www.iFourWinns.com

The funny thing about the BL/Maxum comment, KNOWONE even noticed it !!! So much for the knowledge base of "Crownies" regarding other boat brands.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

LOL, speculation is fun isn't it? From personal experience, I was between a Crown and a FW back in 2007 when I purchased. The Crown was nice and all, but I didn't like the interior layout and the interior "features" like hatches, storage, and all of that. Plus, those "features" were options rather than being included in the purchase price. On top of all of that, those same things were included in the FW base price.

I asked the same question re: price differences. The dealer basically said, "Take it or leave it." I asked him if they thought a Crown was a Sea Ray or Cobalt and he said, "Oh yeah, Crownline is definitely in the top tier with those two." Obviously, the dealer thinks they are competing with Cobalt. I did not agree with the "ranking" of the Crown, and purchased a FW instead.

And FW as exclusive Volvo Penta is one of the most ignorant things I've ever heard.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Oh, a few did. Some things just don't warrant a response.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Guys, I have to say....I NEVER get nit picky about forum comments and threads. I am of the mind of that if you dont like the thread, dont open it.

With that in mind...guys, lets shut this down....seriously, we are going on and on about a brand that it appears NONE of us own. Yeah, the economy is tough and a lot of brands in a lot of industries will suffer...but still we are going on about something that doesnt have any effect on ANY of us.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I agree with ya Paul. They seemed to treat me with indifference as well. Too bad. They are a sharp looking boat. However, someone on here (you?) mentioned a friends Crown that was only a few years old with stuff that just didn't work like it should anymore. I only hope my FW retains it's quality.
Ahw crap! I just checked my outdrive..... under the black paint and Mercruiser sticker, I think it says VP! oops, false alarm, just the reflection from the BP gas station down the road.

Not to hijack the thread but, we're all here for the same reason (because we bought FW). I'd like to know why many of you chose an FW over the other quality brands out there.

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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.

Unless you happen to work for a company that supplies OEM parts to boat builders..........

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

The board in question is pretty much a joke. Some "interesting" characters over there that think they know everything, but in fact are clueless. I like to read some of the stuff, but I have found our board to be much more "factual".

When I bought my 260, I was really into the Crownline 240LS. I loved the interior room, motor choices, and overall looks of the boat. If I would have bought a NEW boat, It was on the top of the list. My 260 FAR exceeds what the 240LS would have given me at 1/3 the price.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Point taken

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

This post is from a friend of mine that works for RoadRunner Trailer.

http://www.lakepirateforums.com/ForumsP ... 19087.html

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I chose our SL 262 over Crownline - we were most interested in the 260LS. I really liked the hot tub seating in the bow, but the aluminum tower was shaky and the transom speakers were half covered. I liked the boat, but we got a TON more for the money with Four Winns.

As for Crownline competing with Cobalt, I guess in the grand scheme of things they all compete with eachother, but they are certainly not on the same level as Cobalt. The Crownie dealer here is also a Cobalt dealer, and they stairstep up in quality and price from Rinker to Crownline to Cobalt.

I'm sure we would have been happy with the 260LS too, but I have zero regrets with the SL (other than my own crappy timing).

I'd be staying away from Crownline - great deal or not.

Out of business and probably no significant warranty support through June? Might as well kiss the boating season bye bye.

WOW.

Honestly - I don't things getting better by June. That's when re-tooling for 2010 would typically take place. Then again, maybe 09s will be re-badged as 2010s to avoid those costs.

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

By IBI Magazine (29 May 2009)

A side note, Sea Ray is furloughing their Knoxville plant from July1st to October 5th. Announced to employees yesterday.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Hey Cap'n - is that Crownline's only factory? I see on their site that their 'headquarters' is in Il - but is that their only location?


As for Sea Ray -- isn't that the big cruiser plant?

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

CC, I believe the Frankfort Ill. plant is Crownlines only boat production facility.

Sea Ray has been building the Cruisers and Sedan Bridges in Merritt Island and Palm Coast
facilities in Florida. They removed a large number of their workforce from those facilities, and moved some of the production to Vonore, and Knoxville. They also moved Bayliner, Maxum and Meridian to Tennessee in a consolidation move awhile ago.
Most of the production in Tennessee is of the smaller boats.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

It's sad to see Crownline go, they made a nice boat IMO.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic