventually as the problem slowly eats at me. Mike 230 I think has moved his to center. I don't feel comfortable with the electrician work to do this without a primer. I'll try to find the previous thread I remember seeing about this.

Despite the listing to one side, we've really enjoyed our 250. Welcome to the club. Just adjust the trim to offset the list for now.

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2005 Horizon 250

There's someone at FW that didn't understand the concept of weight distribution:

Boat Captain ( = Helsman in the UK), usually weighing a lot more than the female on the port side. Please do not take offence if you are female on the port side and weigh more than the helmsman ( helmswoman) on the starboard side !!! !

Batteries; Very heavy, on starboard side.

Not surprising really that the boats list to starboard !

Graham

Sorry, I didn't see in your message that you had no trim tabs. They are very useful to me in offsetting this list, and I find I rarely use them otherwise.

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2005 Horizon 250

Move both your batteries to port, it'll make a world of difference.

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

2004/2005 was the first year of current hull … Therefore many details were not sorted out yet… Users usually end up helping factory to improve some details. Later years FW moved both battery to port side and my H260 does not list at all… I am a big fan of trim tab and I use my tabs all the time I go out with loaded people …Once you have them you will not want a boat without one.

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

Thanks for all your input. It helps to know that our boat is the only on with this situation. I can live with it for the rest of this year and I plan on moving both batteries to port and adding trim tabs over the winter. If I spend any more $$$ on this boat my wife may kill me. Although she loves the boat as much as I do.

Rick8016

I would never try to dissuade anyone from adding trim tabs, but if money is an issue (isn't it always?) just moving the batteries will fix the at-rest list issue.

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

Hey Mike, can you go over how you did this on your 230? Did you also move the selector switch and the tester (if you had one). I have several wires connecting to each of the batteries, and each would need to be extended (spliced?) I assume if I tried to move the batts. I guess I am a little concerned that my inexperience with electrician-work will lead me down the path of getting in over my head, or screwing something up.

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2005 Horizon 250

Sure! I wrote a check.

I just had my dealer do it and I believe FW paid for it (I actually didn't). The switch was not moved (and I wouldn't want it to be). They ran long, heavier cables from the switch and zip tied them to the upper walls of the engine compartment for a neat installation. They mounted the rear battery in the same open tray it was in before. I asked them to put the front battery in a box, mounted at the aft end of the locker compartment so skis or whatever could still be thrown in there without hitting the battery. I can post a pic later tonight.

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

Thanks. Maybe I'll call the local dealer and see if they seem like they know what they are doing. Why not move both to port side, rather than one to the ski locker and the other to port?

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2005 Horizon 250

Both are on the port side; the compartment I'm talking about is the port storage compartment. Here's a couple of pics:

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

My H250 doesn't list to the right that often, both my batteries are starboard, and I easily outweigh my admiral by 100 lbs. I do not, however, use the water tank, which can amount to 100 lbs when filled. I sure wish I had it filled this past Sunday when the kids found some of the stinkiest Mississippi mud I've ever encountered. Made the rest of the river seem like a clorinated pool. The point is, if you don't use the water system, don't fill the tank and see if that helps your issue. I agree the next step would be to move the batteries to the port side locker like Mike did. Next option is trim tabs. I have to agree with Sushi... I don't use mine that often, but I sure love having them when I need them.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

Not all the dual battery boats have the list, and I think the 230/240 is more likely to do it than the 250/260. I noticed the 230 that we test drove was listing while tied up to the dealer's dock with nobody aboard and its water tank empty. The degree to which they do it varies quite a bit. Ours was slight compared to many, but it was enough to bug me.

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