www.iFourWinns.com

Buying a new ( to me ) 05 Vista 348 with 5.7 GXI

Hi looking for advise,wife and I went to the Toronto Boat show to buy a 01 310 Sea Ray and looks like we may have come away with a 05 348. Boat has 300 hrs and has most all options, is there some things I need to look for. Both the wife and I find the lay out/fit and finish much better than the Sea Rays.

The price is $105,000.00 sound fair or not? Thanks for any input in advance.

Terry

Welcome terryd!

Congratulations on your impending acquisition! I am a Sea Ray fan, but you will be cruising away with a heck of a lot more boat in the 348 than a 310! I can't speak to the deal, but if you haven't found it yet, there's an enormous amount of reading to be done on the 348/358 here.
Keep us in the loop and post pix as soon as you can!

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Welcome.. Thats a very nice boat... I as well looked at sea ray befrore we bought and am very happy with the quality of the FW product. Although I can't comment on the ups and down of that model from what I've read on the forum people seem to be very happy with it.

Where do you boat out of?

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

We would be boating out of Kilarney on Georgian Bay. Great thanks guys most wanted to know if you could think of problems with this boat that we should be aware of. I can get this boat for the same sum as a older 310 and we like the lay out better so if she is a good solid vessel then I think this is the boat for us.
Will keep you informed.

For me personally, 300 hours would be too high for an 05. My requirement for buying a used boat was less than 200 hrs. I was told (do not know if it is ture) that at 400 - 500 hours is when you will be looking at an engine rebuild????

Wow I sure thought that proper mantained motors should go all of 1000 hrs, keep in mind these are fresh water boats, 300 hrs only works out to just over 50 hrs a year. Assuming he started running in 04. I always liked things that ran more than equipment that sat all the time. Assuming they have the proper care.
Thanks for your imput, I will investigate your theory.

I agree--with proper maintenance, 300 hours should not be a big issue. It's all about how it was taken care of.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

+1 on the hours being fine. I'd rather find an '05 with 300 hours than 150 but getting a look at maintenance records is essential and, if good records weren't kept, that's a consideration as well. The same applies to the generator. Do not buy this boat without a survey contingency no matter what the dealer says.

Dollar for dollar it's a whole lot more boat than the Sea Ray. A cruising buddy of mine has a newer 320 Sundancer and my boat feels significantly larger, not to mention much better appointed. What boat are you coming out of?

Is it the inboard or i/o configuration of the 5.7 engine? You can find the original brochure for the boat here.

_________________
Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

It has I/O 5.7 GXI and will be our first boat, yes we plan to have a survey done. We will go look at it next weekend and will check the Gen hrs. We found her at the Toronto Boat show.
Think the deal is ok, I know lots about planes but squat about boats.
Thanks for the good advice.

And in case you're not doing so already, poke around Yacht World and Boat Trader to get a handle on what people are asking for the same boat (which, of course, is no indication of what they're selling for). There are only a few on BT, all more expensive, but this one on YW is an '05 with 160 hour 6.2's at $99K asking.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Thank Sierra..
Did not know of that site will look for sure, if not to at least to beat him up as I need to add 8% to bring to Canadian $ then get it up here so close goes to the boat back home but I will call these guys for sure.
Terry

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

No way. With decent maintenance the modern gas engine should last until at least a 1500 hours with no major work. And since they're all fuel injected this basically means regular oil changes, spark plugs, impellers and belts. Now, it is possible the manifolds could need replacing, but that depends on whether it's a salt or fresh water boat. Those do corrode and if you don't pay attention to them it can cause other (more expensive) engine problems. It's on my list to pull mine next spring to have a look-see.

But even if it did require engine work, the layout of the 348 makes it very simple to pull the engines. The engine hatch provides full access to lift the engines straight out. Granted, this is not a DIY sort of job, but some boats require drastic measures like cutting fiberglass to replace engines. The 348/358 has really good access throughout the engine compartment (as opposed to a SeaRay).

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

We have a 2005 we just love the boat. If you are planing on being on the hook a lot. We will need to add a couple of batteries. We are on the hook all weekend most times. But that is a easy fix.

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348 Vista ( Last Call )
Raystown PA

terryd


I recently bought my boat in the US and brought it back up here.... You end up paying all of our crapy taxes when you go through customs.... so the boat you found is a good deal up here. Although if you will pay all of them at the dealers around here anyway. Bringing a boat back from the US is a piece of cake if you find something comparable down there.

Who has this boat. I didn't see it at any FW dealers sites up here.
You can also check boatcan.com these boats are all from our area as well. Just search under Four Winns and then by length....not sure whats there haven't checked lately.

Mike

_________________
2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Hi Mike
Skyline in Orillia has the boat, they took it in on a trade on a new Sea Ray. Closest I found was a 348 in Florida a bank deal and can get for $90 U.S. by the time I convert and get boat up here it is real close.
Went to see the boat today and will make an offer on the weekend, looks to be in good clean shape. Of course if they take my offer it will be contingent on boat survey and such.
Fun time ahead...