www.iFourWinns.com

The adjustment was the easiest thing in all my years of boating I have done. I miss very little about owning a cruiser. Only part is having a place to sleep after too many beverages. We will never own a cruiser again, it's not practical any longer. The boat ends up spending more time just sitting in the slip, and useing a cruiser to go out on weekends, just to raft up with other boats, or use as a water taxi to get to the beach is not good justification for the expense of owning one. Practically zero maintenance with our boat, we have trailered it over 1500 miles this summer to several lakes and rivers, and it has been fantastic.

As far as the season goes, we are taking 1/2 vacation day today, and going out boating. The weekend weather is going to be upper 70's to 80 degrees, and lot's of sun. Great way to finish off another wonderful season. Boat goes into heated storage in another week, and all I need to do is put some Sta-Bil in the fuel tank, disconnect the battery, and we are done.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Interesting....always wondered if I was missing something big not having a cruiser but noticed that many here don't get used that much, making the big cost increase over a smaller boat hard to justify. If you boat in areas with calm conditions the smaller boats are fine.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Depression day today. Took the boat out to one of the last lakes with any boatable water in it and ran some sta-bil through. Kinda chilly, but we pretty much had the lake to ourselves and the boat ran great! Brought it home and put it in the garage. I'll do the maintenance and winterize next weekend. Lost my connection for some covered storage for this year, so its tarps and the RV pad again. That works good though, I tie lines from the ski tower down to the trailer and make a "tent" with the tarps. Snow slides off and the boat stays dry. I also jack it up and put blocks under the axels in case a tire goes low so it don't drop and set on the drive while it is down for the winter.
Hoping for a good winter to fill the lakes!!!!!!!!

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1999 180 Horizon LS 4.3 L GL Volvo SX
1994 Powerstroke
2002 Jeep Wrangler
not@work.gon
Happiness is an Empty Boat Trailer!!!

Like alot of others have already posted, usually the 3rd week of October for me is winterizing time. So many folks here haul out Labor Day weekend that the river and lake is virtually empty every day. When the winds get a little too much for my SD, I usually can go sailing out on Ontario with a few hardy sailors that love fall boating too.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

That's our plan also!! We picked up an AMF Alcort Puffer last week to learn how to sail. Have some standing/running rigging to repair and hoping to have it ready by this weekend. As far as pulling the 268 no plans as of yet...probably wait till end of October since it goes straight into heated storage.

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Oh boy, if you think power boating is expensive....wait til ya get a look at prices for blow boat parts and pieces. A guy I crew for just bought a new front sail for $4000.00... Winches usually retail for $5-600.00. Sheets, lines, blocks, etc....

I love sailing, but owning a sail boat, not so much....

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I am planning a last hurrah for this weekend. High's will be in the 60's here in Minnesota. The long term forecast after that is dismal, with high's sliding down into the 40's within a week. I am calling my local dealer today to make an appt for next week to have my 195 Horizon winterized. It's going straight to storage from there.

Wet Dogggg is all tucked away for her warm (heated storage of course) winters nap. Bottom paint looked pretty good. Need to raise it about 1 1/2" and do some touch ups is all. She is also getting all new canvas over the winter.



Tied up before being taken out









V-drives...



Lonely empty slip...see you in April



Last weekend smiles...

It's all over
She's in the barn until April.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

It's almost over for us. My wife and I took this past Wednesday afternoon off to take our boat over to the travel lift to get lifted out, winterized and blocked.

I say almost over because we are going back to the boat and spending this Saturday and Sunday night on her while we use our little 14' aluminum boat to do some fishing and touring the various marinas and channels.

Next week she should be shrink wrapped - then it's over until spring.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Warm winter sleep for our boat is tomorrow.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Great pics, WD.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I haven't done the deed yet, I am having a hard time letting go. But this weekend is a perfect time to get it done and over with. I was telling the Admiral that it needs to be done and she siad so we aren't going back out this year? Almost brought a tear to my eye. I told her we really didn't have enough time, witht the kids and all the stuff they do.

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1990 Four Winns Horizon 200
2005 GMC Sierra

As much as I hate doing it, I find it's a relief to have it done and over with rather than having it hang over my head, worry about waiting too long (freeze risk), etc. I can't make the season any longer, so git 'er done and be able to spend time on other things that I also enjoy.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I'm fighting it...probably be the last weekend....but what a beautiful day.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X