www.iFourWinns.com

I'm off this week and thinking of checking out lake monroe this week. I am coming from cincinnati and trailering my 248. I called four winds marina about a transient slip because we have never been there and they wanted 70 dollars a night. Hell it was only about 40 a night for put n bay. We will sleep on the hook for that much. Any tips anyone would like to share. Looking at map, shows 46 is the most direct route, how is that highway. Don't want to wind up on a back country road with my vista. I've got enough stuff to fix. Thanks for any info you can give me....ramp recommendations? Planning on leaving before the fourth madness, but we will see how crazy it gets. Me, wife and 2 kids 6 and 8.

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2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

Hi Rick2752,

I'm from that area and Monroe use to be the lake we went to every weekend. It's not a bad lake and you should have a good time. I would head on down to the dam and hang out down there.

Over the last few years Bloomington has been under construction so just be cautious going through town. You'll have to get on 446 eventually and that highway is in good shape, just take it slow and ignore the motorcyclists that run faster than you can go. Trust me, they'll just go around you....I was one of them for a few years. We usually launched at Cutright, but there are several places you can launch.

Enjoy your trip!
Matt

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Current Boats:
2012 FW H260, 8.2 B3X (DTS) "Ctrl-Alt-Delete"
Previous Boats:
1984 Century 5000, Merc 260 Alpha 1
2012 Yamaha VXR

Kansas City, MO

I'd advise taking 46 to 446, head south until you get to Paynestown and launch there. I launch my 268 there exclusively when we went to Monroe.

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

Took this route last year on advise of Firecadet and it was a painless tow. Paynestown launch is excellent for launching your Vista, but you will need to buy a Indiana DNR lakes sticker which they sell at the gate.

With all those coves and perfect anchorages who in their right mind would pay $70.00 a night for a slip!! We spent a long weekend there last summer and had one of our most relaxing weekends of the season there. Have fun!
http://www.boatinglakemichigan.com/2012/10/monroe-reservoir-bloominton-indiana.html

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

We r here now. Slips aren't even covered. They said prices were high because of the fourth. I'm going to go home 446. But we came 37 out of Indy on way here. It was pretty good also. First time I've pulled the vista this far. 75 behind the power stroke like it wasn't there. Lol. We r going cove exploring this morning. Fourwinds marina leaves to be desired. Public ramp is better than marina ramp and marina has no parking. Park on the grass Probably gonna burn alot of gas today checking everything out. Thanks everyone. Sea pickle are a lot of the coves full of trillobytes. Kids will get a kick out if those.

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2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

It's a great lake, enjoy! We miss it now that we slip on the big lake.

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

I keep joking with 4 of us moving around on the 248 that we need a bigger boat. I don't think I will give up trailering though. I am 3 1/2 hrs from Cumberland, Erie and now lake monroe.

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2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

I've been to Cumberland and Dale Hollow a few times. I have to say those are my favorites as of right now.

-Matt

_________________
Current Boats:
2012 FW H260, 8.2 B3X (DTS) "Ctrl-Alt-Delete"
Previous Boats:
1984 Century 5000, Merc 260 Alpha 1
2012 Yamaha VXR

Kansas City, MO

Well we made it home and avoided the drunken madness of the fourth. Had a great day yesterday as a family. We found either the Crinoid cove or another one thanks to SeaPickles blog. It made the kids trip to find the fossils, I also found them a geode and cracked it open to show them the crystals inside. On the way home they said it was the best part of the trip. Thanks again for the blog because I never would have thought to go and do that, and I think the kids will remember it for a long time. We were staked out in the cove at sunset all by ourselves and and shortly after sunset a 50ft house boat parked right in front of us, nosing into the bank. They weren't loud or anything but I wouldn't have done the same to them if they were already there. Overall we loved lake monroe but there is a large portion that is no wake, so not really 10000 acres of usable lake. As for the fourwinds marina, it definitely leaves to be desired. Overpriced, uncovered, no power most transient slips, bought coffee from marina one morning, but they had no creamer. Second day, went up for dinner restaurant menu was basically bar food, pizza, couple different sandwiches.. Food only available certain hrs of day. Out of couple different beers on menu. Lake Monroe, we'll be back......fourwinds won't see me again.

Purdue check out watts bar lake, we been there before and it was pretty nice.

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2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr