New Vista 238 owner

LVChris · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 1:11 am

Just popped by to introduce myself, my Name is Chris and I live in Las Vegas, NV. We just bought a 1996 Four Winns 238 Vista DLX, are very excited! I am sure I will be around here a lot, mostly with questions first and eventually hope to learn enough to answer questions.

So let me start;
1. The rubber coating on all of my switches have melted in the Vegas sun? Where can I find replacement covers?
2. I see that Four Winns thought of everything when they made this boat, I found where to store the cabin table (in the head mounted on the wall) but where do I store the deck tabletop?
3. And this is a biggie, where do you tie the boat off and hang the fenders? I have one cleat in the center which works well. but the bow and stern cleats are nearly unuseable? The bow is way in the front, no chance I am going to need a fender there it will never touch the dock, the stern one is actually not on the side, again no chance I will need a fender there (although the dock rope will work there. Bear in mind, I do not have a slip and will be launching it everytime, pretty much on my own so I put her in, tie her off, park my truck and come back.
4. How am I ever going to figure out how to put up my salon?/ camping enclosures?? No instructions, nothing on google, no youtube, help.

Thanks in advance,

Chris
Las Vegas
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx

beyond the blue · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 2:53 am

Congratulations on the purchase!

I think you will find there is no particular place to store the cockpit table I'm afraid.

We hung the fenders as seen it the picture

Can't help with the melted rubber switches (the sun rarely shines where i live)

With regard to putting up the canvas I think you will find somewhere on the Four Winns site a detailed exploded view of the assembly. I used it to identify the parts when I purchased a new camper canvas from them.

LVChris · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 3:18 am

Thanks for the quick response. The pic helped I think I may be able to figure it out now. I had wished there was a written set of instructions as simply putting on the mooring cover required unsnapping 15 times until I got it right.

I looked at the FW site, didn't find the camping enclosure diagram, but I have downloaded every bit of info they have on my boat, pretty nice that they keep all that info available.

Another question I have and can't find an answer; I have the two pads for the rear seat to become a bed, but no ide how they get used? I saw a pic and it looked like the sat at the same height as the wrap around seat...but no ide how they would do that?

Chris

beyond the blue · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:25 am

If it is the same as mine the two fill in cushions sit in the lip to form the the bed.

neutron · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 8:12 am

welcome, and I hope you like your 238 vista as much as I am enjoying mine

SCB1963 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:34 am **Posts:** 39

The camper top once you see the picture that someone had posted you will be able to figure that out. It is pretty simple to figure it out. We store our table in the aft bed when we are not docked really no specific place that we have found for it. And when we are docked we move it to the bathroom. Congratulations on your purchase. We have had ours for only 1 year and really love it. We just purchased a potable air conditioner from Craig's list which will make sleeping on the boat a more pleasureable experience. We here in Michigan are not used to those 100 degree temperatures but we sure have been having them lately.

LVChris · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:15 am

So wife threw out a couple questions I couldn't answer, forums to the rescue! Please?

1. Is there anyway to cool off that cabin away from the dock? Looking for an A/C that works on battery power, swamp cooler, ice blowover?

2. Alcohol stove directions...how does it work, not covered in the manual.

3. Somehow we have three batteries...only 2 on the battery switch. In anycase how long can i run things like radio, lights, fan, refridgerator without the motor running before I drain a battery. I know it depends, but is it more like an hour...or more like overnight.

TIA,

taz42169 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:04 am

Welcome aboard!

Running the A/C away from the dock usually requires a gen set. Haven't heard of any type of automotive A/C system installed.

Running your electronics depends on the batteries, their condition, and the set up. NEVER, EVER float around (running your electronics) with the battery switch on both. I alternate the batteries when drifting to make sure I have enough to start her up. Unless your floating for 4-5 hours, you really shouldn't have a problem.

I buy 1 new battery a year. This way I know I always have a fresh battery in the engine compartment. I save the battery I replaced and keep it on a trickle charger. Always good to have a spare.

Welcome aboard!

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:03 am

http://www.pacergroup.net/Categories3.a ... _Actuators

Here's the supplier for the switch covers. Make sure to get the little tool

http://www.pacergroup.net/ItemForm.aspx ... 50d7fb369a

beyond the blue · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:06 am

LVChris wrote:

2. Alcohol stove directions...how does it work, not covered in the manual.

TIA,

Assuming it's the standard non pressurised type, you fill the central tube with fuel until it stays half full and the wading is covered (but not full) light the fuel in the central part and wait and wait and wait and wait, eventually small flames will come out of the surrounding holes. Personally I would bin it, they are useless.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:18 am

Magma grill outside. Boiling water or cooking in a stainless pan in 3 minutes.

LVChris · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:29 pm

So it sounds like;

Yes I can replace the switches.

The only AC is 1/30 1 port open 30 mph...

we don't want to use the stove, but nice to know how if we need it...of course we would need alchohol...the electric only works with shorepower, right?

We are missing the plastic lip that the bed sets on in the back...going to have to mcguyver that one.

Switch batteries ...often odd/even days. replcae 1/year...check...I know someone is going to leave a light turned on somewhere and kill it.

Thanks.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:59 pm

Installed yourself A/C is less then $2000. Match that up and get a 2000w inverter gen for $900 and you can be out for a week chillen

neutron · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:10 pm

LVChris wrote:

heck...I know someone is going to leave a light turned on somewhere and kill it.

Thanks.

replace all your incandecent bulbs with led bulbs and you can leave them on witn little draw at all.

I went nuts and added 10 led lights in the cockpit and replaced every bulb in the cabin to a led, now I can leave em all on and my batteries last forever

Paul I. · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:37 pm

The stern cleats are fine for docking, but not for the fenders. I added 2 pop up 6" cleats, one on each side. I have a V258, so on my boat, just in front of the waste (starboard side) and the water fill (port side). I only use them for fenders and rafting.

www.iFourWinns.com

New Vista 238 owner

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