www.iFourWinns.com

All,

New to this forum, but shopping for a 31ft cruising boat, and like the 318. Also, am looking at:
Chapparal, good boat, but wonder if it can handle rough water
Cruisers Yachts, looks great
Doral (nervous about the company in trouble, and a foreign one)
Maxum
Larson
Formula, a bit expensive, worth it?
Sea Ray, if they had a good layout I'd buy it, but the 310 stinks.

I'm shopping for a 31 ft Cruiser, upgrading from a 270 Sundancer.

Goal is a good cruising boat for intercoastal, occasional out in the gulf, and trips in the ~50 mile or less range to neighboring towns. Need genset, AC, and twin engine. Will do occasional overnights with 2 to 4 people, hang on the hook, explore islands, stop at restaurants, marinas. Rarely out for more than 2 or 3 days at a time... usually day trips.

Also, want a port lounge/seat which eliminates the 310 SeaRay, so folks don't sit next to me. Like the walk thru windshield, large swim platform, open interior. Also, need IOs with shallow water nearby.

Looking for comments from folks that have owned/operated the other boats, and why the Four Winns is better or worse. It's a bit larger that some of the others, which doesn't make much difference for my mission. Also, comments about the difference in the 328 Vista, which is getting a tad big for my lift?

Thoughts?

Maybe not the brand you're looking for, but it has the best layout out of any boat you posted

http://bayliner.com/page.aspx/pageid/13 ... uiser.aspx


(PS, Sea Ray makes these)

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

As my 6 year old would say, Ewwww!

_________________
2011 SL242 5.7 VP GXi - 320 HP Dual Prop

Chapparal, good boat, but wonder if it can handle rough water Yes
Cruisers Yachts, looks great Excellent boats
Doral (nervous about the company in trouble, and a foreign one)Almost zero dealer support in US, I'd pass
MaxumNo longer in business
LarsonDecent boats
Formula, a bit expensive, worth it?Pricey, but worth every penny
Sea Ray, if they had a good layout I'd buy it, but the 310 stinks.Good boats, always overpriced

I would also add The Monterey 300SCR and Regal 3060 and Rinker 310EC to your list.

Also, as a side note. Sea Ray does not make Bayliners. Brunswick Boat Group does. They will discontinue production of Bayliner cruiers in
the US at the end of this year. Also they are not in the same category as any of the brands you have listed. They are a price point boat, and
built accordingly, despite their layout.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

True. Watch out for 2014 though, I'm expecting to see that Bayliner sold as a Sea Ray when they move out of the house with a tad better quality.

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

I saw your post on another forum and was going to suggest the 318.
I got my eye on that model as a possible future upgrade. Love the layout.
I don't see a lot if them on the market for sale though.

_________________
2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Seevee:

You sound like a some what experienced boater, so forgive me. There are some challenges in what you want to do.

I would go with Cruisers Yachts, but I would first be looking into the dealers in my area first. As to what makes they service. That to would impact which brand I would buy. I would also consider diesel, less maintenance & better/less G.P.H. consumption.

Have you looked at trawlers? They lack the speed, but have more room, get less G.P.H. & do better in rough waters.

I would also join a yacht club if your going to " hang on the hook, explore islands, stop at restaurants, marinas." Mariners are just too much money & get very little back. Clubs will exchange privileges and there dock & mooring fees are none to very little.

He turned down the recommendation for a Tiara, so I suspect a Trawler is totally out of the question...



He is a salty boater, so inboards would really be best, but not ideal for his shallow water wants. And, it would be very difficult
to find a diesel powered 31ft. Express here in the States. Looks like we nead the 318 Cheerleaders to chime in and extow the virtues
of the V318.
Fire.... jsimon..... The floor is your's

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I am not seeing were he "He turned down the recommendation for a Tiara," I went to there web site, http://www.tiarayachts.com/ Forgive me, but those are not trawlers. Here is the one I want, but will never be able to get!!! Unless I hit the lottery! http://www.nordhavn.com/models/40/ We had a 43' Nordhavn visit our club last July, they just come over from Europe. What a boat!!

Diesels are out there, there just harder to find. I have seen them even in Four Winns. If you buy new, you can get them in almost anything now. But the price is higher upfront & cheaper to service.

I just upgraded from a 268 to a 318. Love the boat.

Very good build quality, great looks, good room, decent fuel economy.

If your in Florida take a look at this boat. For the price, its a steal.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2006/Fo ... ted-States

From what I understand, the original owner of my boat used it in a similar fashion you are looking to. They ended up down sizing to a big bowrider.

The 328 is comparable to the 338 which I believe is now the V355 in the new number scheme, a bit bigger boat.

I've had a Four Winns as my last three boats...started with a Sea Ray. From what I have experienced, you seem to get a bit better value for your money with Four Winns and they are a much smaller brand. When I was looking for a 318, there was a handful of boats that fit the bill versus over 100 Sea Ray 320s.

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

ALL,

Thanks MUCH for the replies.

Yea, a trawler or Tiara won't work. Need IOs to get thru shallow water to my lift. Really need somewhere int he 24 to 28" draft for a few feet.

Love my current 270 Dancer, but too small, and ready to upgrade. And all the choices offer more features that the Sea Ray, and most at less money, excepting the Formula.

Capt Morgan... great post lots of info. Didn't know Maxum was no longer in business. Regal is ok, but the cabin is surprisingly small, can't even sit up in bed.

Would love the Formula, but the later models push well over $100k and beyond my budget.

The Four Winns 318 looks awful nice, and that's why I'm trying to get more feedback here. Thx again.

ric,

Nice, but has the aft cabin in a "cave", which I'd like to avoid. And, although probably a fine boat today, I can't get over it's past horrible reputation... would be very hard to own one with that past image.

I hope you find what you are looking for!!!!!!!

Don't know if you've looked at them but a 298 Vista might fit your needs, and will be cheaper to buy than a 318.
10'6" beam, 31' LOA and we feel it has a very good layout, we like ours a lot and have been very satisfied with it. They stopped making the 298 in 2005 I believe, it's a popular size model in the range you are looking as well.

_________________
2004 Four Winns 298 Vista
"Last Minute"

I would recommend the 328. You get a lot of bang for your buck. You get a large beam, 11'9". And an awesome layout top and bottom with I/O's thst you need

_________________
2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike