www.iFourWinns.com

Hi everyone,
This is my first post on this site as I am contemplating the purchase of a 1993 Horizon 230. The boat is owned by a family friend, and they are the original owners. The boat has an OMC Cobra outdrive, and a 5.0 engine. In the past I have borrowed the boat, and I have enjoyed the boat greatly. This would be my first boat. I have been boating for many years, just never owned a boat myself. This boat seems to fit my needs well.
The boat has always been used in a fresh water lake, and has never seen salt water. There is no bottom paint on the boat either. What are the pro's and con's of the 1993 Horizon 230? Is there a specific problem area with the boat? How big is the gas tank? What is the usual gas consumption of the above boat? In general is the 1993 Horizon a good quality boat? At the moment the boat has a broken windshield, what might that cost to replace? How heavy is the boat?
Are there any specific problems with the 5.0 Cobra OMC set - up? Is the boat easy to maintain?

Sorry for the long post, I just want as much information as possible before buying the boat.

Thank you,
Zack

Also would a boat this size be able to go on an ocean cruise? NOt far out, but on the ocean?


Thanks,
Zack

OK I am going to be straight with you on this. Firstly this boat is now 15 years old. If it was not stored properly, you can have rot in the deck, stringers and transom which makes the boat unsafe and prohibitively expensive to repair. Been there, done that (deck and stringer replacement) with my '88 Horizon. Second that is an OMC Cobra. Got one of those too. OMC is out of business for over 10 years. It's not that easy to find mechanics that know how to work on Cobras and some of the parts are getting to be hard to find. A lot is available in the aftermarket but it is not all what I'd call first quality. My Cobra has been pretty good as far as problems, but I am lucky in that I have a local shop that knows how to adjust the shift linkage and take care of things a good do it yourselfer can't do. Call around and see how many shops local to you, will actually work on a Cobra. I bet many don't.

Do yourself a favor, if you want a FW, get a newer one, with a fiberglass floor liner, that has either Merc or Volvo power.

_________________
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

WOW, I didn't realize that OMC was gone! I will call some local shops to see if they deal with OMC. I guess the only sure fire thing to do with this boat is to have a survey done?


Zack

What kind of price are they asking? What else can you get for the same money? I just sold my 1990 20 foot Thompson cuddy for just under $7,000. I got more than a fair amount for it. Check KBB and NADA for values. If you are shopping for a boat, you are in the drivers seat, not the seller. It is a buyers market.

_________________
2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

We didn't talk price, however what would be fair for this boat in good condition, except for the broken windshield? A price should keep some repairs in mind?


Thanks,
Zack

It's hard to estimate used values since they vary so much by condition. The OMC power will make it worth a lot less than if it had a Merc. The windshield, if you can get the part (if it was made by Water Bonnet you may be able to) is not a major repair, but if it had a Taylor Made windshield, the part may be no longer available. I got some windshield glass for my '88 from Water Bonnet for a couple of hundred bucks and installed it myself. If you contact FW by e-mail they can probably tell you the OE manufacturer of the windshields for that year boat.

I still say go newer! It's a shame really that OMC is gone because a properly adjusted Cobra, shifts better than a Merc alpha and has an easy to replace impeller (Alpha requires you drop the lower unit like an OB).
You have to be practical and owning an orphan make is no fun.

_________________
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 have a 94 Horizon 180 and love it so far. I also have the 5.0L OMC Cobra. The motor runs my boat fine but one that is 23 feet or so long might have a little trouble pushing the boat. As for fuel useage I think it does quite well. We will use about a half a tank (16 or so gallons) in 3 times out. So we fill up about every three times out. I would be carefull of the gauges. Ours has problems. The Fuel gauge quit working the first time we took it out (worked on the test drive and didn't work the next day after we purchased it) and the depth guage goes on fritz every now and then. But all in all a very good boat.
Just my .02

_________________
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

Hang on guys! Are we jumping the gun here with respect to the OMC thing. My 1998 had a 5.0 GL OMC motor with a Volvo SX outdrive. If I remember correctly the sticker said "Cobra SX" or the air cleaner said "cobra" somewhere on that boat it said cobra anyways. Apparently there were some transition years. i would think a 2003 would have a SX behind that 5.0.
Actually, the Four Winns site doesn't even list a 230 for 2003 and it only has a SX or DP available behind a 5.0. See the chart attached. 2001 is the last year that a 230 was available.
http://assets2.fourwinnsmarketing.com/past_product/specs//2003/11%20240%20Horizon%20(p35-40).pdf

It's alot of boat for a 5.0 with SX but if you just want to cruise and if it fits your budget... You can always trade up later as many of us have. From the reseach I did last Fall, a boat in excellent condition of that age would be worth between $12000 and $15000. Here is what NADA says
http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx?LI=1-24-38-5697-0-0-0&l=1&w=24&p=38&f=5698&m=0660&d=1600071431&y=2003&ml=F&gc=mr&gtc=MR

_________________
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

Don't forget that anyone with a Volvo that has a BLACK engine block is using an OMC engine. The true Volvo motors (actually they are all GM) are red.

_________________
2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

I have an 02 Sundowner, with a 5.7GI with Duo Prop.
this is Volvo motor correct?

Definitely.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

OK here is some OMC history for you newer Horizon guys:
For one thing, OMC bought FW in around 1986 or so, that is why so many FWs from that time period had OMC power, the OMC power packages were cheaper than Merc packages.
The pure OMC Cobra came out for the 1986 model year, with the dog clutch shifting. It was made that way till 93. In 90 they came out with a cone clutch drive for the big blocks because the dog clutch version did not hold up well with the big block motors. In 93-94 OMC and Volvo went into a joint venture operation and the Cobra was redesigned, with Volvo's input and at the same time Volvo came out with their own version of the Cobra, which shared some transom castings with the previous pure OMC model but had cone clutch shifting in the upper unit. This became the SX drive (initially called Cobra SX) and the OMC Cobras built from the 94-98 years were identical to the Volvo. In 98 or so Volvo bought out OMC's interest in the joint venture and that was it for OMC in sterndrives.

So if you have a 94 boat it COULD be the newer joint venture product, but it also could be a 93 powertrain with the old style pure OMC drive. The joint venture ones are to be preferred because you can get parts from Volvo and Volvo techs can work on them. Good to keep in mind if looking at an older FW. You really have to check the serial #s to figure out the year of the engine package, but anyone who has seen both can tell the difference just by looking. The pure OMC model has a flat cover across the top of the drive, the Volvo has a 'hump' in the top cover.

Like I said, too bad OMC had financial problems, the dog clutch Cobra was really not a bad drive and properly adjusted shifts fine. But I would not advise someone to buy one now, 15 years after the last true pure OMC's were built. From what I heard, Bombardier is not making new parts for these drives and some items are already hard to find. As are mechanics who can adjust them right.

_________________
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

Wow! Ignore my post about 2003. Sorry I somehow got very confused. And I put alot of effort into that sucker. I guess I should start reading back down the post to make sure I am responding to the right thing.
Lou Thanks for the insight! Your information is what tipped me off to the fact that something was amiss abouit my response!

_________________
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

I like the new signature pix Marc.

_________________
2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP