www.iFourWinns.com

Cap'n,


Lucky Son of a Gun!

Thanks for sharing those shots, as I look out side today and I am greeted with 1" of fresh snow on my boat....

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Brett DiMichele

I recognize this place. A mile offshore is where, eh, you know....He's due in May....

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Hey...that is my old boat . This is the main reason even after we retire, our summers will be spent in Michigan.

Since this is a general boat shopping thread, I ran across this . Seems like a nice boat if anyone is looking for a 2004 268 Vista in and around Michigan. Buy it Now for $36,500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Clean-26 ... 3aUSQ3a101

Nice bow accessories !


Seems like 3 or 4 new deals show up every day, some good, some not so good. Sure is a good time to be shopping at least.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I've been in contact with this seller. Original owner, and picked up at the factory. Is in the UP near WI. Doesn't have ac/heat though.

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

I thought you may have seen this one. No need for A/C in Gladstone Mi. Heat might
have been nice up there however. So when are you making the road trip ?

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

HAHA...its a long drive from Indy! We'd like AC/Heat on the next one for sure, but I don't think its a must have with the screen door that 268 has. We'd still need a buyer for our 225 though, but that price sure is nice!

Found out from my credit union today they are only loaning 50% of value on boats now...so I'm still searching on that end.

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

Shopping is over for us. Going to just stick with our current boat as it is really all we need. Plus, it is affordable for our current financial situation. I did solidify a couple of things in my mind during this recent search for the next boat.
1.) I will never buy a new boat.
2.) Used boats still offer the best value for my money.
3.) Some people are just dreaming with the price they "think" they can get for their boats.

Anybody else seriously shopping/tire kicking for a different boat ??

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

You know I am. Those three things are FACT. It's amazing what some people are sticking to as their asking price. I know I have to take a hit on my boat to sell it now, no getting around that.

We're looking at a few different options, and we might end up doing what you did, and keeping our boat if we can't make it work just the way we'd like it to.

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

The two reasons I wanted a new boat was:

1: a Genset

2: Radar arch


I really love my 248 and nothing has changed in that respect. I feel that if I have to "give" my 248 away, which with some of the offers I've had, yes it's giving it away. I might as well keep it and buy the genset I want and have a custom fiberglass arch made (which is going to require a new Bimini setup and enclosure. BUT even if I spend 20K to do the arch, canvas and genset, that's certainly cheaper than the 50+ K I will have to spend to get into a new Doral.

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Brett DiMichele

Used is definately a better bang for your buck. The depreciation hit taken on a new boat is ludicrous, and only for those with deep pockets. My pockets are not, and never will be that deep. But I'm glad (for our business) that some people prefer, and do buy new.

It's sort of ironic now that we are not actively looking for a different boat, but this boat I looked at, and made an offer on was listed at 74K.
2 weeks later, he is getting closer to what I offered. Maybe in another 2 to 3 weeks, he will
be calling.........
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/1080607163.html

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I agree that I would only buy a used boat (or just about any other big ticket item!) There are deals everywhere but sometimes you have to dig deep and go far to find them. There is usually a reason why a "deal" is not scooped up locally and bringing the boat up to the level of the next "deal" should be considered.

What i find amazing is how many people jump into bigger boats or new boats and don't consider the extra costs associated with the ownership. 20 yr payments? I don't even plan on having my house mortgage longer than 15 yrs why the hell would I want to pay for a depreciating asset for "ever" (How many of us have bought cars or trucks and financed them over 5 yrs? and keep asking are we done yet????) This is why we see so many used boats with high $ asking prices, the people overpaid (why even bother to negotiate when the payments are so cheap?) plus they financed for such a long term hat they haven't even started to touch the principal yet and guess what? They don't have the resources to even buy out the differences and just "dump" the boat.

Many people stretch themselves too thin and want all the luxury items right away in life and in the end it just creates suffering.

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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

Well said Nice Guy. That is why we backed out. We could have bought the 07' 318 I mentioned for $88K. I decided that the cost was just too high for too many years. And
the 318 is just not a big enough jump for the $'s it costs, and what it offers. We told
the seller to let it go to another couple that was interested, at least he gave us first chance.
And my wife and I just can't fathom the thought of having a boat that costs more than our house did, since they are nothing more than a toy anyway. We will do a few upgrades to our 268, pay it off in a couple of years or less, and not have to worry about being upside down on a boat loan, "just because you can".

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Very smart Capn and very well said Nice Guy. There are a lot of people who "can" afford payments for 10, 15 or 20 years...but why would you want to. How do you every upgrade without taking a major bath because you are upside down? Plus...as said above, a majority of all those owners do not have the capital to pay it off anyway even if they needed to.

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2005 Silverton 50C
2009 Four Winns 200SS

That is an amazing price for a 2007 318. I am considering a 2006 for $80K and I thought that was an incredible price. Perhaps it isn't as great as I thought. How many hours were on the 2007 318?