www.iFourWinns.com

I am in the processing of buying this boat. Last summer I bought a 1975 Reinell that needed to be restored and decided that I want to be on the lake not in my shop. I am trying to purchase this boat in the next 2 weeks. It has no rot and has lots of new parts. Owners are builders who have lost everything in the economic downturn. They just had the motor rebuilt less than 30 hours ago. They are asking 4000.00.

1988 Four Winns I/O with new rebuilt 350 Chevy motor and upholstry, very nice. Over $10,000. invested. Includes new cover and Garmin fish finder.

http://bend.craigslist.org/boa/977164455.html

Todd

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Should be great boat for the price. What outdrive is on the boat? Merc or Volvo is fine. Yamaha, don't touch it. If it is an OMC, you may have some issues finding repair parts down the road. Other dig issue would be a rotten floor. Make sure the the floor is firm and not spongy.

_________________
Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx? ... =MR&gtc=MR

It looks like they are asking list price. You could probably talk them down a bit more, even with the Garmin (about $300 new)and cover (about $100 new). Offer $3500. I wouldn't go over $3800 with the market as it is today.
... also, I'd get a profesional marine inspection (hull, engine, electrical) done before making an offer. It's well worth the money.

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

I agree with you guys completely about the inspection. I will find out what outdrive it is. The motor was built by a local marine builder so I can talk to him first hand about the rebuild.

Thanks for the advice.

Todd

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

I think that is a very reasonable price considering the condition. People are still asking $5000+ here for similar boats in the metro Detroit area. Sure the OMC isnt the cheapest to repair, but considering the price of the boat what can you expect. In our history with OMC drives we haven't had many problems, just make sure you change the water pump impeller to know it is fresh ($40 kit) and service the drive and you should be fine.

I am sure if you showed up with $3800 cash they wouldn't turn you down. Go for it.!

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

Got some more information. The boat had a 305 in it and the first year they had it they did not get it winterized good enough and the block cracked. They then had it all rebuilt with a 5.7 in it's place. It does have the omc cobra outdrive. The boat is in tremendous shape. I still want to talk to the guy who did the rebuild and check a couple more things, but it looks like I will have a new toy to put in the shop and wait to play with.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Just a thought.... besides getting it checked out by a mech, maybe wait until you can get a test drive. Even if it means putting down a refundable deposit until such time.

The people who bought my old boat were not previous boat owners. The paid and picked it up in March (I did make numerous suggestions for a test drive, even if it meant waiting on the transaction), and had thier "boat mechanic" check it out. Supposedly everything ran fine. A month later I recieved a disturbing E-mail that it nearly sank on the first outing. They had left the engine drain plugs out. Obviously, so had thier "mechanic". I quickly pointed them to the outfit that does my work, and they've been happy ever since. The moral is get professional help, but check things out for your self fully as well!

Good luck, and congrat's!

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

^^^ that is an excellent idea.

I was searching all summer, and finally started to get serious in October. I was test riding one on the 16th and while out on the lake noticed condencation on the flame arrestor, while being on the other side of the lake hurried to get it back to the dock. Pulled the dip stick and valve covers, and sure enough peanut butter! I was able to walk away no problem.

The one i ended up purchasing I was able to run mine on Lake St. Clair on the 25th of Oct, on a 35 degree day. I am glad I did. The few cosmetic issues were over ridden by the suburb mechanics of the boat.


Best of luck as well! and also congrats!! These boats were ahead of their time, they look just as good or better than some of the newer boats on the water!

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

I have the same boat, but with the sunsport seating with the big sun pad and the bench seat across the back. Mine has a 4.3 4-bbl V-6 and the Cobra drive. Check the floor very carefully, especially around the mounts for the seats and at the ski locker. Mine had a lot of rot that was not apparent when we first got it back in 2002. As it turned out we wound up doing a patch job in 2003 but by 2005 it was clear that most of the deck had to be replaced along with stringer repairs. I did about 1/2 of it myself but it still wound up costing a lot to get it done, I had the 'glass shop do the stringers for me and the final 'glassing of the deck so I could get rid of the carpet for good. Carpet over plywood floors in an open boat is just a bad bad thing. You will get rot unless the boat is stored in a garage and allowed to air out well. The boat was mechanically good once a few problems were worked out. Still has the original 4.3 V-6, the Cobra has needed a few seals replaced but nothing major. Make sure you can get a shop that will work on OMCs, many will not, and some parts are getting hard to find from Bombardier, but many are available from Sierra in the aftermarket. It is a good running hull, a safe and stable boat and easy to handle for a beginner. The 21 degree deadrise makes it a true deep vee hull with a stable ride for its size.

_________________
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

What is the best way to determine if there is rot? I plan on looking around the motor and seats. I have some good pencil lights and mag light and mirrors to help me out. I am a large aka fat man 310 pounds. If the floor is soft will I be able to tell just walking on it? I have been around boats my entire life and my family has owned a couple. My uncle has owned his 1978 beach craft for 25 years now and will also be going with me so I wont be walking into this blind. The more eyes the better. If the weather warms up the owners had no issue with me taking it out for a test ride. Just need to find a lake with no ice.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Mine has a touch of rot. It is easy to tell, the floor will be spongy and squishy. Typically it seems to be found around the gas tank cover and the seats. You will be able to tell right away.

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

Thanks a bunch I figured as much.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

If you can walk around the floor in slippers or flip flops you can feel it flex more that way, also tap the floor with a plastic hammer, good wood makes a sharp rap, rotted wood makes a dull thud. Take the cover off the ski hatch, and with gloves on (watch out for sharp fiberglass edges and carpet staples!) see if you can pull up and down on the wood. See if the screws holding in the seat mounts are tight or stripped out. Try to flex the seats back and forth. Sniff the carpet (damp, mildew smell?). The contruction of the deck/stringers on mine was pretty poor in my opinion. The deck had only a thin coat of 'glass on it, none of the holes for the seat mounts were sealed, the deck was stapled down to the stringers (more holes not sealed) with a ton of nasty rusted staples, and the stringers were only glassed up about 1/2 way. The gas tank mounts were flimsy firring strips screwed into the stringers, when I took it all apart, 2 of the 4 of them were rotted off! When I was done with it, the stringers were redone professionally, fully glassed, the deck was both glued to the stringers with 3M 4200 and attached with stainless screws, all screw holes were filled with 4200. I also built all new mahogany mounts for the gas tank, that are much more solid than what they used originally.
I'd never buy any boat with plywood floors covered with carpet, period! I had the glass shop glass in the new floor and coat it with non skid gelcoat. Now the boat has carpet only on the side panels, not at all on the floor. The boat is now much stronger than when it was built. It takes rough water with no flexing or noise. In the end it came out well, but the repairs came close to the value of the boat, which typically is what happens in fixing boats this old.

_________________
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

Thanks for all the great info. I am going for a final inspection and picking the boat up on saturday. Called the cobra mechanic I know and trust and he actually sold this boat to the people originally and has been servicing it ever since. He has worked on our family's boats for the past 20 years. Makes me feel a lot better about the purchase. Will post pics once I get it. It is 60 out today and perfect lake weather but I will have to winterize the boat since my shop is not insulated yet. Oh well just wait until April now.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Good luck with the boat, ours like I said needed major work but mechanically it has been a good boat. If this one has been stored properly and not left out in the rain, you might get lucky. You will like the running qualities of the boat, for a 20' it is very stable and takes rough water well. You're also lucky to have a Cobra mechanic, they are getting harder to find. I have found that once the Cobra drive is set up right in terms of the shift cable adjustment, they shift well and last a long time.

_________________
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