www.iFourWinns.com

Just noticed in a desktop picture of the 2008 358 on the FW website, there's now a pocket of some sort just ahead of the port-side lounger seat. The 2007 and previous years have a relatively useless padded area up there.

I wonder, might that be something that could be retrofit to a 348/358?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill,

Do you mean the port "dash board" kind of area? I know that is one of the spots where they mount one of the optional cockpit televisions. I don't know if there's a storage compartment there when the TV isn't ordered. Sure would be interested to know the answer if it can be retrofitted.

I was at the boat today organizing and cleaning up a few of the winter projects I promised myself I would get to. Now I can't wait for the weather to warm up and get out on the water.

Ben

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2001 Cruisers 4450
Volvo TAMD-74P 480hp Diesels

After zooming in as far as the virtual tour will allow it looks like it's just a sort of depression type open storage area. It doesn't look like it would be overly useful as at any kind of speed things would probably fly out of there. It looks like there's a rubber lining in the depression and it's maybe two or three inches deep.

Ben

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2001 Cruisers 4450
Volvo TAMD-74P 480hp Diesels

Yep saw that. Would be nicer than the pad going onto the dashboard. Not earth-shattering though...

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2004 Sea Ray 420DB
Formerly: 2005 348 Vista

Good point about things flying out. I would like to have a better place to 'set' a paper chart book. A space like that, if it's large enough, with a plexiglas lid would be handy. The lid being key. As it stands now it's just a decorative bit of vinyl likely to crack and fade over time.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

This is a picture Sierra sent me. The space looks useful for cell phones or binoculars. A creative person could fit cup holders or a clear cover.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Hmm, then it'd require a new lounger seat, or at least the top portion of it. Shame there's no lid for it.

As for cup holders, I'm guessing they'd have to be pretty shallow ones as the space below there is where the cabin door slides.

Is there a drain in it?

As for a previous comment about things flying out, I'm not sure that'd be too much of an issue in all but the most extreme conditions. And in those cases you'd be stowing EVERYTHING possible. The 348 has a pretty stable ride. I've stuffed a few things up into that area (hat, towel, t-shirt) and they didn't tend to get blown loose unless the windshield door was open.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I don't remember a drain. The bottom has a black rubber mat, held in by gravity. Cup holders would have to be surface mounted. As you say there isn't much room behind there. It would be relatively easy to make a flat plexiglass cover. But it may look a little shabby unless you could curve the edges to match the profile.

BTW the 338 also has this spot.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Looking at that picture made me wonder about an issue I've always had on our boat. I'm wondering if anyone else has figured out a solution. With the companionway door and screen door it's possible to lock them both open or to close the companionway door, but none of the other configurations can be locked in position. This means two things, one when you close just the screen door and the boat rocks it tends to open, and two when under way with the companionway door closed the screen door tends to slide back and forth and slam. Am I missing something really basic or have others had this problem? If so, how have you solved it?

Thanks
Ben

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2001 Cruisers 4450
Volvo TAMD-74P 480hp Diesels

There's usually "just enough" friction with how our screen sits inside the door on our 348 to prevent what you're talking about. But under really bouncy conditions I've heard the screen moving around. I've also had the forward stateroom door come popping open too. In both cases I've found an easy fix:


I just wedge one of those in there to stop movement.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

There is no drain it. With the window shut it is a great wind-free storage area. I usually have a camera sitting it. The black mat keeps things from sliding around.

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07 Tiara Sovran 4300
07 338 Vista - SOLD