www.iFourWinns.com

Not done, no deposit yet even.

Most boats GSC sells have the ocean series drive. Jnizi can attest to this, as his 258 had it also. The marina he's in is pretty hot, and drives corrode quickly, from what I understand. Thats why all the boats they order in have the ocean series drive.

The only thing I can figure out on the trailer, is it was out in the elements 24/7, and didn't have a boat on it during the summer blocking the sunlight and UV rays?

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

I see. I have no experience with those drives. One thing, I'd be sure to do is get estimates on EVERYTHING you need to take care of and take that off his price. Those props will need to be turned and I bet that will run you about $200. I'd also talk him down the price of having to get it re-bottom painted. That is going to run you a couple grand I suspect if they have to re-do all the prep work.

Probably makes sense on the trailer if it was just neglected out doors all the time. I'd be sure to include the trailer as part of the survey because those things don't do well just sitting. I wouldn't be surprised to see those tires let loose soon if they are the original carlisles that have been exposed to that much weather.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

I've been there a few times, actually looked at a FW and Searay 310 before I bought my 298. I find the statement about OSI very hard to believe. The listing says 2 owner bought, my gut feeling is this was a salt water boat. I see no reason anyone in Illinois would pay for an OSI and XDP drives, makes no sense. This isn't a knock on the boat at all, if the price is right and the survey turns out it will make a nice boat. I just call BS on GSC. Ask them for a boat fax report.

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

Come to think of it, does Volvo really even have corrosion issues in their duoprop especially in fresh water?? I know the bravo III's had some issues awhile back.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

Yes they do. Mostly salt water related, but still have issues with fresh water OSD's.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2928

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=123733

Volvo just introduced their new drive, which will be a major improvement.

The Ocean X

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Hi Firecadet, please take just a minute and check out my freshwater 2003 268 with trailer. I am in Kalamazoo MI. This was the ad from over the winter. The price is very negotiable. There may be some other members in my area that could check it out for you if needed. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2895

We will be on the boat in Muskegon for the 4th but always have the cell 269-806-1771 Keith

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"Changes in Attitude"
2003 268 Vista 5.7 Volvo DP

Cap'n,

Still looks like a band aid solution.. What we need is...... wait for it..... drum roll..... Stainless Steel outdrives! Yes the whole damn unit cast in investment 316L! Sure the outdrive would cost 40 grand, but it'd be the only one you'd ever buy.....

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Brett DiMichele

Brett, you can get a SS outdrive, price I'm not sure about, and the way it is mounted in the boat, might not be retro-fittable to our boats. The Caudwell Axis Drive
http://www.caudwellmarine.com/pages/799 ... allery.asp

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Who wants to help me try to install this bad boy in my 258?!

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2006 Vista 258
2007 Yukon Denali

Looks cool, but I would still want the performance of a dual prop! Soooo.........

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Long story short, IL 268 is out.

We are back to the original boat that we wanted, survey and sea trial this weekend. Has everything but an arch, wish us luck!

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

Survey today didn't go well huh?

_________________
-Tom
2003 298 Vista

Is that the one in AL, with the wide blue hull color? That looked to be a nice boat (on the surface anyway) and did have all the goodies. Or, is this another one that you've found, more local?

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Actually what we need is....for boating companies to realize that some people do not want sterndrives of ANY KIND in salt water because no mattter what you make them out of....you still have to paint them with anti-fouling and the paint never lasts the whole season..You still have a bellows...and barnacles like to grow in em....that can cause leaks and expensive repairs..I've even had barnacles cut trim lines!!
Some people like me can't warm up to the idea of outboards that cost 15-20K either....because if they break better hope the local dealer has equally high tech mechanics...
What we need is straight inboard propulsion in boats that are small enough (22-26') to be economical to run with a single engine....a marine SBC+Velvet drive....simplest propulsion system there is...yes not as fast as sterndrives or OBs but over the long haul the least complications.....I know they are harder to manuver than a sterndrive but that's the price of simplicity....cheap repairs....and none of the complications of sterndrives or high tech OBs....
take a look a a Keel Drive Shamrock to see what I am talking about.....

For the original poster's question....I'd stick with the regular Volvo drives...if the marina is hot....then forget about any sterndrives, or keep the boat somewhere else...someone is not maintaining that marina right...the OSI drive is a good idea not adequately worked out by Volvo at first..but the bellows were re-designed so maybe the problems are behind them...but if so then why are they coming out with a completely different design for a salt water drive?

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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

Straight I/O's are "simple" and fairly easy to maintain, sure... They are also inefficient and terrible at slow speed.

Every drive type for boats has it's down sides, there isn't one perfect solution yet.

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Brett DiMichele