www.iFourWinns.com

Looking at a 268 vista and wanted to know what to expect for cruise and top speed as well as ability to plane with say 6 adults onboard. Boat has 5.7 volvo with duoprop, sorry not sure of HP rating. Boat is an '04.

The boat information is still on the Four Winns site. Click on "Customer Service", then "View Catalogs", then "Fast Facts" for the year you want. I have an '02 268 with the Volvo 5.7 Gi duo prop (280hp). I do not get 30+mph at 3500rpm, more like 26-27. 3800rpm will usually yield 30mph. Top end is usually 40-42. Keep in mind that any boat's performance is very dependent on many factors like load, hull cleanliness, engine tuning, trim, etc. My boat is bottom painted, which helps with marine growth but costs some in speed. We also leave the marina with full fuel and water, and other equipment and supplies for a weekend aboard. We usually have 800-1200 lbs of people aboard and don't have any problem getting on plane without using trim tabs. I have had to use tabs to get on plane with a heavier load once or twice. Our boat does not have a genset or A/C.

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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

+1 My similarly equipped 2002 268 gets about the same performance. We typically travel fully loaded so she is not achieving 40 mph running heavy

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2008 V338
Twin Volvo Penta 320hp DP

2002 268 Vista
1987 225 Sundowner
1986 170 Horizon
1975 Steury V415SS

+1 This is the same performance we get out of our 2005 268 with the Volvo 280hp 5.7Gi. This range is also the sweet spot for fuel economy getting around 2.0-2.2mpg. It does cruise at a faster speed but fuel economy goes to hell and it's not as comfortable of a ride...not to mention it's a cruiser so what's the hurry?

I have had trouble getting on plane with 6 big adults but I had full fuel/water tanks and loaded heavy with gear. This has only happened a couple of times mostly due to overloading and lake conditions. The boat does start to feel crowded with 6 adults in my opinion but I think it will feel that way on any boat this size

Welcome to the forum!

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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"

Thanks for the info everyone. I am down sizing from a Regal 3060, which comfortably cruises at 35 mph/3500RPM so I wasn't sure how much performance I would be giving up. My biggest reason to down size is I am looking for something I can trailer so I can get away from the need to work with a marina for every haul out.
The answers here help and I especially like how Four Winns has all the information on non-current models on their website. I went to boattest.com and they required a subscription to view this information.

I've watched that Boattest video a handful of times and you aren't missing much. They actually show video footage of the wrong boat.

There are a bunch of satisfied 268/278 Vista owners on this forum, so if you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. I'm sure you'll love getting off the marina's schedule and enjoy the freedom having a trailerable cruiser will provide.

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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"

I used to own an 04 268. if the boat is fully loaded, getting on plane can be done but it'll take a little while. Our normal load of two adults and one child was no problem, even with full fuel, water, waste tanks.

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

I have that exact boat with 320 HP and these responses are right on. I find the sweet spot to be around 3,600 and can cruise anywhere from 27-29 MPH depending on conditions and load. You can cruise at 30, but you'll be up around 3,800 to get there, harder than I like to run it. Mine is for sale as well (FWC). Email me at al337@cox.net if interested.

http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/alanu ... ry/?page=1

Pretty much same results here although we have the Mag 350 instead of the Volvo. We usually cruise @ 3500 RPM which puts us anywhere between 20 and 30 MPH depending on sea conditions and amount of people on board. I run by the tach and whatever speed we happen to be making, then that's what it is. I don't have any hard fuel numbers because it tends to vary with the tide (huge difference in travel time and fuel mileage running with the tide vs running against) and I am usually running the gen for AC down below for the dog, which eats into the fuel a little bit...but the fuel flow meter (if it's accurate) seems to be happiest at 3500-3800 with @ 10-12 gph. With just me in the boat and half fuel and water, she will top out at right around 40 MPH. When we first got the boat, we were loaded with fuel, water and like 8 adults and I couldn't get her to plane at all. I read Ben's post on an earlier thread about their boat struggling to plane while fully loaded with 6 adults and felt much better (thanks Ben!). Since then, we have been out with four adults and had no problems, but usually it's just two or three of us on board. One important thing to note, though...anything that cuts into your available HP the tiniest bit is immediately noticeable at the helm. (apparently a pretty thin margin of power on the Merc, dunno about the Volvo) I did have a few issues at the beginning with old plugs and later an idle air solenoid that would set a code intermittently (10% power reduction, with that code I believe) and the HP decrease from either one would leave me struggling to plane. We are very happy with our 268, but if I could do it again and had the option of getting a big block I would do it. It's an old saying but it's the truth - no substitute for cubic inches and no one complains about having too much power... ever.

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Jack
2005 268 Vista - Sold

2001 Silverton 35C 8.1L Crusaders

I have had up to nine adults on board with pleanty of gear and have never not been able to get on plane. Tabs down and it took a while, but I have never been denied! Great boat all around as far as I'm concerned. I have 6 years worth of fuel records and I have averaged 6 GPH, with what I would estimate an 11-12 GPH cruise rate and right around 2 MPG.

dogfish, you do not mention or for that fact no one else has mentioned what elevation they are boating at, what gear ratio is in outdrive, and what prop set they are running.. Which are all huge factors in performance.

I have the 5.7L GI DP, 280 HP, F3 prop set, 1.95 gear ratio and boat at 4000 to 6000 ft elevation in a Vista 248. The boat is a dog!!! Yes she always gets on plane, but with a load, it takes a VERY long time.

The 268 w/5.7..... I wouldnt recomend..... but thats just me. I say search for a 8.1L

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Most of my boating in Minnesota is at less than 1000 feet above sea level, so one would think that power loss would not be significant. However, when hot temperatures are considered the density altitude here can approach 3-5000 feet above sea level. Boating at 5000 feet on an 85 degree day can equate to a density altitude of more than 7500 feet. Considering that a normally aspirated (no turbocharger) engine loses 1 inch of manifold pressure per 1000 feet of altitude, a 280 hp engine will have lost 70 horsepower! Even the 375 hp big block could experience enough power loss at altitude on a hot day to equate to the 280 hp 5.7Gi at low altitude. Researching the Four Winns options and owner's manual a slower outdrive gear ratio is offered for some boats to help with the power loss.

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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

I have a 13 year old Horizon, and I have found the Four Winns performance numbers to be spot-on with a medium load. With a very light load, I can exceed their numbers. (and of course with a heavy load, I get lower performance) It's nice to find a company that has honest performance numbers.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I agree with Powelcrazy. I own an "06" 278 visita with the 5.7 GXi and find it lacking. I passed on boats with the bigger engine thinking fuel economy but up to 4000 rpm there is little difference with the bigger engine but with a 3/4 full tank and and 4 men,two of us close the 300lbs I couldn't get on plane if they didn't go forward. Using the trim helped but only with all of us at the helm. Then with 2 guys about 150 and me plus a full tank,food, water,cooler and clothes for a 3 day trip I couldn't plane without my friends on the bow till I got down to 3/4 tank. I have a genset,ac and the works and love the boat for me and the wife but

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1947 Farmall cub (was dad's)
1976 Honda CT90 bike
2006 Greenspeed recumbent trike
2006 Four WInns 278 Vista
2012 F 150 3.5 Twin Turbo
2014 Suzuki King Quad 750

In a wheelchair but living life to the fullest. (Wife is still scared)