www.iFourWinns.com

hey guys, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm 27 with a fiance and a 2 year old daughter and just picked up an 87 sd225b with a mercruiser 260 and alpha 1 for a steal. it isnt the prettiest but mechanically its all there. pretty excited to get out on the water, as this is my first boat. I grew up on the water and my parents always had boats but this is the first i've owned. it seems like it would be perfect for my little family for overnights, going to tices, tubing, etc. only real problems with the boat are that its missing all the cuddy cushions and the jumpseat cushions. she needs a polish for sure. anybody else have one of these around my year? id like to see what other 225s around 87 look like. mine has some weird integrated gauge setup. also, does anyone know where the batteries are? boat currently has snow sitting in it (camper top is pretty shot out) so i havent been able to remove the doghouse to peek at the engine or surrounding areas.

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1987 225 sundowner merc 260/alpha 1

Welcome!
Always nice to see another "vintage" 225 owner on the site. Mine is a 1984. Coloring is dated, but all the cushions on mine are in good shape. I polished mine up and have been receiving compliments at the launch and the beach on a regular basis. Feels pretty good to have an old "cheap" boat that looks better than many newer boats floating around here!
Post some pics of yours when you can!

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-Andrew

1984 Four Winns 225 Sundowner
5.0L Mercruiser, Alpha 1

Here are some pics of mine:
http://s1272.photobucket.com/user/Andre ... a/library/

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-Andrew

1984 Four Winns 225 Sundowner
5.0L Mercruiser, Alpha 1

that definitely looks better than mine.

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1987 225 sundowner merc 260/alpha 1

mine

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1987 225 sundowner merc 260/alpha 1

Should clean up if the bones are good! Looks like bottom paint on yours? I didn't have to deal with that on mine. I would guess you'll need to sand and re-coat that.

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-Andrew

1984 Four Winns 225 Sundowner
5.0L Mercruiser, Alpha 1

In reference to the bottom paint, if the boat was used in salt water the first thing you should check is the manifolds/risers, they may need replacement.
You probably already know this but that winch stand has to come back and the boat needs to move forward to meet it. Not safe to tow it like that. Does the trailer have electric/hydraulic brakes? I see a battery case there on the tongue.

Bottom paint and a galvanized trailer suggest salt water use to me but who knows.

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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

the boat is a saltwater boat. the trailer is my buddys. its a dual winch trailer to load/unload boats. we had to grab it off cinderblocks. its solid but not very pretty. and i just found out that the boat is not self bailing... it snowed and there was an inch of water on the floor just aft of the cuddy doors. the camper top is pretty well worn.

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1987 225 sundowner merc 260/alpha 1

Did you tale the plug out? If you can try to get it to drain

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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

the transom drain plug is out. are you saying theres a plug on the floor by the cuddy door?
i was considering putting a drain on the floor by the door and run it to a shower drain box.

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1987 225 sundowner merc 260/alpha 1

My sundowner has 3 holes on the vertical wall behind the cuddy door that lead back through the fuel tank area and allow water to travel through there back into a similar set of holes into the bilge by the engine. Needless to say, this set-up dies not allow perfect drainage, and I have done my best to keep all the holes clear and clean.
That being said, if there is water collecting in the cuddy area- something is leaking that shouldn't. Besides insuring your cover has no holes and is waterproofed, check the windows, rub rail, hatch, and under the windshield. Those are the most likely areas for a leak. I've had to re-seal one of my windows and my hatch shortly after I bought my boat. I actually passed on a couple other boats because there was evidence of water damage inside that corresponded with a rub-rail leak. Currently my windshield does leak where it meets the fiberglass, but only with a very heavy rain. To mitigate the issue I place a couple towels and/or chamois on the dash. This works okay as a stop-gap measure until I finally make the time / take the effort to pull the glass and re-bed.

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-Andrew

1984 Four Winns 225 Sundowner
5.0L Mercruiser, Alpha 1

my camper top is all messed up and nowhere near waterproof. im going to have to see if the boat is equipped with those drains you were talking about.

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1987 225 sundowner merc 260/alpha 1

There has to be a way for water that gets into the cuddy, to drain through the gas tank compartment and into the engine bilge. The bowriders usually have one big hole that is in the forward bulkhead for the gas tank coffin.

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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

Welcome! Boat will be great and your will have a lot of fun with the kids. Water should drain back, I have 2 holes on 215 of same vintage near door. Perhaps try raising trailer tongue up more to allow water to flow back?

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

thanks. i will have to look. the ice is finally melting today... finally got the engine hatch off today.

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1987 225 sundowner merc 260/alpha 1