Happy owner of new (to me) Vista 268

FLcruiser · **Joined:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:00 pm **Posts:** 15

I have been lurking on this site for a couple of months and have read EVERY post. Thanks for all the wonderful information It really helped me to pull the trigger on a Four Winns. Took the maiden voyage on Saturday of about 30 miles round trip from New Smyrna Beach to Daytona Beach, Fl. on the Intercoastal Waterway. We overnighted at Loggerhead Marina in Daytona Beach. This marina is highly recommended. Trip went smoothly with only a few small issues.
1) Trim gauge not working and fuel gauge bounced all over the place while cruising.
2) Canvas needs a little work.
3) Boat seemed to list a bit to Port while in the slip. - This boat has 2 fresh water tanks (not typical?) One for fresh water system and one for the head. I don't know if this along with the fuel tank not being completely full (about 1/2 tank) could cause a slight list? There was zero water intrusion over the 2 day cruise.
If anyone has any suggestions or comments, I would welcome them. And thanks for all the help already!

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 5:09 pm

That's a beautiful Vista! Welcome to the family.

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 5:32 pm

Congrats on your new cruiser and welcome to the forum!! Nothing like taking a 30 mile overnight Maiden voyage...I like your style

Our 268 had a list to the port side when we first got her too but once I moved a battery to the Starboard side it evened out. We have the same freshwater tank setup as you. We now have 5 batteries but keep 3 on the starboard side to keep her from leaning Port again.

Marine fuel gauges are notorious for bouncing around and being inaccurate especially once you get around 1/4 tank or less. How much fuel did you have when the needle was bouncing? Still might be worth checking your connections. I installed a Floscan meter to try to monitor the fuel usage with more accuracy.

Love the swim platform teak...is that Seadek?

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:10 pm

Nice boat, the bouncing fuel gauge is probably a bit of corrosion on either the dash gauge terminals or the sending unit terminals or loose connection. Mine has a very slight list to starboard, but no water tanks or anything else...I think they all have some list, no boat is perfectly balanced across the beam...

FLcruiser · **Joined:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:00 pm **Posts:** 15

Thanks all! I am very happy overall with this boat. It was really well taken care of cosmetically, and thanks to a thorough Marine Surveyor I was able to get most all of the small problems (blower motor not working, fuel pump, cabin water pump and A/C water pump) replaced at no charge!
The admiral and I really enjoyed the cruise and are planning a longer trip over the Thanksgiving holiday.
I don't know the brand of the teak padding on the swim platform, but it has the Four Winns logo in the center. I hope to have a minute to follow up on the suggestions for the gauge problems before the next trip. Guess as much fuel as these boats use, maybe it's best to not know how much you are really using!

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:59 pm

That is Sea Dek on the swimplatform. Just an extra $30 for the Four Winns logo as an add on.

http://www.seadek.com/c-28-four-winns.aspx

Enjoy your boat !

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:00 pm

Nice looking boat! I hope you enjoy it and have as much fun as we have had with our '02 268 since buying it two years ago. Of course, you do have an advantage in Florida because our Minnesota season is a little bit ....ummmm.....shorter.....than yours. You know, 6 months of road construction and 6 months of really limited boating. There are many current and past owners of Vistas that frequent this site, and lots of good info is shared. I have even gone back several years in this Vista forum and found several pieces of good info. We trailer it to the water every weekend we can, and had 32 nights afloat this summer. Whether on the trailer or on the water, you get comfortable with the size, and sometimes wish it was even bigger.

If you are talking about the outdrive trim gauge, you might look at the tramsmitter on the right side of the outdrive. The rheostat sometimes goes bad and gives some bad readings.

If you have sections of canvas or isinglass that need replacing, I understand Great Lakes Boat Top is the place that originally produced these for Four Winns and they can make replacements from original patterns. You will have to install, or have installed, the snaps to custom fit your boat.

Good luck, and have fun!!!

rpengr · **Posted:** Tue Nov 12, 2013 12:00 pm

Nice looking boat, and Welcome to another Florida Boater (and Intracoastal Cruiser).
I am in West Palm Beach, and have been as far north as Sebastian and Melbourne. Capt Hiram's could make a good destination for you, as well as a few places in Vero Beach.

Ray

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 12, 2013 12:19 pm

Surface Interval wrote:

If you have sections of canvas or isinglass that need replacing, I understand Great Lakes Boat Top is the place that originally produced these for Four Winns and they can make replacements from original patterns. You will have to install, or have installed, the snaps to custom fit your boat.

Good luck, and have fun!!!

Here's a quote I got from Great Lakes Boat Top in Sept if your interested. They said if you have original GLBT canvas that you can replace it in sections vs. the whole thing at once.
Boat Information

Manufacturer Four Winns

Year 2005

Quoted Product List Price Sales Price Quantity Total Price

Bimini Top (Fabric Only) $517.68 $517.68 1.00 $517.68

Bimini Top Valance $131.81 $131.81 1.00 $131.81

Bimini Top Side Curtains (set) $374.92 $374.92 1.00 $374.92

Bimini Top Visor Curtain Clear (set) $414.17 $414.17 1.00 $414.17

Camper Top (Fabric Only) $813.02 $813.02 1.00 $813.02

Camper Top Side Curtains (set) $508.43 $508.43 1.00 $508.43

Camper Top Aft Curtain (set) $436.27 $436.27 1.00 $436.27

Model 268 Vista PHASE 1

Desired Color Black

Subtotal $3,196.30

Discount 0.00%

Total Price $3,196.30

Grand Total $3,196.30

They do run a lot of specials so check with them often if you're interested. I think we are going to try to get one more year out of ours.

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 12, 2013 1:53 pm

Nice boat and congrats. That Seadek looks sharp. I was going to do that but upgraded boats instead. There are plenty of knowledgeable owners on this site....any question you have should be able to get an answer.

neutron · **Posted:** Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:08 am

great looking vista and welcome aboard! good luck

njboater · **Joined:** Fri May 31, 2013 6:02 am **Posts:** 48

Silly question. Would the dimensions of the swim platform be the same for a Vista 248 vs the 268? Love the Seadek and have a 2002 248 FW.

NjBoater

ric · **Posted:** Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:33 pm

Welcome!!!

I'm right down the road from you in Winter Springs. If you've never been up and down the St. John's River and over to Silver Glen Springs it's a "Must Do".

Next spring my goal is to also trailer down to Miami and motor over to Bimini

taz42169 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 30, 2013 6:16 pm

njboater wrote:

Silly question. Would the dimensions of the swim platform be the same for a Vista 248 vs the 268? Love the Seadek and have a 2002 248 FW.

NjBoater

NJBoater, I believe they are the same. P.S., where on NJ do you boat? I'm in Ocean City.

LtDan · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:04 pm

My 268 trim gauge was working fine, then bouncing around, then quit totally. The problem was the wire was hanging low at the stern and making contact with the drive shaft and wore completely through.

www.iFourWinns.com

Happy owner of new (to me) Vista 268

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