www.iFourWinns.com

Any advice is helpful, as we have lots of questions and the dealer can't seem to help to much so here goes..

We just took possession of our new 278 this past week and boy what a week. After going through everything at the dealership off we were to the lake. Well just after launching it was noticed that our bilge pump was constantly on and then we opened the hatch to find we had a major leak in the engine compartment. At the dealership we had a fresh water cooling system installed after it arrived from the factory ( 6.2 Merc is the engine)and one of the rubber end caps in the system cracked and started spewing water. It was a good thing the salesman came out to give us a hand anyways we quickly went back to shore ( good bilge pumps) and got the boat back on the trailer. Next day a technician came out and fixed the problem, or so we thought. Back in the water again and everything seemed fine. We moored the boat and noticed a couple of things.

1. The boat lists to port by 5-10 degrees. We thought this was becasue we had gray water added to the boat? but nobody at the dealership can give us an answer. It does seem strange on a vessel this size. We do know that the batteries, hot water and the gallery are on the port side. But you would think this would have been factored into the boat when building. Any words of wisdom out there?

Day 2 - Reading the manuals and learning where is everthing...

2. The bilge pump started running again every hour and a half. We were taking on water again. ( We haven't left the dock yet ) So the search is on. This takes 2 more days and finally with the help of the salesman we found another cracked connection in the fresh water cooling system. So we are working on this to get this rectified.

Day 3/4 - Still orienting ourselves to the vessel. ..

3. When we ordered the boat we asked for overboard discharge to be included and we were told that this would include draining both the grey and black water tanks. NOT. We find out today that the discharge only is for the Black waste water tank. Even the salesman was surprised today by this? Any suggestions as this is an issue for us.

4. Rear transom shower doesn't work beyond a dribble?

5. Water level monitors don't seem to give accurate readings.

Everyone who has been at the dock loves the look of the boat and so do we. We just wish we could use it..beyond the dock..

Randy Brown -
Chilliwack BC

Shakedown blues

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Randy B

As to the dribble, check the hose for a kink. It just goes into the engine space , no dedicated storage. Another thing to check is the small check valve/screen right at the freshwater pump. Crap in the tank can easily clog the small screen.

As to the tank level monitors...good luck. I had FW replace mine with another system (Snake River's Accugage) The Xintex system just plain sucks.

Call FW about the list. It shouldn't

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

Randy, who did you purchase the boat from? I would have the dealer re-install the FWC system. A kinked shower hose seems to be the culprit.

I see you are located in Chilliwack, are you using it (trying to!) on Harrison Lake? We had been thinking of towing our boat to Harrison for a weekend or two this summer.

Good luck, Rod

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2010 278 Vista
5.7 GXi DP

Past:
1999 225 Sundowner
5.7 GSi SX

Hi--You mention boating at a lake, but saying you have overboard discharge for black water. Not aware of any lakes where blackwater discharge is permitted--certainly wouldn't want to swim in one! Grey water--try running your sink and looking at one of the drains on the side. If yours is like some other FW's, you will see the sink drain overboard.
I think there is a valve you can turn that will funnel sink water either overboard or into the holding tank. Check the manual.
You will be fine once you get the bugs worked out.