www.iFourWinns.com

Greetings Board,

We just upgraded from a 99 240 Wellcraft Walkaround to a 02 268. This was like trading in the old pick up truck for a new fully loaded Bentley. My wife and I have 3 kids who are all under 4 and enjoy the north east chesapeake region puting in above the C&D in the Elkton River - which is mostly fresh water.

We found her with 74 total hrs on the 5.7 Vovlo GXi / MX 6.2 Bravo III. She's got every option excluding the 5k Generator & Raytheon Nav Pkg. Hull was bottom painted but in near perfict condition. The gelcoat on the topside was good and it would seem from her condition down below, she was never really used at all.

Got it done at 29k and we feel it was a fair price for her condition. Its good to have found this site. Hello all.

As a new 268 owner, I'm looking for the shared insight of all the little things (good and bad) about this boat I should know. Every boat has it's pro's and con's. I would appreciate all advise, tips and first hand experience piloting this vessel.

Thanks folks - Andrew

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Mojo
North East River, MD
04 268

Greetings
I am also new to the posts, joined sometime last month. Lots of information and alot of advise from different folks. Good luck with you new boat.
fal

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CAPTAIN ZERO

Congratulations! Sounds like a great deal on a great sized boat! Post up some pictures and keep us posted on your progress!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Congrats on the new boat. One thing though, either you have a Volvo GXI or Merc MX 6.2, you can't possibly have both power packages on a single screw boat.

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

He did say it had every option........

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Too funny........

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Welcome .... sounds like a nice boat at a killer price!

Load us up some photos.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

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

Sorry Andrew, just pulling your chain a bit. Those are very similar power packages and will yield nearly identical performance. I've had both Merc and Volvo on my boat issue free, so I have no strong opinion either way. If it is indeed the Merc, they did have corrosion issues on the B3 drives around that time.

Here is a link to tell if you have the new anodes...

http://www.boatzincs.com/images/Mercruiser-BravoIII-Diagram.jpg

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

Congrats on your purchase! This site is AWESOME for information. 9 times out of 10 someone has already been where you are, and if it's that one time, very knowledgeable people who are not stingy with advice and know how!!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

LOL - it's the Volvo GXi -my bad.

A few early questions.... (will search as well).

Want to:
Rig for a Honda 2000 Gen - any pitfalls here? Just want to get a shore power cord to the gen from the platform. Will anchor the gen there when not under way.

Want to:
Get the flat screen going for the 3 kids. What should I know with this? I have a very small one already (8 inch dvd player combo) already set up. It looks like it was for a car as it's power connection is a 12 v cig adapter. Can I go biger?

Eisenglass - it's beat. What am I looking for $$ to re-do? I have the camper set up.

Does the cabin table stowe away anywhere?

Does the eisenglass stowe away anywhere - how about under the aft cabin mattresses?

Can I step up to a vacuflush system? Is it worth it?

With the Volvo GXi - whats the ideal cruse speed & range / safe redline?

How are you pulling a tube? Did not see any tube line anchors -

That's it for now

Did I say how STOKED I am with this boat? Went from the farm pick up to the mack daddy limo (or so it feels).

Glad to have found this site..... Andrew

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Mojo
North East River, MD
04 268

Congrats Andrew,
However, I have to ask. Where did you get this boat? The reason I ask is I traded in a 2002 Four Winns 268 Vista which was in great shape to a place in White Marsh, MD. I only had it for a year and replaced and/or fixed all the minor things that were wrong (from lack of use). The only reason I traded it was I got a great deal on a new 2007 Four Winns 318. Like you I too have three kids and they all loved the boat. The previous owner also had three kids!!! Let me see if I can answer some of your questions.

The eisenglass can be replaced for about $800.
I can't remember if I could fit the cabin table in the starboard bow storage locker but I know the cockpit table fit there.
The 5.7 GXi has a WOT of 4800-5000 RPMs. I ran between 3000-3500 for best cruising speed and fuel economy.
For tubing I would attach to the two stern cleats and yes I realize that is not what they were designed for but I don't think I ever got above 10mph as my kids are young and thought that was too fast.
As for the generator. Yes the Honda generator will run the A/C with no problems. I used the Honda EU2000 companion and could run the A/C and microwave some Beefaroni for the youngest child with no problems. I never got around to permanently mounting it on the swim platform. But that is where it sat, strapped to the stern rail when used.

I hope you have a great time on your new boat. Congratulation again!

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2007 Four Winns 318 Vista "Sas Sea Lady"
Previous
2002 Four Winns 268 Vista "Girls Knot Buoys"
1999 Sea Pro 235 WA "Bait Me"

Well - I am pretty sure that I just bought the 268 you traded in at Riverside. Man - I love the www! May we connect? I would love sync and talk about what you discoverd, updated, fixed and did not. Does your new boat have an on-board gen and if so, is your portable for sale? I'm Andrew @ 484.535.0046 - - It's great to meet you - finding the previous owner is a HUGE bonus!

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Mojo
North East River, MD
04 268

Jabsco makes a conversion kit for their manual flush toilet.

http://www.jabsco.com/products/marine/toilet_waste_systems/conversion_kits/electric_conversions_29200/iid_1968/index.htm

I have not tried this but I did install a replacement "Twist n Lock" pump which prevents backflow through the notoriously leaky joker valves.

http://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-29040-3000-Marine-Manual-Assembly/dp/B001794BS0

This is a must do upgrade at a relatively cheap (by boating standards) price.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

I've got this on my boat, and boy am I glad I didn't pay that amount to get it! It is VERY nice to have, as good as a vacuflush. I have to replace the lower seal on it though, as we are getting a bit leaking out.

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

Hey Andrew,
If you got it from Riverside then that is it. Did Joe sell it to you? I will call you tonight for any questions you may have. But first I will give you a brief history. I was the third owner. The original owner bought it from Riverside (White Marsh) and it was sold soon after to the previous owner who had it for many years. Unfortunately, they only used it for a total of 52 hours. It was lift kept but was bottom painted. I purchased it late last year. The blue bottom paint looked terrible and had faded to a baby blue. We had it painted black but still kept it high and dry. I replaced the following items due to minor issues or lack of function.
toilet
A/C seawater pump (March pump)
A/C seawater hoses
horn
remounted A/C strainer as it had pulled free
Sony CD/stereo (the black wire on top of the cabinet is for iPod hookup)
cockpit stereo speakers
failed light bulbs
navigation lights
fresh water level sending unit
black water level sending unit
head sink faucet
transom shower sprayer
galley faucet strainer
power trim level indicator sending unit (for the outdrive)
doubled SS clamps on all though-hull seacock connections
automatic fire extinguisher in the engine compartment (it is the new NON-halon type)

The boat always ran good but I did occasionally have a problem with the fuel pump not delivering the proper fuel supply due to the wornout pinch style electrical connectors on the fuel pump assembly. (It will feel like the boat surges at high speed. That is when the pump is supplying proper pressure) Don't worry, I never felt uneasy about it and it never left me anywhere. The only way to replace the connectors are to replace the whole fuel pump (high pressure side) The cost for this is $600 for the part. I picked up my 318 yesterday and noticed your 268 sitting in the water. The tech asked me about said issue and I told him what to replace. Be sure they do this ( he told me they would) as you should not have to incur this added expense. Besides I am sure they get the part at a discount.

Overall the boat was great and I tried to fix everything with high-end parts and had the motor professional maintained by my local marine mechanic. In addition, the boat was professionally winterized last season. If it wasn't for the great deal on the 318 my family would still have the 268 but it would have had the new fuel pump installed before the end of this boating season.

And yes, I do still have the Honda EU2000i Companion generator that I purchased late last year. It has under 10 hours on it (probably more like 5), looks brand new and has the 30A plug that your shore power cord plugs right into with no adapter needed. If you would like it I would be willing to let it go for $800.

Have a great day and I will call you later today.

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2007 Four Winns 318 Vista "Sas Sea Lady"
Previous
2002 Four Winns 268 Vista "Girls Knot Buoys"
1999 Sea Pro 235 WA "Bait Me"