www.iFourWinns.com

I feel your pain. We have been looking for awhile and Merc B3 318 Vistas are hard to come across. We have actually started checking out 310 Sea Rays after looking at an 07 with some friends this past weekend and I loved the fact that you can get V drives on those in a 31'...would way rather have inboards on my next boat. Not to mention, it was very roomy and had loads of creature comforts, as well as plenty of engine bay access.

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Jack
2005 268 Vista - Sold

2001 Silverton 35C 8.1L Crusaders

30 foot boat, in salt water should have inboards unless you have some really good reason to have outdrives (like shallow water issues). If I had a boat that size for sure I'd want inboards. Not having to deal with 2 outdrives in salt water is a beautiful thing, saves money and makes the boat a lot easier to sell. I know some people on the South Shore of LI will get outdrives just for that reason. But where I am, the water is pretty much deep enough in most places for inboards.

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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

Why the preference for Mercs? I've got them now, but had no issues with the Volvo on my 268.

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

It's all personal preference. I'm just more familiar with the Mercs. Also, I have some friends who have a 288 Vista with the twin 5.0l Volvos and they have had nothing but problems since the boat was new. Had composite outdrives, replaced them both with Ocean X drives two years ago and still a slew of issues, not just with the drives but engine systems as well...coil packs, etc. It has been such a nightmare for them all the way around, that they are talking about just being done with boating...and they are hard core boaters who really use their boat. I'm not bashing Volvo at all, and I realize that Volvo owners are the majority on this forum, but for any future purchases I prefer to stick with what I'm familiar with. I've had plenty of good and bad experience with Mercruisers as far as I/O goes. Both my old wooden boats were inboards, the larger of the two was diesel. Good and bad there, as well...although I would have a diesel boat again in a heartbeat if I was looking at anything 40 feet or better...but that aint happening. But then again, that's also preference based on experience...I've been a heavy equipment mechanic for 20 years, and feel like on a boat, diesel is just a safer,more reliable option. But that's just my opinion based on what I have experienced, others may vary.

As much as we would love to move up to a 318, (some other friends have one, and it's just awesome...it does happen to have Mercs, but it was a jewel of a find all the way around) I just don't want one with Volvos, and would actually prefer a boat that size to have inboards. I'm in total agreement with what LouC said on that subject. Unfortunately, you don't see any Four Winns with V drives until you start edging into 378 territory. That's just out of our budget scenario, and I'm sure we are not alone there. Despite all the maintenance headaches that would go along with having not just one, but two B3 drives I'd be willing to compromise on that, since I/O seems to be the only option available in that size boat, but I'm just not willing to compromise any further by going to the Volvos...for a used boat, that's just more unfamiliar territory than I am comfortable with taking on. Maybe that's stupid, but if I'm going to drop 100k or more, it's going to have what I want. We love our Four winns, but If I can get inboards in a Sea Ray and I'm not giving up anything as far as what we like/need in cabin space, options, etc., then I'm definitely going to add them to the list of consideration. It's all about what you want or need. People have different wants/needs, hence the variety of options available. Unfortunately for folks who would like Mercruisers and/or inboards on the smaller end of 30ft, there just aren't a lot of Four Winns to pick from.

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Jack
2005 268 Vista - Sold

2001 Silverton 35C 8.1L Crusaders

We plan on keeping the boat at a facility with indoor hurricane-proof storage, where they flush the boat and rack store it inside after each use. They said if a boat has inboards it is much more expensive to store there because of the racks. So, because of the marina (which is really second to none in our area) and the way the boat will be cared for and stored, I think I/O's are an okay choice for us. Maybe I'm wrong?

I have looked at the Sea Ray's on line, but am not impressed with their cockpit layout. They seem to have done away with the port side seat / lounge. They also have a somewhat narrower beam, correct?

Wish there were more 318's and 338's (at reasonable prices) out there...

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2007 Meridian 341
2008 SeaDoo Speedster 200 "Caliente"
1994 Larson Cabrio 280 "Liquid Asset"- Sold

The composite drive nightmares with Volvo's are well documented, and switching to an entirely different outdrive type (Ocean X) seems kind of cob-jobby for me to feel good about. If Volvo screwed up their first outdrive design, why would I trust them after that? Just my thoughts...

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2007 Meridian 341
2008 SeaDoo Speedster 200 "Caliente"
1994 Larson Cabrio 280 "Liquid Asset"- Sold

My DP-S drives were wonderful, no issues with my B3s though. I agree the composite is crap.

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

+1 DPS and BIII drives.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Narrower beam of @ 4" overall.

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Jack
2005 268 Vista - Sold

2001 Silverton 35C 8.1L Crusaders

If you are absolutely sure you will be able to keep in rack stored and you are not leaving it in the water, the I/Os will be ok. If not and you have to leave it in the water it will be an expensive mistake. Ask around, big boat Fla salt water in water=inboards. I've done it with the IO for a 6 month season and the water here is not as salty. I'd never do it in Fla unless rack stored.

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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

Many thousands of I/O's are in use down here in the salt water with boats from 25-35 ft. Inboards and IPS drives for boats larger than that.

I/O's have the advantage of being maneuverable at low speed and reverse without the need for a bow thruster. Definitively the right choice over inboards if you are going to be rack stored and/or boating in potentially shallow areas.

Ray
(Florida boater)

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I don't disagree, but if for some reason he couldn't do the rack storage and then had to keep it in a slip, that's a whole 'nother story, as in, the anti fouling paints for aluminum do not work all that well. So you will get growth esp in the pivot housing, in the folds of the bellows and yes barnacles in the water intakes inside the drive. I had to split mine this year to clean em out and it was amazing to see what grew in there over about 5 seasons worth. Our season is only 6 months and the water is LI Sound area, not as salty as the ocean.
Then there's the corrosion issue if you have a 'hot' marina. I just think its good for people to know what they may be in for.....

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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

Things can change rather quickly in the boat buying world....





End of story......

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Yes, we were determined to make a decision and move forward. The rack storage really turned out to be disappointing to us. If the boats didn't get so filthy, we probably would have stayed with the express cruiser route. Almost bought the Chaparral 290, but the bozo mechanics that serviced the cool fuel modules dumped a bunch of gas in the bilge and the fumes in the cabin made the boat uninhabitable. Pulled out of the contract.

I really liked the Four Winns 318 and 338 models, but found that the Chaparral 290 and 330 really had a great layout with the circular seating area instead of a fixed bed. All good boats, if cared for well.

In any event, thanks to the members on this forum for all their advice along the way. Will continue to check in and offer my input when I have something meaningful to contribute. Best regards to all.

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2007 Meridian 341
2008 SeaDoo Speedster 200 "Caliente"
1994 Larson Cabrio 280 "Liquid Asset"- Sold

Well not quite the end. The Meridian is for sale already.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2007/Me ... xeOFaMo74Y

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy