www.iFourWinns.com

There is something about being on the water... Even if it is in the marina.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Splashed today. 20mph winds and 46 degrees. They are working on our dock , so we had to take a slip a few piers down, but will move into our slip Friday. at least we are in.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Attempted getting our maiden voyage in yesterday, but a storm rolled in and prevented our first outing. Pretty nice morning so we untied and shoved off at 8am. Picked up the wife and kids and everyone enjoyed their first ride.

We'll see how well they enjoy their first cleaning shortly. Have a feeling I might be on my own here!
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2000 Four Winns - 298 Vista

Your new boat looks great, and the smiles from the family say it all. Glad you got the boat home and launched, now the fun begins !

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

StirCrazy,

I'm surprised at the number of boats (in the background of your pics) already in at your marina. My wife, son and I where down at our marina both Saturday and Sunday this weekend completing the finishing touches on our bottom paint and getting our washing/waxing done and our marina only has about 5 boats in so far.

Our marina has many boats still under their shrink wrap. Seems folks are slower in general this year with wanting to get their boat launched. Maybe a combination of the weather, economy and fuel prices?

We should be lifted back in the water this week.

Mike

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Only 3 in ours over the weekend. I was down Friday and Saturday finishing up, touched up the bottom paint. Splashing today or tomorrow! Mike, you're right. We got spoiled last year, I think I was in the last week in April. Temps still on the cool side here. Hoping Saturday is nice to finish up the topside and cabin. Saw this the other day....

'There is NOTHING--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.'
- Kenneth Grahame

It sure feels good to see boats in the water!! Even if it is a little cool!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

Hooray for StirCrazy and the new boat!!! Looks great! I bet you are excited to get it in the water!

I feel bad for many of you guys....it seems like most of the marina pictures I see (except those in Texas) have boats in uncovered slips. In Texas....nearly ALL (except for sailboats) are covered slips.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I actually like being uncovered, nothing like opening up the boat on a windy day at the marina and enjoying the sunshine!!!!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

The rest of the country doesn't get the softball size hail you get down there in TX.

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'01 Vista 298

Stir Crazy....congrats on the new boat! We bought our V298 at the end of last season and have enjoyed the time spent on it so far. I've also found that the kids make excellent deck hands...give them a scrub brush and some non-skid cleaner and they'll do wonders on the foredeck, cockpit floor, and swim platform. Haven't had any luck yet in getting my wife to help out though....something about cleaning the house is enough for her.

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'01 Vista 298

+1 for uncovered slips. I would never want one up here. It reminds me of being in a garage or cave.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

It's not too bad. It sure is nice when it's storming outside to sit on the dock, under cover, drink beer and admire the boat.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Yep, and I have to think it cuts down on the amount of exterior maintenance needed on the boat as well as preserving the vinyl over the years.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Thanks everyone for your kind words and help. Like Cap'n said, just a handful in the water last week and half full this weekend. Hoping for a nice weekend so I can practice pulling in and out of my dock before it gets too crowded. The kids are excited to help, like you Winedown, my wife will do the home and I'll have to handle the boat.

When my daughter and I returned to the boat around noon, I couldn't understand why nothing was working. Tried some lights....nothing. Tried the blower and then the radio....again, nothing. Went out to check shore power connection, it was on and plugged in. Then my daughter told me our 2 year old was "pushing some buttons" when I went to the car. I guess Mom wasn't watching her close enough because I found that she had switched the Ships Systems to OFF. The battery selectors were both set to Parallel also. I switched everything back, but was really wondering to myself if she could have done the change to Parallel? Seems odd to me that she could have, but otherwise that means the marina people switched them. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't those remain in SHIP SYSTEMS all the time?

Hopefully the marina can get my GPS and VHF installed this week. They did get the transducer in but ran out of time for electronics.

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2000 Four Winns - 298 Vista

That seems logical. My slip faces east. So, I get the morning sun on the bow. I make sure to keep it waxed well with a product that has good UV protection (3M). However, the boats behind my slip, which face west have serious fading / oxidizing on the portion that is exposed to the afternoon sun.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP