www.iFourWinns.com

Hi everyone. I am selling my 22' cuddy and looking to get into a 248. Any recommendations on what the must have options are? I'll be honest, my idea of "roughing it" on the water are a/c, genset and TV. Not sure if the generator will be cost beneficial but I will price it out.

I plan on trailering for the most part. Will it fit in a 10'x10' garage door? I assume my 1/2 ton Silverado will pull it OK (realized I am at the top end for it). What is the best motor/drive for this boat? I prefer the V-P so I was thinking of the 5.7 GXI DP.

Thanks~

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"Fortunately son, I says fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency"

F. Leghorn

Genset won't be an option on the 248V so you will need a Honda EU2000i portable generator and lots of common sense to use it as there are dangers associated with any device that gives off Carbon Monoxide on a boat. I don't care for the "new" 248 to me I think Four Winns cheapened the boat up by making the interior more blocky, less curvatious the dash is bland and they even removed the seperate fiberglass scoops on the side of the hull and just installed off the shelf bilge vents (all are obvious cost cutting measures due to increases in everything). One thing they did do on the 08's I like, is the hinged engine hatch which sort of cancels out the ability to have the nice u-lounge like I have on my 06 (there was no 07) my engine hatches are a bear to take out and require removal of the rear lounge seat (tool-free) but still difficult.

Options I think are a must (at least in my opinion)

Trim Tabs (probably still standard)
Windlass (was never available on earlier 248's but WELL worth the money)
Anchor/Rode package (yes it's expensive, but it's the right package for the windlass and it's just as expensive if you buy it seperately)
Air Conditioning/Reverse Cycle Heat
Electric China Head or VacuFlush if available
Remote Bow Spot Light (LOVE IT!)
Overboard Discharge with Holding Tank (Blackwater)

Other items are personal taste, like Audio, Chartplotter etc. Also I would get the stainless radar arch but that may not appeal to everyone.

I have the Volvo 5.7 Gi DuoProp which was rated at 280HP and I believe Volvo now rates it at 290 or 300HP (and they have not changed anything in the motor) this motor is a STRONG performer and I can't see spending the money for the 320HP version which has been shown to be a weak 320 and the Gi motors consistently run as strong. Ocean Series is a personal choice, I have heard of some problems with the plastic XDP drives, but if you are going to be in salt water (slipped) you may want to consider going that route rather than the regular DuoProp. Either way, it must be a DuoProp drive (not even sure if the SX drive is available).

I am sure others will chime in on things I've missed.

Yes your truck will pull it but will be at it's limits. It "MAY" fit through a 10' tall door but that's a big "MAY" as the measurements FW provides state that on the trailer it's 10'0" to the top of the windshield, you may get it through, it may require airing tires down... Would be a PITA for sure.

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Brett DiMichele

Running a 268 with just my family the VP 5.7 GI with DP is great... No complaints. It gets up on plan and runs all day.

This weekend I had six adults on the boat, loaded down with gas and beer, I had issues. Both the wind and the tide were working against the boat. I had a hard time getting the boat up on plane and it felt like I was dragging a crab pot across the water. On the trip back, the wind laid down and tide was going with us. I moved a couple up to the helm area and we had no problems. Of course I wasn't carrying as much gas and beer on the way back either.

I assume the the two foot swim platform is standard, if not get it... It make your boating life more enjoyable.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

You sound like me last winter; even share the same name “Bob”. We too went from a 22’ cuddy to a 2008 V248. We ordered the boat loaded the only options we didn’t get were the TV, swim platform rails and the remote transom remote; we even ordered the Fexiteek. My mistake was the engine size we decided on the 5.0 litter and should have requested the 5.7 was thinking fuel economy.

We have had problems getting the boat on plan; the dealer is switching it to an F2 prop this week and the Windless works when it wants to.

The boat rides great; night and day from the cuddy. It can’t even be compared.

The options that I feel “can’t live without” are:

AC/Heat, do NOT order it without it
Vacu-flush, okay this ones my wife’s 
Windless (when it works)
Windshield wiper
Water heater

They do not offer a radar arch so i am looking for an aftermarket this winter. Miss print in the literature.

I have a 2005 Dodge Durango with the Magnum V8, no it doesn’t have a Hemi in it, and the boat alone is over the tow weight. When you add in the trailer, fuel, water supplies and passengers you are over the tow weight then there’s the tongue weight. Sense I can’t tow it so I didn’t buy the trailer. The marina will launch it and store it for the winter.

Good luck with the purchase!

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“Growing Older, But Not Up”
[

2008 Four Winns V248
2004 Stingray 220CS

That is a lot of people weight to move around and there isn't any smallblock that Volvo makes that would have done a better job than your GI. I am not sure on this, but can you even get a big block in the 248? (that would be SWEEEEEEET but only if it was a Merc 496 Mag HO Seacore/BIII

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Brett DiMichele

I talked to the dealer today. They have two 248's they both have the 5.7 Gi DP's, swim platform, A/C Heat, frig., Macerator so I can dump the poopies in the water. Tandem trailer with disc surge brakes. No windlass. They said it would be $1,600 to have installed. I forgot about the remote transom option and trim tabs. All good ideas to bring up. Going to go look at them Friday.

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"Fortunately son, I says fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency"

F. Leghorn

Bob225 were are you going to run your Vista?

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348 Vista ( Last Call )
Raystown PA

Cheat Lake and Tygart Lake.

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"Fortunately son, I says fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency"

F. Leghorn

What kind of a price are you looking at?

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

Looking at new 2008 or 2009. Local dealer did not have one in stock but has one 2008 coming so we haven't talked pricing yet.

I saw a 2007 268 that was on consignment. I liked the boat but a little to big for frequent towing.

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"Fortunately son, I says fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency"

F. Leghorn