www.iFourWinns.com

I saw the new V255 vista at the boat show this weekend. It looks like an updated V258. Seemed to have pretty close to the same specs so I am only going to assume its the same hull.
The cockpit seems to be a little larger and okay but the cabin sucks. The family went down below and my wife sat next to me and said "I hate it" They seemed to have made the cabin smaller which is probably how the cockpit feels larger. They moved the electric cook top from the cabin to the cockpit, okay but that didn't save anything... They should have moved the whole galley to the cockpit, maybe, except the microwave and then they could have made the seating/bed larger for a normal sized person.
They changed the layout so you enter the cabin in the middle instead of the side. I think this is what ruined the design. The seating is way smaller and I can't imagine trying to sleep in the convertible bed. The 258 is small enough and this felt a lot smaller.
Maybe it was because we were looking at larger boats and only went into this one because I wanted to see what they did to our model but it seemed cramped.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

This boat is geared toward the European boaters. Designed with that market in mind, where galley in the cockpit is desired.
It also won the European boat of the year in it's size category this year.

You are starting to see the Jenneau/Beneteau influence showing up more and more in their designs.(Pushed by Frenchy) Get used to it.
It is even making it's way into Glastron. As the new GS259 (which I like much better than the V255) is changed a lot
from it's predecessor.

Take a look at the GS259 video, I think you will see what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox4bZ_ZAwtA

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I don't mind if they actually did the European styling with the full galley in the cockpit but they only put the burner in the cockpit.. That is far from a galley.. LOL! they now have 1/2 upstairs and 1/2 downstairs. seems like they wasted space in the cabin AND the cockpit.

_________________
--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

Maybe the 1/2 and 1/2 is to help one to lose weight, moving from one area to another to prepare meals ?

If we had a boat like the V255, my wife would have to start wearing pajamas when it was time to cook breakfast.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

LOL! I guess you will be stuck with cereal otherwise...

_________________
--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

I noticed the European Flare on the new 275 at this years boat show also.

I feel my boat is more functional. This comes from the point of view of a family of weekend boaters.

I recall thinking the features that made the 248 and 268 so popular have been mimicked by others like sea ray. Best example being the entrance to the cabin. Big selling feature for us, and many others, on the 268 was that the entrance was located far to the port side. This had plenty of advantages in the cabin, and especially the mid cabin. Four Winns changed it to a mid entrance, and Sea Ray changed to the port side entrance. I think the Sea Ray 280 has a better cabin layout than the 275. In fact I think the 280 is the very close to the 268. The Rinker also had a great layout with the cabin entrance on the port side.

The other thing I didn't like about a few of the new Four Winns boats, and several other cruisers at the show was the low, or lack of free board at the rear of the boats. My wife was the one who pointed it out saying that she would hate to be sitting back there in rough water. If anything the sense of security she has in our boat would not be there in these boats.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

I totally agree...newer is not always better!

A large influence in our purchasing of the FW-378 was that it did "not" have an aft cabin...there is only the two of us so an aft cabin, in our eyes is a waste of space.
Instead the aft sofa contains a pullout bed (when required) and a wrap around privacy curtain. The leading-class, very large wrap around sofa in the 378 can easily accommodate 8 adults and has the interior cabin space of a much larger 45'+ boat.

Most current, newer cabin designs include an aft cabin.

Cheers!

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Clayton
2005 - 378 Vista
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I totally agree as well. Now that you point it out the free board was very low.... Maybe that's what makes the cockpit feel larger...
I also looked at European boats like Jeanneau and Beneteau and while the idea of multiple closed cabins may sounds like a good idea for a family the practicality of it makes the boat VERY claustrophobic.. My brother-in-law pointed out there are seats all over but really no one place to congregate and sit together.

The other thing I couldn't avoid noticing was the quality went way down on all brands that I looked at, except Formula.. WHOO thems are nice boats...

Whats up with the new fabric they are using on some of the cockpit seats. Regal for instance, a decent brand from what I hear, but man the seats look cheap...

_________________
--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

Was that at the Detroit boat show?

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Boston, I always go to the Hartford show but its so small and only have maybe two or three mid 30 footers.. This year we changed it up and went to Boston. One of the dealers said he thinks its bigger than New York. AWESOME show! I am going to spend more time next year and take some of the seminars.

I do wish they had the V355 or V375, the V335 is just a tad to small for my next boat. I fell in love with the 34 and 37 Formula... If i could afford it the 45 formula was best of show for me.. UNBELIEVABLE!! can you say retractable awning over the stern? If you haven't seen the boattest video check it out.

I brought my kids and niece and nephews so they slowed me down a bit but we had a blast.... the dealers loved us...

_________________
--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson