www.iFourWinns.com

We are considering a 1989 Four Winns 200 with a 5.0 OMC cobra engine and would like some thoughts and opinions? The boat is a one owner, hour meter say 210 hrs, owner says the motor, bellow, and outdrive are all in working order. The interior is in great shape, floor is solid, and the hull looks good. I have done some research and discovered that OMC was bought out by Volvo. I would like to know if I should be concerned with the OMC engine and outdrive? We currently have a 1989 17' Sunbird with a 90hp outboard. We would like something a little bigger as the family is getting bigger. We only use the boat once or twice a year so we don't want to put a lot of money out. Owner is asking $2500. Should I consider or should I run? Thanks

I have a 1993 190LE, that I bought 3 years ago. I love it. With that said, the problem is parts and finding knowledgeable mechanics who can work on them. Volvo bought them out in 1994.

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1993 Horizon 190 LE, 5.0L Cobra

Same here I have a similar boat and it's bern very good but if there are no local OMC shops it would be a problem to keep going.

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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

I just talked to a local boat shop and he said the 5.0 engine and the OMC outdrive is a good setup and wouldn't be concerned that OMC is out of business. He said he has no problem getting parts. He just replaced a carb on a '88 with the 4.3. I saw the boat sitting in his yard. Does $2500 sound like a reasonable price if all is functioning well? I am also a little nervous going from a outboard to an I/O. I am a DIY and would winterize on my own.

They are not hard to work on if you are used to I/Os Because the engine compartment is not constricted with molded in fiberglass that is part of the top cap like the newer boats. But compared to an OB yes it's a lot more work.

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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

Do you think a I/O is typically more maintenance then an OB?

That's a steal for that boat, i recently sold my 1989 180 Horizon with the 4.3 V6 for $5000 in metro Detroit. Depending where you are located it is easy to source parts.

They are great boats, as long as you, and like anything else, maintain them. If you do purchase, I suggest adding the pointless ignition, new plugs, wires, cap and rotor. As well as a fuel filter to get you started. Also make sure all the drive oil is fresh, and you have a new water impeller (easy to change, on the outboard side of the drive).

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Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

There is no doubt that it is. I have kept mine in salt water for years which makes it worse but even so just winterizing involves a lot more than an OB which is self draining. If you can get to the drains and hoses its not that bad but if a boat has bad access I/O maintenance can be very difficult. That model of the Horizon has a wide open engine compartment, its about as easy to work on as an I/O can be. Much better than the newer ones.
Keep in mind the differences:
OB is self draining
OB has no gimble bearing, ujoints and bellows
OB in general is more accessible for maintenance

That said, on that style Horizon you can get at the starter, exhaust manifolds, and most of what's on the rear of the engine. Some of the newer ones are a nightmare, because of the foolish molded in styled fiberglass around the rear seats.

So if I wanted another of these boats with the I/O I would not get a newer 200 or 210 even because of the poor access. The 220 and bigger models have a bigger engine compartment where you can get at stuff.
Personally if you are used to an OB I think you might feel that this is more work that its worth, unless you really wanted to get away from the OB for some reason.

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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

I am ok with some extra work (maintenance) as i would do most of it myself. My concern is the extra cost of overall maintenance on a I/O compared to an OB. I have owned my current boat for 21 yrs and the 90Hp Mariner has been very good to me but I would like to get something a little bigger.

I am planning on going to look at the boat tomorrow (Saturday). Do you have any suggestions as to what I should pay special attention to?

I appreciate the thoughts and comments and will let you know what happens after I look at the boat.

I have had I/O boats for the last 21 years. I do all my own maintenance, and I probably average $500/year (or more) between the boat, engine, trailer, covers, batteries etc. (not counting my labor). If you are only going to use it once or twice per year, is it really worth it?

Modern 4 stroke outboards can also have expensive maintenance schedules. I know people paying $700/year for recommended maintenance on new Yamaha outboards (not counting the boat or trailer expenses).

Ethanol Gas is also a problem for a boat that doesn't get used often. "Recreational Gas" or "Marina Gas" (non-ethanol) is the only way to go if it will sit for many months at a time.

So yes, the boat sounds like a good value if it does not have rotten stringers or rotted transom, but for your "once or twice per year" usage, you could be better off with an old 2-stroke outboard.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Run Forest, Run

Using it 1 or 2 times a year find a lake where they rent boats. Much better option.

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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

Like said above. Check the transom for rot!!!! I had a 1990 190 SS and it was pristine, or so I thought, only to later figure-out the transom was mush.....

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Jimbo
Na. Ga.

2000 170 Horizon LS
4.3GL

Other then looking in the engine compartment and pushing on the floor, how do you check the transom and stringers for rot?

Those boats have a big removable hatch that covers the gas tank. If you remove the screws and lift that up you will see the tops of the main stringers and the framing around the gas tank. See if the wood there is wet and rotting.
In the engine compartment look at the engine mounting pads; any cracking of the fiberglass means that the wood inside is rotted. Grab each helm seat and try to rock it back and forth. If the seat mounts are loose or you see the deck flexing that's a sign of rot. For the transom on the inside look for dark stains under the glass which suggest wet and rotted areas. Go out back and look for cracks in the gel coat around the transom mount. Grab the outdrive and try to flex it up and down, the transom should not flex at all....

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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