I have posted the image for the vent cover. Oblong with two holes approximately 4 inches long...
So you want to hear my story about the boat. OK, here it goes. I had been looking for a boat for about two years, and where I live, there are not a lot of boats on the market. I also wanted an all-purpose boat that I could use. I love to fish, and I love boats. I have never owned one, but now was the time.
I had been searching the local for sale items diligently when I came across this 1996 Four Winns Horizon 200. I quickly did a check on the boat and the pricing around the country. I found out that the $7000 the guy wanted was right in the ballpark for prices. I also found out that Four Winns was a good manufacturer of boats. I contacted the guy and told him that I was interested in the boat, and I would love to come and see it. I did and fell in love with it; it was and is exactly what I wanted. It had a 225HP IB/OB and only 231 hours on the engine. He told me that he had not run it for a year and a half so I asked him if we could arrange a test drive on a lake about 30 minutes from where he lived. He agreed, and we set a time.
My son and his father-in-law were also interested in getting a boat so I figured this would be great to have all of us go in on it. Well, we got to the lake and put it in the water. It started right up and we headed away from the dock. About a minute later, I began to smell a burning rubber sound. I asked him to stop the boat, and we checked the belts, etc. and could find nothing wrong. Started it back up, and again headed across the water. I looked at the temperature gauge, and it was almost pegged. I asked him to shut it down. Well, we could feel no water going through the hoses. In the middle of the lake we stripped it down and took out the thermostat(it was quite rusted) and put it back together.
By this time the engine had cooled, and it started right up again and off we went. Well, the smell persisted and the temperature gauge went back up. We shut it down and flagged a pontoon boat for a tow. There is nothing worse than having a group of people on shore watching your boat being towed, but we were appreciative. I was watching the owner of the boat really shaking his head and looking down, for I am sure he thought that this sale was done. I talked it over with the other people with me, and we decided that we would take a chance anyway and offer him a price.
We got back to the dock and loaded the boat. I told the guy that we were still interested, but there was no way we could pay the asking price. I offered $3500 saying that I had no idea on how much it would cost to get it fixed, and I really did not know how much it would cost. He turned that down and the other guy said $4000 today and in cash. He called his wife and they agreed to that. We did not know much about boats, and we towed it home and began to work on it. Found out the impeller was shot. Got a new one for $24.00 and it worked great. We also found a guy to replace the engine deck since the one hinge was rotted out. Had all the upholstery resewn with UV thread. Replaced all of the fluids, etc for a total cost of $4820.00 for everything including the matching trailer, even though we had to put two new tires on it.
Needless to say we are having fun with it and are taking great care of it. That is my story, and I am thanking all of you in advance for all of your help in finding the vent cover....
Login
FAQ
Search
