www.iFourWinns.com

Neutron or anyone else.

Neutron, I see that you have trailer guide on posts to help with loading the boat. I'm seriously considering adding a pair for my 268's trailer, since we trailer and launch and load every week. The Admiral drives the boat on the trailer, and knowing whether she is centered over the trailer on a steep ramp in the mighty, muddy Mississippi is very difficult. Can you tell me with what brand you have? How well do they work? Do they ever bend? Any other issues with them? Thanks in advance.

Gary

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

Hello SI I to am in the process of putting guides on my trailer. My buddy from experience with large boats like ours suggested the guides w the bunks that are welded on to the trailer. He claims we can order a complete set that come with all the brackets that are adjustable and weld the square tubes to the trailer. His experience with the standard poles in the back of the trailer tend to bend and/or break when loading. We are planning to do this in a few weeks. I will let you know what brand/system we go with.

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1996 278 Vista Dlx Twin 5.0
1999 Sea Ray 215 ex cruiser (sold)
1989 Seaswirl (sold)

We have used guide posts on almost every boat owned. My Mate has a 23 foot boat and has something like these: http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... ir&i=72484

Work well and help centre the boat in heavy winds etc

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Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

We installed "after market" adjustable guides on our 268 trailer, they worked great for the wife driving. One thing to look out for is the 268 is slightly wider in the front end, if you adjust the guides to fit the back they will drag along your front cabin windows, leave a little extra room.

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Current Boat - '04 328 Vista "Be As You Are"

Previous Boats
'04 268 Vista
'97 238 Vista
'94 210 Marada
'88 175 Sunbird

Hey SI, my trailer came with the guide poles and really the only benifit for me is when backing into the water. I have refelctive tape around the poles to mark where the water line should be so that we can float the boat onto the trailer without much cranking to the winch.. I also use it to guide the trailer close to the dock.
they are quite flexable and mine are mounted to the trailer with u-style clamps so the will move forward or backward with some force.
dont know the brand:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29741999@N00/9371827945/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29741999@N00/9374602150/in/photostream/
if ya check out my Flicker you will see more pics of the setup

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"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Thanks Jamie...just spent an hour looking at all your pics. Maybe you could send me some info on how you mounted those lights on your trim tabs and the ebay link you mentioned...and if you ever make it to vegas...you will always be welcome on our boat.

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

thanks for the invite Chris..... as for the lights I get a lot of stainless scrap peices from when we strip out old jet skis and we save anything that could be used, so I used some engine mount shims for my brackets and bent,drilled and tapped them to be used on the top side of the trim tab between the piston mount:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/29741999@N00/13959536030/in/photostream/

I will do some searching when I got a second to find who had the lights on ebay

PS SI sorry for the sidetrack

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

+1

That's Brilliant Jamie...of course an angled piece above, I just could imagine how you affixed it to the flat part of the tab....thanks!

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Thanks for the info on the guides,.....and thanks Jamie and Chris for the "sidetrack". That is one thing I like about this site. Great idea on the light mounting. Jamie, I also enjoyed spending some time looking at your pictures. You guys got some serious snow this year, glad its gone and time for boating. Gary

_________________
Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

Gary those pics were from a year ago, we actually had more snow this year. it was too long and too snowy

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

I think the people trying to sell " global warming" in Minnesota are not having much luck recently. How about there?

_________________
Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

nope,not here........ I was still burning wood in my wood stove last week cause it was so cold

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Hey SI…..I just ordered trailer guides and bases for my trailer from http://www.pacifictrailers.com. They come galvanized and you can clamp them on but I am wanting to weld them on my trailer. When you call ask for the parts department and ask for Joe he will be able to make them in raw material which will allow you to weld safely and you are able to paint to match your trailer. I went ahead with 15" bases and 42" guides.

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1996 278 Vista Dlx Twin 5.0
1999 Sea Ray 215 ex cruiser (sold)
1989 Seaswirl (sold)