www.iFourWinns.com

Since I have to reply to an old post after joining the forum, I thought I would respond to this post. We moved up from a cuddy to a Rinker 270 in 2005. I would never go back to a cuddy. It was a fun boat, but you cannot replace the convenient of a cruiser. And although we absolutely love the Rinker, we recently purchased a V338 and cannot wait to get it in the water. I would back up the advice of others. Buy the biggest boat you can afford. My husband was a little intimidated with the idea of twins so we got the 270 instead of the 310. He said not long after that he should have listened to me and got the bigger boat. While we loved the 270...and still own it by the way... we decided we spend 3 days a week on the boat, including a dog, and needed more space. Good luck and have fun finding your new boat!!

Wayne and Kari

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Wayne & Kari
00' V338 Four Winns

Here's a lil' one fer ya.......... Price typo ?????

1995 Four Winns 238 Vista Aft Cabin 5.0 Efi Trailer, $4,850
http://boats.oodle.com/view/1995-four-w ... ortage-wi/

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

We've moved from a 23 ft Maxum cuddy to a FW258 and can heartily attest to the increased room, comfort, etc. One issue that has not been mentioned by others involves food - storage, preparation, and cooking. Unless you will eat out every meal, you will need to cook on the boat, especially if you are nestled into a beautiful little bay.

We had a 26 ft sailboat with a two burner alcohol and my wife cooked delicious full meals on it, occasionally supplemented by my contribution from the grill. I suggest you consider the size of the refrigerator and space for a cooler, counter space for food prep, and a two burner stove, preferably a combo alcohol and electric.

I upgraded from a single burner to a two burner Origo alcohol electric and have not regretted it, although it did take up much of the counter so food prep is more compromised than I would like.

As an aside, I see a number of boats that have only electric cook tops (w/out generators) so one can only have a cup of coffee at the dock. We have absolutely wonderful memories of weekends in cozy little bays, miles from the nearest plug-in, where my daughters swam, fished and we didn't touch ground from Friday afternoon till Sunday night, when we had to go home .

Good luck finding your next boat.

It sold yesterday.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

And I didn't think it would EVER sell.

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

Word on the street is Hall's did not sell it. The owner did himself.

Wow. Glad to hear the owner got it sold then.

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

I didn't think it had AC if it was the one I saw on their website.

I've got a spreadsheet started with all the boats and their options. (I'm an engineer so I go overboard on those kind of things.)

There is an '02 for sale closer to home with EVERY option available but the alcohol/elect. stove. They are asking $46k.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2002-Four-Winns-268-Vista-%28w--Generator%29-96508001

Here's one, '03 in west michigan, no gen, with ac. $42.9k
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2003/Four-Winns-268-Vista-2137887/New-Buffalo/IN/United-States

An '02 in Pa, with Gen, price seems good, $37k
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2002-Four-Winns-268-Vista-96582918

There was an '03 in west michigan, no gen or ac but only $34.5k but looks like it is gone.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

That '03 in west Michigan for 42.9k...it was a brokered boat by GSC in Chicago for over a year and obviously didn't sell. The '02 in PA looks like your best bet, if you can get over the blue vinyl in the cabin. We have the electric stove, and didn't want the alcohol/electric in ours. The flush top one is much nicer IMO.

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

I know the PA boat. That was in our marina. Right now the boat is only 30min from our house. If you would be intersted I could go look at if for you.

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348 Vista ( Last Call )
Raystown PA

Cattailspa, I might take you up on that in a week or so if it is still available.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

That is not a problem any time. We had a 2004 268 for 3 years. They are a great boat.

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348 Vista ( Last Call )
Raystown PA

Cattailspa is very thorough. He checked out a '04 225 before I made the trek to see/buy it. We spent our first night on it rafted up with him.

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

I'm glad to have made friends through this board that can do some long distance checking like that. It helps make it easier to consider going that far to see a boat if someone else has checked it out first.

We are still trying to decide to go 268 or something bigger. There is a 288 listed on the SE side of Michigan but it is still in a barn for storage. The 288 the Cap'n posted about looks nice, when we're on that side of the state getting our 245 prepped we'll have to look at it (assuming it's still available and the Cap'n has passed on it. Well, we might want to look at it anyway to see if we like that size of boat.)

Bottom line, we all need to be onboard at the same time and see if there is enough room to stay on it for a weekend.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

As far as I know, that 288 in town is still available. Like I said before, it's a bit too much $'s for us right now. A 288 is off our list of candidates, so feel free to stop and take a look at it. There is another 288 just 20 miles north of here, that has been for sale for a year or more, price is less, but it's not quite as well kept as the one I mentioned.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy