www.iFourWinns.com

Hi guys,

Do you think Sundowner 195, 205 or 225 is big enough for Lake Erie? Like to go from Maumee Bay (Toledo, OH) to Putin Bay (40-50 mi)?

What maximum wave it can handle?

Or should it be left to Vistas?

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http://www.jetboat14.com
Jet Boating Club & Forum!
Four Winns Fling

I have a Sundowner 225 that I have on Lake Erie. I don't have many problems with days when I can go out. I have run it from Lorain to Sandusky Bay before(about 30 miles). I have been out in 3-5ft waves, it was a fun ride but it is something I will try to avoid.

Thanks for the info.
Did you ever slept in it on Erie?

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Jet Boating Club & Forum!
Four Winns Fling

No I have not. I have a family of four so it would be a little tight.

Do you have a boat that you are looking at?

No, I'm just collecting information

I own 14' Fling Jet boat (for now )

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Four Winns Fling

My previous boat was a 225 Sundowner that I had on Lake Michigan. I once went from White Lake, MI to South Haven, Mi which was a 70 mile straight shot south.

I also have had the 225 from the Les Cheneaux Islands on Lake Huron, east to Drummond, Island, then up the St. Mary's river to Sault Ste. Marie and back - 150miles in one day.

Also took the Sundowner around Mackinac Island.

So you can surely go out on the big lakes, but you need to pick the day, and be especially mindful of changing weather conditions. I would not go out if the conditions were predicted to be worse than 1 to 3ft, but then, I don't like taking the Vista out in anything worse than that either.

While my 268 is better on the big lakes, its not that much better.

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1999 Vista 268

My 225 Sundowner is used on Lake Ontario all the time. I run it across to Toronto fairly often which is about 20 miles. On the days I stay off the lake so does everyone else. Early morning and evening are usually the best times. I have been caught out in 4-5 foot waves and it wasn't fun but I didn't feel in any real danger. My girlfriend might argue that last point.

Thank you guys for this info..

Al - I looked at your site and mods you did - amazing!

So what is the difference between 225/268 in sea handling?
I would think the 268 has more freeboard - safety margin?

I'm thinking should I go with caddy or cruiser for the next boat,
I want to be able to spend few days on it and run about 40-50 miles from Toledo, OH to Putin Bay, OH..

I would not go out until the weather was 0-2 ft

Before I got my jet boat I was out on Erie in 15' trihull but without self bailing cockpit it was scary going more than 2 mi offshore Didn't know that trihull = pain in waves

225 has self bailing cockpit right?

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Four Winns Fling

My 225 was a 1999 model, and yes it did have a self-bailing cockpit.

The 268 does have more freeboard but it actually has less deadrise, which kind of mitigates the length advantage.

I guess I just mean that on some days, a 40ft'er is not large enough on the Great Lakes.

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1999 Vista 268

Here are a couple of additional photos of my Sundowner.

Here is a radio install I did. I custom made that grey fiberglass box.




Interior shot. Doesn't everyone have a set of those pillows? The V-berth converts to a full mattress by filler pieces and cushions. But the porta-pottie is below, so it doesn't bode well for us older guys and gals.



I installed shorepower in the boat - would you expect anything less?



Starboard side of the interior.



Older Garmin GPS on a RAM mount.



No holes in the boat shorepower. Here I installed the shorepower 30A receptacle in the coaming storage area on the port side.

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1999 Vista 268

Oops, I meant to post this in the Sundowner Photo thread as a response to Jetboat14's request for interior photos. Oh well....

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1999 Vista 268

jetboat14, I have a 245, and for the Lake Erie crop over 3', it gets uncomfortable for me. Especially the Admiral. I can't imagine venturing out that far in 3 footers or more. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck. Also, hope you have taken the coast guard safe boating course.

Is that 245 Vista or Sundowner?

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Four Winns Fling

Thanks for the pictures!

Nice mods. I like the shorepower mod What did you use it for?

Looks like you can take a cuddy and retrofit bunch of cruiser options in it if you have time and skills

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Four Winns Fling

Jetboat14 - You are correct in what you said about adding options to a cuddy to make it closer to being a cruiser, BUT it still is a cuddy. I added shorepower, microwave, fridge, invertor, battery charger and TV to my sundowner. It already had a factory closed in head. My next addon will be a water tank and sink. I know that what I have done will not add any value to the boat but it makes the boat very usuable IMO. Total cost not counting the Tv was around $1000 US. The boat is kept in the water and I enjoy the marina lifestyle. I have heard a lot about the Putin Bay bash and I would love to go sometime.