www.iFourWinns.com

Hello everyone,

This is a fantastic board and a great resource for information, excellent pictures, etc. I have just signed a deal on a new 08 210SS in yellow and will be picking it up tomorrow morning after a water test. I could not be more excited as I have done a ton of reseach and spent several days out at various dealers looking into Doral, Chapparal, etc. The 210SS seems to be a great value and I expect some great performance out of the 5.7 GXI Volvo motor!! Other options on this boat are bow filler cushiion, compass, under swim platform lighting and I think that is about it. I wish it had the stereo upgrade but I will likely take it to a professional for a nice system install as I am not that handy.

My only other boat was a 17' Campion bowrider with a four stroke Mercury 115 ouboard. I would imagine the 210SS is like a Corvette while my Campion was a Honda Civic. The Campion was comfortable for a small boat and got unbelieveable fuel economy but it wasnt any good on rough days and we had a cottage on an island and it felt pretty small when I was loading a bunch of guests and all their stuff into it. With 5 adults and 3 kids it was a low rider in the water.

I live in Ontario Canada and plan on using this boat on a lot of different lakes but wonder how this boat will handle some of the bigger water on Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Any comments would be appreciated.

Also wondering about break in period as I have two conflicting ideas on this. Some people tell me to take it pretty easy and stay away from full throttle acceleration and no top end runs. I also talked to a salesman who said run it like you stole it. Better to seat the motor in hard and if anything is going to break it will likely happen early on and be looked after under warranty. Thoughts on this?

Also wondering what a realistic top speed will be with the stock prop once broken in?

We have a fantastic weather forecast for the next 5 or 6 days up here so I plan on getting some serious hours out on the water. I'll take a ton of pics and get a report back to you all next week.

Long weekend here I come!!

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2008 H210SS Yellow VP 5.7 GXi 320 HP (sold May 2010)
2008 Mercedes ML 320 CDI Diesel

Welcome Aboard!

That sounds like a nice boat! There are a couple of others here in that colour.

Where do you boat? What dealer did you buy it at?

I am on Lake Ontario (Kingston) and with my previous boat (H200) we had no problems with waves. We were even out in five footers one afternoon! You just have to adjust your driving to suit the conditions. I noticed that the ride in my H260 is alot smoother than my H200 and i'm sure you will see a difference between this boat and your previous one mostly due to weight increase and deadrise.

I can't help you on the breaking in thing because I have never bought a brand new boat. But I think there are many here that will tell you to run it at 3000 rpm or less with an occassional elevated rpm for the first 20 hours. By the way, 3000 rpm should give you around 30 mph with the stock setup.

Enjoy your boat!

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Drive it like you will always drive it, just make sure the engine has reached temp.

You can expect high 50 mph range (don't know the Kilometer)




Nice choice BTW!
& you better have pics up soon after delivery......

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

Cool - good (for me at least) to have another Canuck around here and with another 210. Welcome and congrats on a really sweet kit. There is another new 220 SS on in yellow on here this week as well.
Did you get the high windshield or the black bikini windshield? That would be the only thing I would concerned with on those huge Ontario lakes - even though the bikini is arguably nicer looking I would want the shelter from the taller glass.
The 210 handles like a 'caddy in the rough stuff with the heart of a 'vette - though where I boat is a puddle in comparison to Ontario. Our lake runs North - South and the prevailing winds (never stop) can churn it up fairly well. In my previous 16' it would beat me constantly & mecilously but in the 210 I can hardly notice it. Even a nasty wake from larger boats (granted, I think some 26' cruisers are about as big as they get on my pond) does not seem to jar the 210 unless you hit them at too narrow an angle.
Its about as big & small as is a breeze to trailer - stable & true on the highway and easy enough to manuver the city.
Man, you are really going to appreciate the difference from where you are upgrading from - size, ride & power - just like I did.
I got the bow-filler (wife loves it) and the swim lights too. The lights look sick at night - like you are getting chase by a glowing blue spray - a real bargain at what they charge for the option. Just do a search and see what some companies charge for some underwater kits that you have to install . Make them give you the trailering cover as well as the canvas. Both kits are nice but I like the trailer cover for anytime she is on the trailer.
I am just breaching the 10hr point so I will be able to get some top speed numbers soon but from what the dealer showed me and from what I have read with good trim you should be able to tickle 60.
On break-in, I only partially believe the run it like you stole it should be saved for the last season you have with warranty. I am a believer in a proper break in = properly seated rings, bearings etc. There is a reason they ask you to do it. Luck usually has it that you will run the guts out of it and an engine that would have otherwise lasted with proper break-in will fail miserably the day after warrenty ends. Just bear with the break-in as described in the manual, the salesman can say run her hard because he won't have to pay for the new engine!
I suspect (though I am not sure) they can probably read the way it was driven from the ECU (my last boat recorded) and if it fails they may back away if you haven't followed break-in.
Also, I am a firm believer in letting it warm to temp before running it hard or under load and also letting the temp come back down before shutting her off. Run her cold and you will burn rings and wear bearings & valve gear fast.
LONG WEEKEND YEAH ! ! !
Oh, and like everyone else gets told (though I recognize you said you would work on it) No pic - it didn't happen! Bring your camera and appease the IFW crowd with a cool test-drive / delivery / home splash story or something.

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

Thanks for the feedback. I did get the higher windshield swap out and figure I will be better off with that. My tow rig is an 08 Mercedes ML320 CDI - diesel. Rated for 7200 lbs so I think I will be fine with this boat. I will ask for a trailer cover tomorrow although we already negotiated the deal. They are throwing in 4 lifejackets and all the safety gear but not lines, fenders, etc.

I guess it will be realitivly relaxed weekend. I will break her in as per the manual I guess!

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2008 H210SS Yellow VP 5.7 GXi 320 HP (sold May 2010)
2008 Mercedes ML 320 CDI Diesel

Welcome and sounds like a nice boat, Post up some pics when you get a chance.

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

Also wondering about break in period as I have two conflicting ideas on this. Some people tell me to take it pretty easy and stay away from full throttle acceleration and no top end runs. I also talked to a salesman who said run it like you stole it. Better to seat the motor in hard and if anything is going to break it will likely happen early on and be looked after under warranty. Thoughts on this?

Also wondering what a realistic top speed will be with the stock prop once broken in?

A typical break-in on ANY PRODUCTION gas engine would be to run at 1/3 of Max RPM for initial break-in then 1/2 - 2/3rds of Max RMP for twice as long as first step of the break-in period and then balls to the walls after that keeping a close eye on our Motor Oil level due to faster oil comsumption till the pistion rings are properly seated. Your paitentce will pay you back with a better running and longer lasting engine. In the Four Winns Engine Manual it does'nt follow this time proved break-in method, but my Four Winns dealer said to run 25-30 mph for the first 2 hrs.of run time, then 35-40 mph till 4 hrs. are on the engine and after that your good to go. It's best to very the engine speed frequently during break-in and not to stress the engine with a big load.
Your dealer rep. is right about seeing breakdowns early if His / Her's costomers are following his advice. My boat goes 7 MPH faster(GPS Checked) than the factory spec. and is getting very good fuel economy (for a heavy boat). I've been racing and a mechanic for over thirty years and learned from others much more skilled than I and this is the method they have all used and taught for generations.
My 220 SS GI/SX is good for 58 MPH with appox. 300lb. of weight in the boat. If you have the dual prop it will cut in to your top speed some, but you still should see 55+ MPH Good luck.

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Mike
Smithville, MO
08' Hayabusa, 2011 Subaru Outback, 03' Infiniti G-35 S.C.

Busacharger has it nailed - oh, and the break-in I referred to was in the Volvo manual - don't remember seeing much in the FW manual.

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

I've always been told to just feather it through the RPM range up to WOT and not keep it at any single RPM level very long The last 2 rebuilds on my ATV motor, I would seat the piston and break in the cam this way when "others" told me not to and I've never had a problem. I did this witht he boat and havent had any problems either. I ve only got 40 hours on it though.

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2007 Four Winns 220SS (Sold!!)
2006 Toyota Tacoma