www.iFourWinns.com

Dear List:

I have been reading this site a lot, but haven't posted much. Some health issues have kept my wife and I from getting down to our little boat much, but things are getting ready to change! Looks like we are going to spend over a week on it in June for our 10th wedding anniversary.

One of the problems I have had is the mounting of our Magma Kettle grill. I just haven't been satisfied with some of the options that I have been presented. We have a 2006 Vista 278.

Long story short, I really wanted the Four Winns accessory that mounts to the aft of the swim platform, but I was told by our dealer that it had to be installed during construction because there was no access to the void inside of the swim platform where the reinforcing plates would need to go.

Here is the link to the Four Winns accessory page:
http://www.fourwinns.com/gear/accessori ... sc&x=6&y=6

I like it because it looks like I can switch out the grill with rod holders, a table, etc.

Do any of you think that this mount can be retrofitted to a 2006 278? Is there access to the void in the swim platform? If so, do I have to buy it from a dealer or is there somewhere else to get it?

But, I have now found a mount sold by Magma that looks easier to mount. Any ideas on this mount and what are your thoughts on how to mount it?

Here is the link:
http://www.magmaproducts.com/Products/M ... 0-184.html

Thank you all in advance and I look forward to getting much more involved with this board.

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Sean Lloyd
2006 Vista 278
Volvo Penta OSI/XP

Just about anything can be done, it sounds like your dealer just doesn't want to help out. Find someone else if this is too big of a project for you to tackle.

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

Thanks powellcrazy!

Is there a website where we can order Four Winns accessories from other than a dealer, or do we have to go through them?

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Sean Lloyd
2006 Vista 278
Volvo Penta OSI/XP

I have that mount. I put it inside one of the lockers on the swim platform. The mount itself works well enough but the material is questionable. Mine appears to have corroded quite a bit, after only ONE season. It's on my To Do list of things to fix this season.

Here's how it looked just after I mounted it:





You can mount the base anywhere there's a flat spot bit enough for it. It requires bolts through the deck below, so you'd have to be able to get to the underside. I think there are ways to use blind fasteners inside of spaces (a sort of toggle molly bolt) and those would probably be OK. I would not use just screws into fiberglass. You're talking about a flaming hot grill, you do not want it to work loose over time (and screws are notorious for this).

I've also seen setups using a table base socket. (Betterluck's 358 comes to mind). Done right you can mount the socket flush into the surface, by cutting a big hole in the fiberglass for it. That would leave you a lip around the base, but one that's a lot lower than the magma mount pictured above.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Just how readily do you think you'd be able to 'switch out' various accessories? The mount is essentially a hand rail. I've used various hand rail mounted accessories over the years and NONE were ever easy to install and swap out. All of them required a considerable amount of torque on their mounting screws in order to get them to hold securely. Grill mounts are especially picky about this. If you were swapping them out all the time you'd definitely have problems with being able to keep them tight, and stripping out the heads of the screws.

Hate to rain on the parade but I wouldn't go making plans on using this sort of thing with the intention to change mounts with any frequency.

What's additionally bothersome is grill rail mounts are intended to be permanent. At least for the rectangular kind of grill. There's no quick release for that sort of grill's mount to a rail. I would never want to travel in a powerboat with the weight of a grill mounted that high up on what's essentially a free-standing rail. The wave action would have the weight of the grill causing a LOT of stress against the mounts for the rail. That and where the heck would you store the rail with the grill mounted to it?

The factory mount must have some pretty hefty backing plates under it. I can see why it might not be available as an add-on.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

You have to go through a dealer for the FW stuff. Here's an email that might be helpful to some folks on here:
065-1811...Vista swim rail
065-1714...Grill
065-1707...Grill mount
065-1709...Table mount
110-60099...Table
031-1547...(x2)...Drinkholder w/ drain
*All of the accessories mount to the same rail
The rail is quite stout, I was impressed. They do look like they can be swapped out pretty quick, however, as Bill said, FW doesn't offer a mount for the rectangular grill. I wouldn't keep the magma kettle connected either while on plane. There's probably a reason why as they are popular grills. I wouldn't keep the magma kettle connected either while on plane. I'm satisfied with my magma but even with a discount the FW magma kettle mount is like 90 bucks !

I'm probably going to order the table too. It's FG and has cupholders. I always need a place for "stuff" when I'm grilling so it would be nice to have. Can't wait to hear the price tag on that item!

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210