www.iFourWinns.com

I posted this in the Bimini section but thought that I might get a response here.

Hi Everyone! My 1988 215 Sundowner came with the camper enclosure but I haven't played with it until now. I am trying to figure out how to put together the pieces but I can't! I know I am missing the mounts on the hull that the rear bow goes to and I have ordered a new end for the broken one on the support bow.

The swivel is made for 3/4" tubing but they were mounted on the 1/2" tubing so I took them off and mounted them on the 2 pieces of 3/4" tube with the eyes on them thinking that the 3/4 slid over the 1/2.



I thought they went like this for the install position


And slid down for the storage position


After trying this out on the boat, the main bow needs to be about 9" longer so what I thought was the way it was suppose to be isn't.

I could really use some pictures of the camper poles installed to figure out if the PO did something weird. Thanks for your help.


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Chris Turner
1988 215 Sundowner
5.7 Cobra
2001 Tandem Trail-Rite Bunk Trailer

1985 Bayliner Trophy 2160 Hardtop
Volvo AQ 125b/275
1985 Tandem EZ Loader Roller Trailer

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Chris Turner
1988 215 Sundowner
5.7 Cobra
2001 Tandem Trail-Rite Bunk Trailer

1985 Bayliner Trophy 2160 Hardtop
Volvo AQ 125b/275
1985 Tandem EZ Loader Roller Trailer

i havent had mine on for a while but, the main bow pole connects to the front bracket on the boat the short poles connect to the black bracket on the main pole and go to the stern brackets on the boat there is a second set of brackets, like you have that are on the larger bow that the other bow attaches to
I have 2 bows 1 short 1 longer and 2 short straight poles

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

Thanks for the reply. I don't have any other brackets to attach to at the stern and from what I have gathered, they made 2 different styles of camper tops for the different models.

I have a 1993-1994 owners manual that shows some tops that have an aft support pole but for the Sundowner they do not. Actually, it is a diagram giving the dimensions of the poles and distances from the deck and such but it says that the distance for the aft pole is N/A for the 215. Since the top snaps to the hull at the rear corners, I can only assume that the main bow provides the tension to keep it up.

I have looked around the web for pictures of the camper installed but have only found 1 that is usable and it is too grainy to get any detail. Maybe I should call Four Winns and see if they could help but that would be like admitting defeat.

Thanks again and Happy Boating!

_________________
Chris Turner
1988 215 Sundowner
5.7 Cobra
2001 Tandem Trail-Rite Bunk Trailer

1985 Bayliner Trophy 2160 Hardtop
Volvo AQ 125b/275
1985 Tandem EZ Loader Roller Trailer

My buddy has a 87' 195 SD and only has 1 main bow with snaps along the windshield and straps going aft. He only has the bimini piece, not the camper enclosure sides and back. I think crossram has 2 because its a 245 Vista, so obviously a larger setup.

I can tell ya the 80' FW's were kinda odd in their bimini/camper setups, so what you have may be correct. Any chance of getting a pic with it on your boat?

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

i dont know if this will help you

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

This is what I've found on the web,




As you can see, the pictures are too fuzzy to see any detail so I was hoping somebody had the same boat with the camper that I could get pics from. I think my next move is to contact Four Winns and see where that goes.

Thanks for the pics.

_________________
Chris Turner
1988 215 Sundowner
5.7 Cobra
2001 Tandem Trail-Rite Bunk Trailer

1985 Bayliner Trophy 2160 Hardtop
Volvo AQ 125b/275
1985 Tandem EZ Loader Roller Trailer

how many vinyl pcs do you have for your top. this looks like it may help same as mine but doesnt have the back pole at the stern

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

Yep, that's what I got! I have the full enclosure, the suntop with the windows and camper top with the zip-in side panels. The rear pieces are in really good shape. If they were used, it wasn't much.

Is the main bow on your camper 7/8"? It looks like it in the picture. If it is, I think the original main bow was damaged, replaced with a piece of 1/2" that was too short and they tried to make it longer by using the bottom section cut from the original bow. With what I've got and the way it was put together, that makes sense.

Looks like I get to purchase some 7/8" tubing and do some bending!

Another quick question, does your camper frame and canvas store in the well with the suntop?

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate you taking the time on this. It means I have the chance to use the boat more!

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Chris Turner
1988 215 Sundowner
5.7 Cobra
2001 Tandem Trail-Rite Bunk Trailer

1985 Bayliner Trophy 2160 Hardtop
Volvo AQ 125b/275
1985 Tandem EZ Loader Roller Trailer

all my bow poles are 3/4 inch. Never tried to store them in the well I just fold them down when i put cover on . thats not my boat in the pic just found it on the internet.

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra