2007 358 w/outdrives

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:02 pm

Graham do the regs over there still allow tin based anti fouling? Here since they outlawed tin based anti fouling none of the available paints work very well in high fouling areas. I have not had major problems with corrosion but my boat sits on a mooring not in a marina where there can be stray currents. Those can eat up an outdrive in no time. Despite the inherent disadvantages I've made mine last a really long time. It's just more work than I want to do if I ever get another boat

Graham R · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:19 am

Lou,

Unfortunately tin based antifoul paints are not allowed here either.( except for military applications as they need something that actually works !)

jsimon · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:03 am

ric wrote:

Pods would be sickkkkkkk

Yes, until you factor in a 48" draft and the maintenace costs

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:07 am

jsimon wrote:

ric wrote:

Pods would be sickkkkkkk

Yes, until you factor in a 48" draft and the maintenace costs

I agree. Sometimes it's best to stick with what you know. Pods while nice have their own set of concerns.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:27 am

firecadet613 wrote:

jsimon wrote:

ric wrote:

Pods would be sickkkkkkk

Yes, until you factor in a 48" draft and the maintenace costs

I agree. Sometimes it's best to stick with what you know. Pods while nice have their own set of concerns.

Like props that cost more than a car?

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:50 am

They can shear off, expensive maintenance, etc. Don't get me wrong, they are awesome and I'd love to have a Regal 42 Sport Coupe with pod drives, it just won't be anytime soon.

Back to the OP, you would be fine with outdrives on the 358. Formula uses them on boats all the way to 40', and I was reading an article on the new Cobalt A40 last night which also had outdrives.

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:57 am

It's really a question if you don't mind the extra maintenance vs inboards. If you do your own maintenance it gets old scraping barnacles out of the pivot housing, off the bellows and trim lines because the anti fouling paints for Alu stink. If I could find a 21' boat with a single inboard I'd take that over any boat with an I/O, even though they are harder to dock..

I said this before, but if you are in a salt water region and have a boat that has to be kept in the water, it will be worth less than the same boat with inboards and take longer to sell. There is no way around that fact. Any boaters who are experienced in such an area will know this. And avoid a big boat with outdrives.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:11 am

LouC wrote:

It's really a question if you don't mind the extra maintenance vs inboards. If you do your own maintenance it gets old scraping barnacles out of the pivot housing, off the bellows and trim lines because the anti fouling paints for Alu stink. If I could find a 21' boat with a single inboard I'd take that over any boat with an I/O, even though they are harder to dock

You don't have to look hard, they're everywhere!

jboutlaw · **Joined:** Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:19 am **Posts:** 11

Thanks for the feedback guys. I actually dock in fresh water on the Ct River but most (80%) of my boating is done in salt. All of my previous boats
have been equipped with outdrives and I never have any growth, corrosion or failure (except one!). It was just making me over think because there
are plenty of 348/358 for sale but only one with the outdrives. Thanks again!! Btw.....pods would be awesome....if they were affordable to me!

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:19 am

If you had good experience with outdrives before then it should be fine.
It's all a matter of your conditions. But do keep in mind resale if you don't keep boats a long time.

jboutlaw · **Joined:** Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:19 am **Posts:** 11

Since I seem to be getting some good responses here let me ask the general consensus about the 348/358 series. I am moving up from a 30 Sundancer. I have crawled all over numerous 348/358 and think I'm hooked. Seems to have the absolute best layout for that size range. Are there any specific issues known to those models I should be on the lookout for? (besides the transom storage door being bowed out...what a crazy issue) Thanks again!!

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:33 am

I have its smaller sibling...and no issues. Love the layout. Get a survey and enjoy!

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:35 am

Four Winns isn't exactly known for their amazing electrical wiring. Not an issue, but just a heads up if something weird starts happening just check the terminals for corrosion.

Graham R · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:31 pm

ric wrote:

Four Winns isn't exactly known for their amazing electrical wiring. .

Is this the first understatement from Ric ? Posted by a disgruntled, disappointed owner who thought the wiring on their boats would get better the newer the Four Winns boat

JoeBalt · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:23 pm

Basically had the same boat but a 2008...I/O's on the CT River with no problems and good performance...that said, I only had it for two seasons before trading it in for my Regal. I was in the same debate before purchasing it, I had no experience with inboards but my "circle" was advising them vs. the I/O's...the debate was resolved for me as the economy tanked and a LI dealer went under with the 2008 as a leftover that my dealer scooped up for us at a great price. If you are far enough up river to get out of the brackish/salt as your primary base I would not worry so much about using it in salt water as you'll be giving it a fresh water flush every trip back up river. Mine and friends experiences tell me you would be much better off long term with the inboards from a maintenance standpoint but performance should not be a concern. The boat itself we really liked, it had really good weight and sea keeping ability and was an amazingly dry hull, was the rarest occasion to have any spray make it to / over the windshield. Layout was fine, pretty standard for that size range.

www.iFourWinns.com

2007 358 w/outdrives

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