www.iFourWinns.com

Let's face it... we're always looking at other boats. Even when we've just bought a boat, it's not long before we're at least thinking about what might be next, even if it's a long way off. There are a lot of threads on a lot of sites about everyone's 'fantasy' boats. I'm looking to make this more realistic. I know I'll be moving up at some point - not this season, but beyond that, you never know. Like all of us, I have learned a great deal about what I like and what I need in a boat based on how I boat. My latest kick is that I would want to move into a bridge boat next, but I honestly haven't fallen in love with anything (and I want to be in love). Plus, there are a lot of terrific cruisers in the 40' - 48' range, which is my target (including from FW). So I'm just tossing this around the room to see what you would realistically like to see yourself in one day. I'm not talking about megayachts or $million+ Sunseekers. I'm talking boats that would be logical and, if not now, hopefully some day accessible enough to aspire to.

You already know I'm a big fan of the Four Winns brand and love my V358 (and would buy it all over again), but as you move up from this size, there is a lot of viable competition. I even surprised myself today by stumbling upon this boat and really taking to it (would love people's thoughts on it).

I put this in the Vista section because I was really interested in hearing from anyone looking at cruisers. As I said, I wasn't looking so much for fantasy picks as I think this could be a great tool for all of us to know what's out there and what, ahem, floats people's boats. And I realize this is happening on the FW owners'/future owners' site, but a little competition is always healthy.

So let's have at it...

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Wow!

That Chris Craft is one awesome boat. My wife would love the roominess of anything as large as this(closet-phobic ) but unfortunately most cruisers are out of my price range.... Nice to dream though.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

My wife and I have allready set us a goal of having our next boat by our 40th birthdays. Our next boat will be a 396 Carver Aft Cabin. We have some friends that have one and absolutely love it. I wish Four Winns would expand and start developing some bridge boats like an aft cabin or motor yacht style boats. There are plenty of Carver's available as they seem to be the most popular in the bridge boat catergory so the prices on them are relatively low compared to comperable boats.

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

The Chris Craft is a really sweet package. Any idea what the sticker price is?
We're still undecided wether to go for a larger express or a bridge style. If we go for the bridge, we'd have to find a different 'favorite' anchorage as I think we'd be pushing to much draft, although, there are plenty of alternate spots. I wish we had the funds to make the move now as the prices sure are right, however, I am, Iike many, feeling the pinch of the economy.
Maybe when I retire in 3 years and I.... we, have lots of time to boat.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

I don't know the sticker, but the range in the pre-owned market is in the high $300's for a 2005 to mid-$600's for an '07. I think they really packaged a classic style with modern amenities better than anything else I've seen and, as I said, it really surprises me how much that appeals to me. And they build a terrific boat.

Actually, you might be surprised about this. One of the boats I've been 'checking out' is the Meridian 441 (no, they're not just expensive Bayliners anymore) and the listed draft is 3" less than my V358.

And that's the beauty of planning and dreaming - it doesn't cost a thing

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

How true.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Some day we will probably move up to a cruiser. It would be really nice for the long days out on the lake and with the amount of water we have here it sometimes takes a few hours to get to some places so it would be nice to be able to get there and just spend the night and come back the next day. You can't beat the comfort you guys must have on a cruiser including the head. I find myself already trying to decide how big we should go when we are ready. We will probably move up once we don't have to pay for daycare anymore. We will probably stick with FW and maybe move up to a 25-28 ft when we are ready.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I am going to have to disagree with you on the Meridian. We saw a couple at the Chicago show and I just was not impressed with the fit and finish. A boat at a boat show should be the best you have to offer and there were several defects in the interior finish. That's just what I could see. If your boat show boat doesn't have drawers that will open and carpet coming up, what in the hell is going on in the engine compartment!

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

I was thinking one day I might be able to move up to a Ferretti or an Azimut


It's nice to dream

Justin

Interesting to hear that and duly noted (and not to veer too far off topic into a brand debate), but I spent a lot of time on the 441 at the New York show and was impressed with what I saw. That surprised me as I expected to be underwhelmed based on what I had heard about Meridians and seen in their older boats. I'm not sure if you were on a 441, but it is an all-new build for them and presumably represents where they are now in terms of fit and finish which I found on-par with FW, SR etc.

There is also a lot I like about the Cruisers Yachts 447, but I can get past the exterior styling. Its layout and ergonomics are my favorite of any bridge boat I've seen so far and the relatively low air draft is very appealing to me. But I've crossed it off my list because I just can't get with the looks.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

I was anchored next to one of these at the end of last season. VERY nice boat.

We are looking at moving up to a 268 or so, I doubt we will ever get bigger than that. If we win the lotto sure, but realistic dreaming and planning is putting us topping out at our next boat, a 258/268. We might go one size up after that, but I'd like the ability to still trailer as our lakes here in Indiana aren't very big...unless you head up to Lake Michigan.

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

It does have a great layout and ton's of storage space.
I agree about the exterior styling. It reminds me of a Carver Mariner.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

And also reminds me of the new Carver 44 Sojourn. Fugly boat, but the amount of room and well thought out interior set up is just outstanding on this yacht.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Well, We're not ready to keep a boat in the water, but we do talk about gaining more move-about room and legal capacity (# of persons). To this end, the following are on the list of "bigger, but not too big to drag around behind the truck".

* Sea Ray 280 Sundancer, early to mid 2000 years. Really like the cabin on this. The port-side dinette plus the forward v-berth/dinette really would be usefull, plust the extra space for moving about in the cabin. 21-deg deadrise = great rough water ride. Fault = single helm seat & no Volvo power available.

* Rinker 280EC 2007-up. Great cockpit layout for many people on-board. Cabin is large but no mid-cabin dinette. This boat is super stable and smooth in the rough stuff, even though it is only 18 degrees deadrise.

Unfortunately, anything from FW that is bigger than the 268 is twin engined and too heavy and too wide for daily towing and launching.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

I've always liked the looks of the San Juan Yachts SJ48FB. But at $2M+ it'll have to wait a bit.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista