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PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:47 pm 
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268 Vista

Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
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Location: West Michigan
298VISTA2000 wrote:
Cap'n, I take it that this is an Austrailian/European built? If so (or if not), do you have any cockpit photos/images?


1.)Yes it is.

2.) No I don't at this time, it's still in prototype stage.

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:17 pm 
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Location: Indiana
jsimon wrote:
We are just the opposite, we stay on it almost every weekend and some 1 week stints during the summer and use all of the amenities, including the range.

I was glad to see reading thru Bliss36's blog this morning seeing photos of his wife using the galley to its potential. I have cooked allot on our 268 and continue to do so on the 318. Dont mean to hijack a thread, maybe should start another one, but anybody else use all the aminities on thier cruiser.


We use everything as well. Why have it and not use it.

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:32 pm 
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Location: Freeland, MI
Ahhh actually no! I'm the cook, she is the clean up crew.. :D . It works well for us, both on the boat and at home. Eggs and pancakes in the morning, have done chicken and rice, and bacon, but you have to cook it slow or else you have a mess. Still wanna try that boiled omelet thing though!!

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'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:50 am 
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Location: Allatoona Lake, Georgia
I retract my statement about a range not being needed. After reading Bliss36's blog (http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/), I forgot about you guys who do "real" boating and stay on your boats 24/7 and travel hundreds of miles (one of the downsides of boating on a 12 thousand acre lake). A range is a must for you. Great blog Ben and Dana and it makes me envy all who boat on big water.

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:28 am 
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Location: Indiana
Welcome to my world! We are stuck with deciding on heading south to a 10,000 acre lake, or up north to Lake Michigan. We always have great stories to tell about our times on Lake Michigan...where on Lake Monroe we just anchor in a cove.

You can guess where we have decided to slip!

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 10:26 am 
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Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:06 am
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Location: Wabasha, MN
For an enclosed cockpit, I would consider moving DOWN from 318 to 305!!! I love the 435V, the admiral does too...problem is the $500k-$700K price tag! Com'on lucky numbers!

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 2:54 pm 
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Location: massachusetts
Quote:
Another good guess from December 2009 !

sachem29 wrote:
It is my understanding that Four Winns will no longer offer the V288 in its 2010 lineup. Might I suggest FW to make
the V305 I'll keep my fingers crossed.



I'm giving up flying for a living and become a psychic. :mrgreen:

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:15 am 
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268 Vista

Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
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Location: West Michigan
Some more stuff on the V305 for your review......

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The V305's huge windshield, which rises 43 inches above the consoles and is braced by curved side supports that flow aft to an arch and hardtop. The idea here is that, instead of erecting a cumbersome canvas top that somehow attaches to the hardtop, the cockpit of the V305 can be enclosed by simply adding a canvas section between the frame of the windshield and the arch. The rear of the cockpit can be enclosed with another piece that attaches to the supports as they extend from the hardtop. The system eliminates most bows and other loose, rattling hardware associated with the top. The gap between the hard top and the windshield give the boat a breezy personality on nice days.
Four Winns says it intends to make this tall windshield/top idea a feature of its entire cruiser line going forward. :shock:

The relocation of the entire galley – an electric range, refrigerator and sink, and an optional grill – from the cabin to the cockpit. There’s still a breakfast nook in the cabin, with a microwave and coffee maker, but also a lot more lounging room below. The cabin has a full head and a queen-size mid-berth. In the cockpit, the pedestal of a central table can be lowered to create a large sun lounge. With twin 5.0-liter Volvo Penta Duoprop sterndrives, the boat will reportedly reach 43 mph.

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:59 pm 
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Cap'n Morgan wrote:
Four Winns says it intends to make this tall windshield/top idea a feature of its entire cruiser line going forward. :shock:
.


Wow....are they actually getting positive feedback on this boat? Its definitely innovative, and in theory it sounds good but I can't look at this boat without thinking it looks like something from the Jetsons. I could see how this might look cool on a larger boat, but it just looks horribly disproportioned on this boat. This is the first running photo I've seen so maybe it's just a really bad angle.

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:14 am 
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268 Vista

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Location: West Michigan
If you talk to some dealers, they will report "some" positive feedback about the V305. Remember, they are FW sallesmen, what would you expect. Here are a few comments from another board about the boat. Some are FW owners, and some are not.

Quote:
..Guess I'm still livin' in the past (or too old)..
That 30.5 sure looks like a 23-25 ft trailer boat with 3 foot of bow pulpit and 4-5' of swim platform...
Layout in the back looks nice... big windshield sucks.


Quote:
I am standing on the boat with the binocs. Stephanie says, "what kind boat is that coming across the lake?" My reply as I focus in, "it's not a boat. it's a giant windshield".
WTF? That is an ugly boat.


Quote:
Who designed that windshield, it looks terrible


Quote:
don't use the term often, but here goes.... Fugly have no reason why, but the Mad magazine cartoon spy vs. spy comes to mind.



Quote:
That is an ugly boat...blech



I was going to reserve judgement on this boat until I saw one in person, but I have seen enough already, even the photo shoot pictures do not help me like it. IMO, it would be a bad move to add this tall windshield to their cruiser line, as an option maybe, but it will kill sales if it is the only windshield available on a new boat. We must remember , this particular boat is a prototype, so maybe some changes can still be made after they gather input from the boat show tour it is currently on.

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:36 am 
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FWIW, I heard they will NOT be doing this across the entire line-up. I sure hope that is the case!

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:10 am 
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268 Vista

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Location: West Michigan
Profile view on Lake Cadillac....

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Canvas Up, saloon and cockpit.......

Image

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:38 am 
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I guess I don't understand why they would build a boat that is almost a hardtop? Does that 1 foot piece of canvas to connect the windshield to the arch even worth it? Why not bring that arch(that looks too tall anyway) down to the top of the windshield and make the boat look more aerodynamic and actually make it an enclosed hardtop cockpit with excellent visability. Are there anymore pics of the cockpit or cabin floating around out there?

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:01 am 
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268 Vista

Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
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Location: West Michigan
Engine choices are:
Twin 4.3L V6
Twin 5.0L V8
Twin Volvo D3-190 Inline 5 cyl. (unknown if available in USA)

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:18 am 
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We have already seen the proposed redesign of this boat... bye bye tall windshield and Avatar antennae and hello normal windshield and hard top. Also cabinet doors added down below with a light wood or dark wood option. The boat was designed to meet both the Euro and US market. It hit some points well but some are just a little too far fetched for the US. Our lead designer is from France.. you have to expect a little more Euro look... can't wait to get our hands on the new looking one!

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