www.iFourWinns.com

Had some friends stay over the weekend at 31st street. They agree it is beautiful, but not to venture out of the marina with out packing a firearm. They do not plan on going back there for a visit anytime soon.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Some thread drift !

Originally looking to buy a 378, now its about marinas that are dangerous due to racialist reasons !

Still, where i keep my boat, the town where I am from originally, I would no longer go to the main street on a Saturday night without a cosh in my pocket due to the types of people there ( no firearms allowed here, unless you are a criminal!) , . It's a coastal own where property is cheap, big cities have succesfully "exported" their problem families there for 30+ years. Thinking about it, my 6' 8" grandfather moved there from London in 1926, so nothing much has changed. A triumph of socialist policies, everyone has a home there but the effect on decent families is ignored/ unimportant

Yeah, Sorry about the drift. Always interested to hear of a FW boater coming out on the lake in Chicago. The 31st Marina is beautiful and has 1,000 slips but last year only about 200 were occupied. There is nothing better than being on the dock with the city skyline as your backdrop. With that said I think it did need to be stated as to the security concerns in the immediate area. It is a sad statement that our personal well being factors into where we would like to slip.

Burnham has an incredible wait list so the Park District is really pushing 31st Street. The change in dropping the non resident fee is unheard of in this city where we sell everything including the parking meters to generate cash. Midway Airport is next on the "for sale" block. Oops, now I'm really off topic.

Sorry Graham. So back to the topic, how is the search going? I wish we could move up to a 378. Have also seen the 435 & 475 and I do like the enclosed cockpit. Was also on a Sabre 38 Salon that was incredible.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Don't worry about the thread drift; it makes it very interesting !

re my search, Still looking !

Thanks. Best of luck in your search.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Curious how the price of the 06' 378 Vista in the UK compares to this 06' Boca Grande, which is advertised for $174,900 US. Pretty boat.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Funnily enough, we looked at and were very impressed by the larger Dorals at the 2005 London Boat show. At the time, we thought we could never afford one ! We've found some for sale, we'll look at them as well. I wish we could get that boat for USD 175,000 ! Here, the original price would have been subjected to import duty, plus 17.5%, 20% or for a short time 15% sales tax.

Are Doral still in operation, or have they gone?

The UK 378 we're looking at is around USD 230,000 asking price; 60 engine hours now (all at low speed; the freshwater lake it's been on has a 10 mph speed limit !) . I suspect even now the vendor would accept USD 200,000. I'm just a little concerned that is has the first generation IPS drives, even though the engine hours are very low. Plus, whilst it's very well equipped, that means there's an awful lot that could go wrong now it's 7 years old !

I want it but it seems I'm looking for excuses not to buy it.

Thanks for the info Graham. To the best of my knowledge, Doral is no longer in business. I understand your concern about maintenance on IPS drives, as well as a boat of that age. I'm thinking inboard shaft drives would be a bit less to maintain over the long term. Enjoy your search.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I have heard through a few surveyors that the doral boats like top hold water in the fiberglass. Never seen it for myself Anyone ever heard of this?

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


Mike

Graham
I'm guessing it's the one at Shepherds, if it is would you be keeping it on the 'puddle' or moving it to where you are now? Seems a shame to have a boat like that landlocked.

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Regards
Beyond the Blue

"If we improve with age I'm now excellent"


Ex 1998 238 Vista 5.0Gi SX DP
Lexus RX300

Yes, that's the one ! It would end up in our currrent -saltwater- marina A lovely boat, but cosmetically neglected. I'm geting paranoid about the service cost (most of which I hope I can do myself) but more worringly the sheer cost of parts should anything go wrong, seeing that the IPS drives have been revised several times, presumably to address issues with the earlier ones.

Yes I know exactly what you mean! If you are anything like me you tend to be a little bit over cautious when you get older as well. If I were in your shoes (I wish I was) I would really 'try it on' with the seller in these troubled times, I would make an offer of 90k (non-negotiable) with a 2 month time limit, I would even specify a date that your offer will be withdrawn. The seller will obviously feel insulted at first but failing any further offers it may start eating away at him, and come the end of your offer period you can always back down at the last minute and throw in a slightly larger offer and hopfully bag yourself a bargain. Any money saved can be put towards future repair costs because, like you say, there are going to be many with a boat like that. If it all falls through its not the end of the world and you still have your money to take down to the south coast where boats are cheaper anyway and he has his boat landlocked on a puddle

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Regards
Beyond the Blue

"If we improve with age I'm now excellent"


Ex 1998 238 Vista 5.0Gi SX DP
Lexus RX300