www.iFourWinns.com

The plain cream seating is nearly as ugly as the sea-foam green hull, ick.

The mis-matched galley wood is ugly. As is the fake stainless door insert. Personally I hate stainless finishes as they're a pain in the ass to keep smudge-free. For a commercial kitchen that sees nearly 24x7 use? Sure, as you really need a durable and cleanable (sanitary) surface. But for residential it's a complete waste.

I too, would REALLY miss the storage cabinets behind the sofa. It doesn't look like it's any further to port than in my 348. The arms are different and it also appears to be one whole cushion instead of sections (even though the entire base flips up as one). I wonder how the inserts to make it into a berth are supposed to work? Or perhaps it is actually "a bit" deeper and those are no longer used? Which would be fine by me as mine never actually get used (and are home in the attic).

The TV is optional, not everyone wants one. I note the absence of wood mini-blinds. I'd never go without mine, but they're optional too.

I note there's a new grab rail in the cockpit behind the captain's seating. Smoke door is nice, but if I want the cabin darker I just slide the screen closed too. I also note the forward canvas panels now have the flap set up so it rolls downward? Not sure I like that.

I despise the transom seating concept. It's just dumb. I almost wish someone would be stupid enough to ride out there underway and suffer some heinous injuries.... if only to convince the vendors it's a stupid idea from a lawsuit perspective. Note, I said "almost".

Very odd to see black counter in the galley but not in the head or up in the cockpit. What's up here? Is this some sort of prototype? Or pictures mixed between different boats?

Otherwise, it looks like they're sticking with a winning design!

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

As far as I can tell from where I sourced these pictures, it is one boat - not a combination of shots. With a little more digging I found that it is a dealer demo for sale and in any event, it's obviously a very early production model, probably made just before they shut down the line for the '08's. The wooden blinds were replaced by curtains after 2007 and not offered as an option (although some of us were able to get them - they still show the boat with them on the website for '08). The grab rail behind the captain's seating was new on the '08's. The TV was standard in '08 - I imagine it is in '09.

I keep looking at these shots side-by-side and it's hard to see what was gained by eliminating the storage, unless it was part of their goal to lighten up the cabin and make it feel more roomy. When I go in the cabin of similarly sized cruisers that don't have so much cabinetry they sometimes have the illusion of feeling more spacious. That said, I love the feel of the cabin in my V358 and, as we all know, storage is never enough on ANY boat. Plus, I had enough room to carefully go Wii bowling in the salon during a rainstorm last weekend! Nothing quite like the reaction when you tell your friends you just went bowling on your new boat

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

See post "2009 Vista's" Same color treatment on 2009 338 Vista interior.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

OK colors are a personal thing but the light wood seem like a throwback to the 80's, it may look better in person and styles do tend to cycle. The cockpit seating color is also odd, again it may be better in person but the contrasting colors and piping on the older models are gone. A powder blue hull would look good on a fishing boat.

The couch seems deeper in the new model. In the pictures you can see the back is near the front of the electrical panel door in the old boat and closer to the back in the new one. Maybe they found a way to make that a bigger berth or keep it the same size and get rid of the fillers.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

The new sofa looks like it has less of a curve to the back, and the armrest is angled. But the base looks to be in about the same place. The top edge does look to be a bit farther over to port. That and the white vinyl could contribute to making it 'feel more spacious'. But then the bolster above that appears to be in yet another color of vinyl? That's odd. Now, it could be attributable to less-than-ideal lighting but I doubt it. I just hate long sections of vinyl on seating. It means any repairs are going to a) visible or b) a lot more expensive.

Are your porholes on different levels? I've never looked that closely at mine, but in that picture they do seem that way.

Also looks like a different thermostat control for the AC.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

So glad I have the 2008. I think they have really decontented the boat for 2009. The light color cabinets take away from the "classiness" of the interior. The loss of the cabinets above the settee is a big mistake. We need those! The seat color outside looks hideous to me. Would need to see that butterscotch color in person before I judge it but from the pics, no good!

Color schemes for the interior are not to my liking. Hope the change in the fridge added the missing light. I have a light in the cockpit fridge but not the galley, that doesn't make much sense to me.

Looks like the GPS is different too. I can't wait to find out what those gauges are near the fireboy.

I would rather have the rumble seat on the stern than the useless storage space in the transom locker. We added fender racks on the bow rails and we love them since we raft up every weekend. The storage space was worthless and I want to find out how I can retro fit to get that rumble seat. Oh, we also don't keep our lines in the locker since it gets wet. Since I am having so many service issues, I think I am going to ask for the rumble seat!

BTW, for those with a cockpit cover, I think they are supposed to come with cut outs for the aft bimini poles but not 100% sure yet, I will let you know!

Anyone with a new 358 get their galvonic isolators working properly yet? Any other new boat issues out there to report? We seem to be doing ok so far. Have a short in the ground wires that is causing things to not work but have a handle on where the problem is.

Someone mentioned the two position LED lighting in the cockpit on an earlier post, this is not the way it is supposed to be and is indicative of a ground issue as I have. Have that checked out ASAP!

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2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

GPS looks like an E80 to me - same as what I have.

The bane of my existence with this boat has been the cabin doors. The screen door not opening properly was a punch list item for me from my initial shakedown. The dealer tried to solve it by adjustments but that only made the problem worse and now the main door is so hard to deal with that, well let's just say I'm glad I don't have anger management issues.
The dealer now says that the port lounger backrest will have to come out so holes can be drilled to file down the track - all stuff I won't be aware of once it's put back together. That is supposed to take place tomorrow and I'll report back.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Well I have been spending every weekend out our 358 and loving it. Those pics of the new 09 look hideous if you ask me. If I went to the boat show and saw that boat I would not have purchased a FourWinns. As for other issues with the 08 here are my findings:

1) Galvonic Isolators - The green lights are only supposed to be on when the panel lights are turned on. My dealer got a copy of the wiring diagram for it and sais that it is wired correctly.

2) Gas gauges - I had an engine failure 2 weeks ago. Initially I thought I had a bad gas gauge because after filling the port tank (gas overflowing) the gauge only read half a tank. I put gas in the starboard tank but not as much as I originally calculated because the port tank filled so quickly. When I checked the gauge for the starboard tank it showed full. The Port was only showing half. I explained what happened to the dealer and he agreed it was probably a bad sender unit from the port tank. The next weekend the starboard enging died while we were cruising. Luckily on the way home and we almost back. Turns out the Gas gauges were crossed wired. The port tank that showed only a half tank was actually reading the starboard tank. Moral to the story....Next gas up fill one engine then turn on ignition to see what the gauge shows. Make sure the tank you just filled shows full before putting gas in the other engine.

3) The creek in the walk through was fixed by my dealer during 20 hour service. Don't know what he did but it has been silent ever since.

4) I was getting some water in the bilge after a heavy rain which has stopped since I had the dealer seal the gap under the hinged arch base with 5200.

5) The compartment where the shower sump is has been dry. I would suggest tasting the water to see if it is salty or plain.

6) Depth sounder never works when cruising. I do not have a bow thruster. At slow speed it works just fine.

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2008.Fourwinns V358
1999 SeaRay340 Sundancer
1989 SeaRay 260 Cuddy

I agree with the comments on the 09, we have had a week on our new 358 08 model, no problem with the Galvonic convertor, same problem with depth and rear locker, we ran up from Fort Lauderdale to Stuart yesterday 80 Miles used just over 1/4 of a tank each side so that should be around 60 gallons not bad, ran 3500 rpm 24/25 Kts 300HP VP I\O flat out 35Kts gps speed.

Bed very comfortable, very good handling, pin came out of the shower door, and i had a blockage in the port full tank, A\C very good and quiet, in general very good (apart from sink drain!!!)

Sean

Don't let a defective $10 part ruin your day...

My starboard engine quit the other day for, at the time, no explicable reason. Fortunately, I was able to limp to a nearby town dock where I was traveling and began troubleshooting with my mechanic on the phone - who was a rock star for answering his cell on his day off and walking me through it. It took a while to figure it out, but it turned out to be a bad fuel pump relay. Luckily, there was an auto parts store nearby and the problem was solved with only a two hour delay to my trip. Had I been further along I would have truly been in the middle of nowhere so Neptune was on my side.

Spare fuel pump relays are now a part of my spare kit. FW gives you some backup fuses but not relays. A few extras would be a worthwhile investment.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Took the boat out of the water today. The performance was down. Could not stay on plane at 4000 rpms. Could not get the boat above 30 mph. The bottom was really fouled with algae and gunk. Pressure washed the bottom and the drives, took her out on the water and PRESTO! back on track...........I think the dealer used cheap bottom paint or we have a real dirty river. Could be both!

For those NOVA people on here. There is a new dealer:http://www.onestopboatshop.com/ who should be taking over the FW line. Hope they work out better than my last dealer!

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2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

Better Luck - glad to hear the problem had a non-mechanical solution!

I am about to take the plunge on stepping up the ship's systems battery. I only just realized that they used the same group 27 cranking battery as the systems battery which won't carry the same amp hours as a proper deep cycle (from what I understand). The largest group 27 amp hours I'm finding is 100. I plan to get two and do a parallel circuit. There is just enough space aft of the port gas tank to fit the new battery. I am curious if anyone has had success with a second battery install in a 348/358. I've read back at Bill's posts about the two 6V batteries in series and I'm thinking about going that way, but will more likely try this (seemingly simpler) route first.

Thoughts?

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

WAIT! Stop the presses! Sierra, I think you have the wrong battery. I have two blue topped cranking batteries that are glass? or gel? and one "maintenance free" regular lead acid battery that is my house battery. I think you should check with FW or your dealer to be sure you have the correct house battery. It should not be a gel it should be a regular lead acid type battery.

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2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

I think the batteries are installed by the dealer from local sources. We probably all have different brands.

Be careful about mixing battery types. Regular flooded batteries, either starting or deep cycle have a one set of charging needs. AGM batteries have slightly different needs. Gel cell batteries have yet another set of charging needs. Usually you can set the charger to the type of battery. But since the boat has one charger with three outputs, I don't think you can set each output to a different type of battery.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

I respectfully disagree with you "J" FW advertises in their brochure that they use Interstate batteries and that is exactly what I have in my 358. Also, one or more of the three types of batteries is not good at deep cycle use. I want to say it is the AGM type. I have two of those for cranking and one "Flooded" or lead acid battery for the house. All seem to be working fine with the charger, although, I wonder if that is why my "house breaker" keeps on popping. I will go searching to find that info out and report back!

If you don't have Interstate batteries you ought to check with your dealer as those are specified per FW. I kind of recall hearing that they have some sort of way to check that the dealers put the right stuff in but not sure what that method would be............?

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2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE