www.iFourWinns.com

I have been debating for nearly a year about whether or not to purchase an extended swim platform for my 2001 Horizon 180. I went to my local FW dealer a couple weeks ago to get a price and they quoted me $1500 not installed. Installation would run another $300-350. However, before I pull the trigger on this winter project, I wanted to see how much extra length the platform will add to the boat. I asked the dealer, but they said they did not have dimensions. Any idea how much distance there will be from the stern of the boat to the end of the swim platform?

The reason I ask is that I have limited garage space and our homeowners association does not allow us to park any type of trailer in the driveway. I currently have to park the boat diagonally in the garage to get it to clear the garage door. If I install it and the boat no longer fits in the garage, my wife will probably shoot me. Firefly, I noticed on a different page that you have a 2002 H200 with an ESP. Would you be willing to take this measurment for me? Also, does anyone know how the install would be? Access to the stern of my boat is very tight. I am especially concerned about installing the external supports if access is required from inside the boat.

Thanks for your help.

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2001 Four Winns Horizon 180LE, VP 4.3GL/SX
2006 Ford F-150 Extended Cab 4x4, 5.4L

The extended swim platform on my boat adds a full 2 feet. Installing yourselff would be possible but slightly difficult. The top is attached with large bolts that get put in holes you drill through the hull (above the water line) The bottom of the braces get crewed into the fibreglass (below the water line). I know that some of thes extended platforms were actually installed on top of the existing rear deck and I am not sure what that would do for length. I will try and post some pictures tonight after I get home from work.

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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

Not the best conditions for pictures tonight (too dark)

Here's a picture of a through bolt.



Here's a closeup



Here's a picture of the support's bottom plate



I had to use a flashlig to even get these. I will try and get a picture of the actual swim platform tomorrow.

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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

Thanks for the pictures. I am suprised at how small the screws are on the external support. Maybe the picture just makes them look smaller than they really are, but I thought they would be larger.

I was told that the platform for the 2001 H180 is supposed to fit on top of the existing platform and that the mounting bolts go down through this existing surface. This is definitely what I want because the existing platform is just wide enough to be dangerous. With a 9 month old who will be 1.5 years old next summer and most likely walking, I do not want to take the chance of him falling and hitting the out drive.

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2001 Four Winns Horizon 180LE, VP 4.3GL/SX
2006 Ford F-150 Extended Cab 4x4, 5.4L

The quote I receive from FW gave the dimensions as:

82" across
26-1/4" Top measurement
28-1/4" Bottom measurement to outside edge
5-1/2" height

The design is intended to lie over the existing platform and the top measurement comes from the middle of the boat (where the existing platform is the smallest).

Hope that helps. Otherwise PM your email address and I can forward the quote, which includes pictures.

With the extra length, I wouldn't be able to fit in my garage. So I need to suffer without

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

The only thing that would concern me here besides the length, is making sure the holes are REALLY well sealed, especially if the boat has a plywood transom, but even if it has a composite transom. Moisture in a transom core is bad no matter what the material. If wood, you get rot, if composite, you can get delamination from the 'glass if the moisture freezes inside. The plus side is that it is safer, with kids jumping off the back of the boat. I have seen a Cobalt, of all things, that had the ESP put on just a bit crooked, in that one side was lower than the other. THAT would just drive me nuts! Only other thing is that you can't change the prop with the boat in the water with an ESP in many cases, not enough clearance.

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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

Whoever fits it, make sure they use stainless hardware; my 2004 factory fitted ESP was fitted to the transom using mild steel bolts (but bizarrely they used stainless nuts!); seeing I boat in salt water it didn't take very long for extensive rust to appear. Also, the factory used aluminium washers, including where the struts attach to the ESP; it didn't take long for them to corrode and crumble away to nothing. It could be argued I suppose that they were acting as anodes, protecting the screws!

Graham

I got 26" of fun added to mine. I agree with the small size of the washers pointed out above. The dealer used 1-1/2" fender washers provided to them by swimplatforms.com on mine.

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I've got a full 2' of swim platform on my boat, on the factory ESP. Mounts the same as millhaven_nice_guy.

It is VERY nice to have, we didn't have an ESP on the last boat, just the integrated one. Having a little one, it's nice for the outdrive to be completely covered up and no risk of him jumping off the boat and hitting it.

On a side note, when are you done for the season? We're headed down to Monroe on the 11th

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Thanks for all of the info. Now I have to go home and take some measurements to see if I will have enough garage space. As far as installation, I am leaning towards having the dealer do it. I know I am fully capable to doing the install, but with a 9 month old, work, and my Masters degree classes, my plate is already pretty full The good thing is that I should be done with my degree in early May of next year.

Firecadet - I am hoping to get down to Monroe at least one more time to see the leaves change. We haven't made any plans yet, but I'll let you know if we make plans to head down on the 11th.

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2001 Four Winns Horizon 180LE, VP 4.3GL/SX
2006 Ford F-150 Extended Cab 4x4, 5.4L