www.iFourWinns.com

2nd look of the V358 on boattest

In everyone's favorite color too.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Good catch Cap'n! Nice to see the new pictures with fresh captions.
The write-up really makes the boat shine. Unfortunately, only the captions are new to the review. The rest of the text is from the original write-up (I believe 2006). Lines like "Four Winns’ designers turn the steps on entry rather than have them stretch out deep into the cabin. This opens up the cabin sole and only takes a couple times entering to get used to" might mislead people (the puzzle steps went away in '08).
Same with "Wood blinds continue the wood cabinetry and really give a rich look to the cabin" and "Overhead, the builder has installed a cherry soffit inset into the overhead". The blinds are now curtains (unless you replaced them as some of us have) and the soffit is fabric. I mainly point this stuff out for any reader who may be considering a V358 so you are not surprised when you see a later model in person.

Separately, is it not remarkable that in 2009 they're writing things like "Okay, now we know this interior was designed by a woman. One who likes to have things stowed neatly away and the whole place vacuumed clean" ?? Wow. But I digress.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

The newsletter is sort of confusing. One video is of the 348 in 2006 with the step's comment you mentioned, then there is a 1:01 video of the new 358 from Four Winns. Is the captain's report a duplicate from 2006 also? Notice how the say "bumper storage in the trunk" What is a bumper ????? Now you have me digressing(sp) also.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I looked at the Nautly web site. The model without the rollers is almost identical to the Hurley system minus a few cross bars. The funny thing us that both offer an option to bolt into Weaver removable snap-davit clips.

$895-$1195 sure seems like a heck of a lot for some neopreme shaped in a "V".

I've got a BRIG B210 and an older Merc 9.9HP outboard. The motor is a heavy sucker but it runs too well to trade it in for a newer lighter model. What I like about the roll on/slide on systems is that you don't have to lift the engine so high into the air. It seems it would be alot easier to slide it up onto the swim platform in a horizontal position.

I'm going to expirement next week pulling the dinghy up on the platform and see just how much room is left.

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Dave
"Wasting Time"
2005 Four Winns 348 Vista
Noank CT
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Bingo. They just slapped together an update with those new, freshly captioned brochure shots and the latest FW marketing video with the original review & test.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

I'll be curious to hear what you report about that. I was really leaning towards the "flat" kind of system but just thought it would be too impractical for safe maneuvering on the platform when docking. The installer also felt it would hang off the platform more than he thought was a good thing, but people do it successfully all the time.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Well, all this dinghy talk got me hunting again...

I found a brand-new-in-box 2008 Achilles LSI96... Same boat as Sierra's expcept the pointy tips on the end. Mine will be white. Little more to keep clean, but we moore in a covered slip.

Got a smokin' deal on it out of Cali... Surprisingly, the dealer is delivering a large 'tender' to the Seattle area this weekend, so I'll just pick it up somewhere in the area on Sunday.

No tax... free shipping... smokin' deal. No complaints.

Now - how to mount a 9'6'' dinghy on the back of a 318!!!! My beam is a foot shorter than Sierra's - so we'll see how it shakes out!

Nautley's? Waver's? Just keep it in a bag?

And what motor to get.....

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Everyone is looking for a new dink now I guess. We just bought on e as well. It is a little heavier than I would have liked to get, but the rib is the way to go. IMO. Just love this thing. It is about 4 inches wider than the beam of our boat, but did just fine this past weekend during four hours of travel. I have it on weaver davits. No pics though. I think I got a very good deal on it. When you are inside this thing, it feels huge. I also am able to stand right up in it and it does not roll. Beaching is also nice with the rib.
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=1154768

Those are FANTASTIC ribs...

How are you securing yours - or do you tow it behind? What sort of motor are you using?

That's a steal of a price... I really wanted to go rib, but at 50 pounds more weight and not being able to toss it in a bag (easily) - I stayed with the air floor.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I use the weaver davits. glue the pads on the dink and thats it. I run with a 5 horse suzuki. Gets on plane with me and the dog. Two or more and it moves, just not planing. I m looking for a 8-10 horse. Will probably wait till the winter though. I was concerned about the extra weight, but it is not a problem. I use it all the time at the marina, so it is always inflated

PICS!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I will try to get some this weekend.

I pulled ours up onto the platform for the past two seasons. Works fine. I just tilted up the motor, reached over and yanked it up onto the platform. Most of the time I just tied lines from the stern cleats to the handles. I regular travel at cruise speed it never moved. I did pick up a large door runner mat to put underneath it. This kept the dinghy from rubbing the aft edge of the platform or leaving any marks on the fake teak. It worked well until I forgot it was back there and came off plane a bit quick. The dinghy floated up just enough to let the mat get washed away. D'oh! Given how infrequently we used the dinghy this method was quite effective. If we start using it more I'll have to revisit the davits issue. The weaver style is a no-go. I don't like the blocked view when underway and the wife doesn't like how it blocks the view when in our slip. The later, of course, gets greater consideration.

But I'm disgusted at the way the price has run up on the Hurley davits. What was once just simply overpriced at $500 has turned into an utterly ridiculous $900. The Nautley product just seems to be leeching off the same price point without being even worth as much. I've seen someone made his own and even with custom stainless work for the pivot brackets it was still only a few hundred.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Clearly a lot of discussion to be had on the subject of dinghies and davits for all Vistas and V Series so I hope nobody will mind me taking the liberty of migrating this discussion to here.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Yesterday's surprise was a mystery water leak. In the cabin, on the floor, right up against the support for the v-berth, the carpeting was soaked. A spot about 6 to 8 inches across the width of the carpeting. With no apparent source for the water!!!

Took out the drawer but couldn't really see anything. Filled (and flushed) the water tank over the weekend but there was no indication of any problem.

Has this happened to anybody else? Any suggestions?

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"