www.iFourWinns.com

Well, here's the story. We have our 2007 Vista 258 that we love and it's our 2nd FW. Love the brand, love the dealer. Our dealer has a 2008 V318 calling our name and we are trying to decide if this is a good move. He is not pushing us into anything, we are bringing this upon ourselves. We would love the extra room to entertain our friends as well as more cabin space for us and a longer cruising range. What we would be loosing is trailerablility and wakeboarding for our son. We are buying a PWC with a pylon to try and fill that gap but it may not be enough.

The question is, when will we know it's the right time to move out of a trailerable boat? I would hate to pass on this deal. We are slipping our boat already but I do have the luxury of storing our boat in our warehouse for free.

Any thoughts? Everyone's help and wisdom is appreciated.

_________________
Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Jnizi

I feel your pain. I have had the 318 blues all winter. I was very close to purchasing a used 06, but couldnt stomach the idea of having 2 boats in this economy. I dont want to change your mind... I am still looking, if I could put a deal together along with moving our boat, I would do it. I love the thought of trailering..... we like to move around, and there are guys here that pull bigger ones than the 318 on a trailer.

I keep telling myself, when its right youll know its right.... Cougar knows.... he just pulled the trigger..... by the way Cougar good to see you back.... you were kinda quite for a few days... did you go on your first trip on the boat...

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Things have been truckin' along in Seattle. Enjoying the mild winter and trying to not stay glued to the computer during the off hours. Bill & Steve get enough of my time - I gotta step away once in a while.

Now.... 258 to 318. It sounds like it's less about the specific size of the boat - and more about the trailerable part.

My wife and I had the same issue. We decided that we were more than happy staying boating in the same area. We explored a couple local lakes and the wife just didn't like it as much as our "home" lake. That made the decision easy - we just don't need a trailerable boat.

Yes, you can trailer a 318. There's another guy on here with a 338 that trailers his. Takes a heck of a truck to do it, but you can do it.

There is no way that you wouldn't LOVE going from a 258 to 318. It's a totally different experience.

If the dealer will put together a deal that you are happy with - then I wouldn't be afraid of pulling the trigger. You already have the PWC in mind - and those will handle the "fast & the furious" moments.

As for the other costs -- you already slip your boat -- so that won't be a new "cost". Maintenance is going to be more obviously. We are actually finding that gas is about the same as it was for our 240 so far. We just go slower in the 318 than we did in the 240.

I don't think it's a good time to be a 2 boat owner right now though. So - if the dealer won't make you a decent deal on the 258 - I would say hold off until you can sell it and be happy with the situation.

Deals are always out there. They just happen to be REALLY good right now.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I wouldn't love going to a 318.... I LOVE the 318 outside.. but Four Winns doesn't "get it" on the cabin..

I do not want any boat with a bed in the V, unless the boat is 60+ foot and a Sedan, that's just wasting valuable space. I want to entertain and seating room is a must.. Look at a Chaparral Sig 290 and see just how much cabin room you are missing out on.

Now, if Four Winns would build me a 318 with a cherry table up front that converted to a V Birth? Heaven, I'm in Heaven!

I guess my next boat is either going to be a Chaparral (not likely) or a Silverton 36 Convertible

_________________
Brett DiMichele

The right time will be...When you don't have to post a question on this board and ask everyone's opinion. That means you are not sure, not ready and should hold off for now. There will be plenty of opportunities to buy a bigger boat at a time when your kid wont want to be hanging around with you.

_________________

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

Now see, my wife and I are completely the opposite. I hate the V-Berth. If I am going to move up in size, I don't want to have to worry about put the table up, put the table down, store the table, etc.

But in regards to your dilema, everything in a boat is a trade off. I don't care what it is. You can almost never get something without giving up something when it comes to a boat. I wish I had your problem though. The wife wants a kid thingy, so no movin up for us for a while.

Although I can't keep my eyes off the new 408 Vista or the new Sea Ray 43 Sundancer, ..............or the Carver 355 aft cabin, or any boat really.

HELP!!! I am LOSING MY MIND!!!! Spring are you there? Hello? Bueler?

_________________


"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

Thanks for the responses. Woggy, I did not mean to cause you a breakdown. Yes, I can't wait for Spring either. April 4th is our target move in date.

Nice comment BetterLuck, You are right, we will know when its time to move up. As I stated, we love our 258 and staying with it is not a bad option. Sometimes we get caught up with what could be that we loose our focus on what is important.

_________________
Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Unless it's a 60' just how "entertaining" do you think it's going to be, trapped down in the cabin?

Though I do hear your argument. I've complained myself about poor cabin layouts in powerboats (not just FW). But I rather doubt the v-berth is going to add enough to make it any sort of 'entertaining' space. Seem to me if you want a living room then get a sedan bridge. I MUCH prefer having a decent mattress to sleep upon. The whole 'make a bed out of cushions' thing just does not work for my back. Adding a mattress topper makes it "less worse" but not enough for a decent sleep. That and you're faced with where to stow the topper the rest of the time.

Most forward cabin designs do at least make use of the space under the berth. Ours has it's fresh water tank under it, along with some drawer space and storage for the cabin table.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill,

A Sedan Bridge is no doubt more practical for me (and most likely my next step). But I can say that after being on a Chap 290, there is so much room in the cabin, you can seat 6 or 7 comfortably, could cram more than that... So for 4 there is an overabundance of room, which just isn't there with any fixed berth boat. Sorry but that design simply does not apeal to me, for my use. I am not a married man taking the wife and kids boating. I would rather have the table space, and convert it to a bed when need be (and with an electric table, that's a snap too).

But like I said.... Silverton 36C is lookin real good for me...

_________________
Brett DiMichele

The admiral mandated a bed for us once we determined we were going wide-body. If there wasn't a mattress with a spring, it wasn't going to happen.

We looked at Sea Ray, Chap, and a few others and just loved the way the Four Winns were laid out.

I totally see Brett's point about not wanting the beat up front - it does take up space that could be opened up for partying.

However - on the 318 - there is no mid-berth. You have the wrap around couch with it's own table and is great for 2-3 people to very comfortably hang out.

I think you kind of get the best of both worlds...

If the 318 didn't have that mid berth couch that converted to a bed - and was only a bed like other smaller cruisers -- we would have wanted the same that Brett does. But because you have that lower couch, we're perfectly happy with the bed where it is. Plus, when sleeping -- you don't feel cramped in. Especially for a bigger guy like myself (6'2'', 275). Trying to sleep in a 258/278 would have been just too cramped for me.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

To visually drive my point home...



That is a lot of space for an express, especially one that's only 29ish foot long.

_________________
Brett DiMichele

Looks sweet Brett -- is that the Chaparral 290? I would say their FW equivalent is a 288?

An interesting note is that even the Chap 310 (which is 33' like the FW 318) - has a similar layout to the FW 318. Spring mattress up front, and a lower couch mid berth.

Brett -- I don't know how big you are - but I can guarantee that the sleeping area in that mid berth in the 290 won't be pleasant for anything other than occassional overnights.

My wife and I wanted a sleeping arrangement that allowed one of us to get up to go to the bathroom without waking the other. Not to mention the tight spaces.

Again - it's total personal preference though.

That Chap 290 is an amazing boat in it's class though.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Cougar,

Yep that's the 290 and the next step up gets that infernal queen birth!

I'm a big guy 6'2" at 300 and I've slept in my 248's mid cabin comfortably, there is enough room in there for a small blonde... Same with the V Birth!

It is a preference thing, and I can completely understand a married couple, (or one half of said couple) wanting the permanent Queen Birth. I don't have that requirement, if I go out on an overnight or a weekend it's usually me and a friend or friends or my Dad and it's rarely more than 2 on the boat at night, most everyone else is light weights who want to go home when the sun sets. For me, I would rather have the space during the daylight hours, and a Pontoon boat is out of the question!

Sedan's are looking mighty good to me these days... To think I went from a 70 MPH GPS, go fast loud boat to an Express and now I am considering a Sedan Bridge, and I'm 32..... Geez I really did live my midlife crisis early! LOL

_________________
Brett DiMichele

We looked at the Chap 290, decided on the Vista 288 because of the well in front of the cain door with the Chap and it's proximity to the raised helm seat. Our primary focus was a convertible berth. Unfortunately FW decided to make the 288 a fixed v-berth, a bad choice IMHO. I have to disagree with Bill about how much "entertaining" you can do below. We routinely have another couple over for a dinner when we cruise. When it is 90 outside at 9 p.m., eating below in the A/C is the only option other than a restaurant. The adults sit comfortable in the v-berth and the two kids get the dinette. This would be impossible if not for the convertible v-berth. In addition, going on a day trip, the table give us usable space, a fixed berth is a waste.

_________________
Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

I think we have some thread hi-jacking between us (I plead guilty).

In the 288 - I think it could have been in FW best interest to make that a convertible since the mid cabin doesn't provide more seating.

But - back to the thread... 258 to 318. GREAT upgrade. Plenty of seating thanks to the mid berth couch rather than bed - which makes the forward berth a little easier to manage.

This is agreat example of how jnizi will know what and when the boat is right for them. When the layout is tweaked the way they want it, or when the price is right, or when you decide that not having something is 'ok'.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA