www.iFourWinns.com

I'm looking at buying a 2004 225 Sundowner. Any tips? Things to look for? Price to pay?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Get a 5.7L if you can.

With a 5.0L and B3, 25K is a decent price. Like this one .

http://www.usedboats.com/index.php?site=usedboats.com&section=search&boatId=1615891&photo_index=0&maximize=22932522&historyback=2

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Capn...that is a saltwater boat...I would stay away. Plus...a 5.0 Merc is not 300hp. I hate it when a dealer that should know the boat in and out can't get their ad right because they do not take the time. That is their job...right?

I know it is a salty craft. I didn't mean to suggest firecadet consider that boat, just posted it as a reference point on what he might pay for one similarly equipped.

Yep, poorly worded and misrepresented adds do not help in selling a boat.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I know you were not. But a salty boat is worth from what I hear 20% less here in the Great Lakes area. I think $26k - $27k for a freshwater boat n good shape would be a hell of a deal.

Hows this for 25K? High bidder has bad credit, and he wants to close the deal ASAP. This is the guy in Boston that I've talked to quit a bit Wet Doggg...2nd time it's been on eBay, and a freshwater craft...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0238689962

Or this one in MI, listed at 33k,
http://www.hallssportcenter.com/new_veh ... pov=790210
This one's at 29k...
http://www.hallssportcenter.com/pre_own ... veh=590720

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

So when are you making the trip to Muskegon to look at Harolds' boats ?

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Why the downer on a saltwater boat? It's not an issue provided maintenance is done. We have many many many boats that are quite old here in Florida that have lived their whole life in saltwater. Mental Floss is 75% of the time in saltwater (approx 350 hrs) and I have no more corrosion than a freshwater boat. I know we have one boat (a mid-80's Four Winns Sundowner) in our boat club that has a lot of saltwater use and it's engine is original and in tip top shape.

It's not the water that hurts a boat and motor most, but rather non-use of the boat which causes the greatest deterioration. Use them regularly and do the maintenance and they last a long time.

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

As soon as my schedual allows. I'm busy the next two weekends...might have to try and make a mid-week trip up there. 5 hour drive so it isn't to bad...

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

+1 Jvalich

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2005 Four Winns Sundowner (Sold)
350 MAG B1

I totally understand that a salty boat can be kept very nice for many years. I guess that most people do not take very good care of their stuff (witnessed during used boat shopping the last year) and salt water will take its toll much faster on a boat. If you know the boat was well taken care of that is great...but that is a big unknown. Especially for us here in the midwest.

What's more important than if it was used in salt, was it slipped in salt? That's when you get most of the corrosion problems with the drives and transom shield. If there is bottom paint on it, then you can assume it was. Having said that, mine is slipped in salt, and I have not had unusual problems. One thing is that you really have to make sure the bellows does not leak, you don't want salt water in there. And if there are any cooling system leaks from the engine, even from a loose drain plug, it will corrode anything it drips on.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II