www.iFourWinns.com

OK I've pretty much 100% decided we're going to get an H180. Not the H180LE, the H180. We'll have to delete the swim platform to get it in the garage but that's OK because although the swim platform is shipped from the US, it is attached by the dealer here in Australia, so if we want one later they can attach one.

It's going to be about 3 months before one's in the garage - got to do boat licence test, then sea trial the boat, then order one and then wait..........

I'll be sea trialling the Crownline at the same time for something to compare the H180 with although the higher price and marine ply floor of the Crownline put me off a bit.

The waiting is killing me.... how am I going to last another three months???

I'll just have to amuse myself in the meantime by reading all you guys updates and looking at photos of your boats!

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

Good Choice JB!!

I had a hard time waiting 6 weeks...you're going to go NUTS!

Sorry....I'm sure you'll be fine....

Take some pics when you go on your sea trial or it never happen.

_________________
2010 H190 4.3VP
Tow Vehicle:
2007 F150
Previous boats:
2009 H180 3.0VP
1996 Horizon QX 3.0VP

the wait will be worth it.

_________________

Hang in there JB - the weather's not brilliant, so you're not missing anything! I lay mine up from May through to August, usually try and get out the 1st weekend in September, so 3 months is about the right amount to wait!!

The H180's a good choice - was originally looking at one in red when I bought, but wanted the 190hp engine, so had to get a H190 instead, then before the wife could blink had the sunsport seating, stereo upgrade, tandem trailer etc. ticked on the option list!

One thing you may want to put on your shopping list is a GPS/fish finder. Dunno if you're into fishing, but the GPS is really handy for getting around and also has a depth indicator on it which is invaluable. I got an Eagle Cuda - cost me around $390 when I bought it, but less than this these days. Maybe see if you can do a deal with JV and get it installed??

If you have any questions about local boating, happy to help you out...

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Hi Alec, thanks for the offer

I'm looking at the weather this week as I drive down Beach road every day on my way to and from work, flat calm, sunny, 19 degrees, and I'm thinking that winter's a good time to go boating too! But yes, 1st week in September is when I would like to get out and about.

The H180 now comes with a depth indicator as standard factory fitted in the dash which is more than every other boat in its class, its not a GPS though. I'm not really into fishing, do you find you use the GPS for navigation much?

I will definitely have lots of questions about local boating. Have you ever launched from Mordialloc Creek ramp? That's where I reckon we'll be mainly launching as its at the end of our street.

Cheers

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

JB,

I know exactly what you mean, I purchased my first boat last fall and only had one good day of water sports, but it was still a little chilly. I have been waiting 8 long months for warm weather. We have had Memorial Day plans set for awhile now, but with a lot of recent flooding, I'm not sure it is going to be the same weekend we had imagined. We are still planning on going, but I don't think the conditions are going to be ideal. A little disappointing, but hey I own a boat now and I'm going to have a blast!!!!
3 months will pass before you know it.

By the way I really enjoy following your story and I can relate to your enthusiasm. I wish you were going to be boating over in this part of the world, or better yet I was boating over there

_________________

-Eddie/2007 H200/5.0 Merc 220hp/2004 GMC Yukon

Hi Eddie

I'm not sure exactly which part of the US you're in but from what you say about waiting 8 months for warm weather I'm guessing it's the north? I've been to the US about 15 times I think, it's one of my life goals to spend time exploring every US state. So far I've been to New York, North Carolina, Florida (x2), Alabama (x2), Georgia (x2), Tennessee, Mississippi, Nevada, California (x7), Hawaii (x3), so you can see the problem, I keep going back to the same ones! I've done some boating in California, Hawaii and Florida on the ocean.

8 months is a long time to wait!!! Makes 3 months seem like not much....

Cheers

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

I actually live in Kentucky. My last weekend of boating was last October and I have had the boat out once this year (Mother's Day-pretty awesome when your wife and kids want to go boating on Mother's Day whenever it is 59F) It was cold, but I was smiling from ear to ear. So I guess it was probably closer to 7 months, anyway seemed like FOREVER. We had a much colder wiinter than usual. I was hoping to have some nice weekends during the winter to get out but it never happened.

Forcast for this Sunday is dry and 84F...guess where I'm headed

_________________

-Eddie/2007 H200/5.0 Merc 220hp/2004 GMC Yukon

JB,
I can understand the waiting is hard, especially when you see all the pictures from us Northern Hemisphere folks.

But we get it back even worse when you guys from down under show us pics and those of us in the northern states have 2+ feet of snow and our lakes are iced over.

By the way, if its 19 C that is not winter!!!

_________________
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

Ha ha yes its 19C, winter hasnt really kicked in here yet but in Melbourne its rare to get a daytime high of less than 10C, and we never get snow in the city, just on the hills around sometimes. Skiing is about 4 hours drive away. And boating is about 5 minutes!

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

Never launched at Mordialloc Creek JB - usually use Patterson River down that way. Its got plenty of ramps but gets really busy at times. About the only thing to watch out for is the sandbar at the river mouth (hence the need for a depth gauge!).

I do use my GPS a bit, setting waypoints so I can find fishing spots on the bay and also find my way back to the boat ramp etc.! Probably not so important if you are really familiar with the area, but we haul all over Victoria and NSW so definately useful on the Murray River for example where every damned bend looks the same (no offence Ardy!).

GPS also give an accurate speed reading which is handy if you go up the Yarra River through Melbourne. Occasionally see the water police there nailing people for speeding - the boat speedo works off a pitot (water pressure as you move through the water), but at low speeds 5 or 10 knots it rarely reads at all, and if there is a strong current in the river it also buggers up the reading.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Gidday Simon
Good choice on the H180, those few extra bells and whistles really are nice even if you dont use them all the time.
You didn't mention what colour or what accessories you are planning to get with it. The three month wait is a walk in the park, I ordered mine in late June, was told it would be here sometime in November, took ownership mid January. No regrets with the boat.It's in the shop, at the moment for its 100 hour service after 16 months of ownership. Plan to give it a run after I get it back up the river,(gotta love that riverland weather, boating all year round if you want)
All the best with the new boat
Ardy
By the way I started the countdown at around 50 sleeps to go

_________________
Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

JB, have you ordered your boat yet? You will need to place an order pretty quick now as the US to Oz $ is becoming much less favourable and I can assure you the boat prices will rise over the next few weeks - probably about 8-10%. So it's decision time!

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Yes, I noticed that Alec. However I'm not going to order the wrong boat....

I still want to do a sea test on the Four Winns and the Crownline. They've both got advantages and it's going to come down to the sea trial! I really like both of them, the Four Winns probably has a slight edge, it's very hard to turn down the Crownline's 5 year manufacturers warranty though. I intend to place an order in the week of June 14th, about 3 weeks time.

I will ask the dealers if they can hold the price.

Thanks for the heads up!

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti