About to buy my first boat...need tips

bwilderness · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 6:33 pm **Posts:** 5

Looking at a Horizon 18' with Four Winns 18' Horizon RS. Volvo Penta 5.7L GL engine and SX Cobra outdrive. Is this a good motor/outdrive combo? I obviously will be checking the compression of the motor, any other advice?
thanks

Ccmblack · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 10:29 pm

What year? The is a massive engine for that boat. You sure it's a 5.7? That would be 280-300 horses for an 18 footer. Typical wasc a 190 4.3...

bwilderness · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 6:33 pm **Posts:** 5

1997, I know its a big motor for the boat, and im not looking to be a speed demon, but i've heard good reviews about the engine. The thing that scares me, the hours are unknown. One of the reasons fr my post. I hear Four Winns are the Cadillac of boats. As far as the boat, meticulous though, interior and hull is beautiful, gelcoat (blue) needs a little buffing. Any other red flags about this model or motor/outdrive?

JDW250 · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 6:19 am

http://www.fourwinns.com/past_product/specs//1997/05%20Horizon%20RS%20(p16-19).pdf

Wow! They did offer a 5.7L in that boat in 1997. I went on the FW website to show you that motor would be after market, but I was wrong. That's a lot of CI for that boat. But note that version of the 5.7L only put out ~20 more HP than the 4.3L V6.

I don't have any personal experience with that motor / drive combo. I had a friend with a 20' Rinker that had the 5.7L mated to a Merc drive. That was a great boat to ski behind. That boat burned up in a storage unit fire. Another friend pulled the block from the melted hull, rebuilt it and threw it in his work truck. The block lived on for many years after the boat was a total loss. The 5.7L (i.e. Chevy 350) has been a mainstay in the boating and auto world for many years. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have this particular motor/drive inspected by a qualified marine mechanic/inspector.

ric · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 8:01 am

It's my identical boat with more power. Good stable boat. 4 maybe 5 adults max without being too crowded. Is the engine/drive combo a good one? Hell f***ing yes it's a good combo. I wish I had the torque of a V8. That's a dream boat for someone wanting an 18ft bow rider.

Now, is your particular drive/engine good? Only a mechanic can tell. Some people love and baby their boats. Some people treat them like trash.

bwilderness · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 6:33 pm **Posts:** 5

I've posted a link to the pictures, please share your opinions.

http://s1072.photobucket.com/albums/w373/bwilderness/

ric · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 7:05 pm

beast! Nice find!

bwilderness · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 6:33 pm **Posts:** 5

i assume thats a thumbs up?
Little buffing on the gelcoat and I'll be in biz

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I had a 19.5 foot bowrider with that same engine set up...96 model bayliner.....that is an awesome power plant for that size boat.....power to spare. Hours will be unknown since many rides that size didn't have hour meters standard. Just check her out for compression and blow by....run her and check fluids for water....including engine and drive unit...buy u a cheap I fared temp and check riser temps after warmed up...you may get a little difference but shouldnt be drastic...if no Therm the hand test will work...should be able to hand on and hold for couple seconds without screaming.
Check floor for rot...many had wood flooring around that time...check under seats and engine compartment sides for rot....may not be a deal killer but damn sure a lot of work to repair....rot anywhere in floor usually is 10 times the initial suspect area.
Other than that I would check for rust stains under stearn bolt on/thru items...especially inside boat at back of engine compartment as this indicates transem leakage...water logged transem which for me would be a deal killer.

Good luck and nice looking boat

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I had a 19.5 foot bowrider with that same engine set up...96 model bayliner.....that is an awesome power plant for that size boat.....power to spare. Hours will be unknown since many rides that size didn't have hour meters standard. Just check her out for compression and blow by....run her and check fluids for water....including engine and drive unit...buy u a cheap I fared temp and check riser temps after warmed up...you may get a little difference but shouldnt be drastic...if no Therm the hand test will work...should be able to hand on and hold for couple seconds without screaming.
Check floor for rot...many had wood flooring around that time...check under seats and engine compartment sides for rot....may not be a deal killer but damn sure a lot of work to repair....rot anywhere in floor usually is 10 times the initial suspect area.
Other than that I would check for rust stains under stearn bolt on/thru items...especially inside boat at back of engine compartment as this indicates transem leakage...water logged transem which for me would be a deal killer.

Good luck and nice looking boat

yrless11 · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 8:03 pm

my 99 H200 has the same combo...it's a great setup. By the looks of the pictures, that is one clean boat. It has been well taken care of for sure. If the price is right and everything checks out, I would jump on it. You're going to want to make sure there are no soft spots, cracks in the engine block, etc. Based on the pics, I highly doubt there are any major problems. Make sure to do your due diligence, but at a quick glance, I would give it the thumbs up. Good luck!

LouC · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 10:31 pm

Check under that carpet for rot, look in the ski locker and all around the seat bases, also look under the rear seat. Also look for cracks in the transom that could be due to wood rot there. The boat looks very good, but be careful and follow the good advice given by others in this thread. It will be very fast with that engine. The blue gelcoat may come back just with buffing, or you may need to wet sand it. If it passes a hull/structure inspection and mechanical inspection I'd go for it.

bwilderness · **Joined:** Sun May 20, 2012 6:33 pm **Posts:** 5

You guys are great! Thanks so much of the help, I hope to post some pictures with some bikini clad ladies soon for appreciation

RedRocketSS · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 10:22 am

Looks like a very nice boat. Our 98 Horizon RS has the 5.0L GL in it. It really gets up out of the water quick, can't imagine this size boat with a 5.7. Good luck!

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 10:41 am

As to advice: Find a rich women!

www.iFourWinns.com

About to buy my first boat...need tips

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