www.iFourWinns.com

Wife would kinda like to move into a cruiser in a year or two and I have already been looking around as I kinda have a buyer for our Baja that would give us a nice profit on it right now if we moved sooner. With that said I would want something that I can stand up in while in the cabin, but I am 6'3". My buddy has a V258 and I know I can't stand in there so how big do I need to go if I went with a FW? Another friend has a Larson 280 and I can stand up in there so how does the V268 or V288 compare? I found a Stingray 240CS almost fully loaded for a great deal not to far from us, but don't know much about them, but the current owner says he is 6'2" and has plenty of head room.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I'm 6' and can stand up in our 268 just fine...just about full stance even in the head. It has a full queen size matress in the aft cabin.

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

How much cleaerence do you have? Remember I have 3" on ya. Local FW dealer doesn't have much to look at right now.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Anyone know of a boat say about 25'-27' that would have cruiser style options, thru-hull exhaust, and still able to go say about 50-55 MPH and handle choppy water nicely? Or is that asking to much? Only ones I can think of are going up to a 30-35 foot boat similar to what we have now. Lets just say way out of the budget!!

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I am 6'1" in bare feet, what little hair I have touches the ceiling in a 268. And that is by the
entrance to the cabin, move forward to the sink, and I had to duck slightly, as the roofline
slopes down towards the bow.

I had a 6'4" buddy in our Monterey on Tuesday, he never touched his head or had to duck.
It"s 6'5" clearance from doorway to V-berth. Something that was a selling point for me.

You need to try some cruisers on for size, they all are slightly different. Make sure you also try
the V-berth and Mid berth to see if you can stretch out. I tried several in 32 foot boats, and
the V-berth was not long enough. The Monty was the biggest I could find in under 34 ft. boat
that we looked at.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Wow sounds like your Monty is VERY roomy down below!

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

I'm not trying to fluff it up, it's true, it is that big (height wise)

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Capn's right, you need to get out and climb around on several different makes and models. Each has a slightly different layout. You need to consider not only height, but space in the sleeping quarters. I'm 5'10 and pretty uncomfortable sleeping in the converted v-berth. A guy your size would hate it. If you plan on keeping a cruiser for any amount of time, I'd err on going bigger. As for speed, I believe Monterey makes some pretty nice looking "sport cruisers" with a lower rise that go pretty fast, but you sacrifice space and amenities in the cabins.

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2006 Vista 258
2007 Yukon Denali

I say you should sell your boat right now while you have the opportunity to make a buck and start researching cruisers. You won't miss the boat for the rest of this season (that's what friends are for!) Best time to buy is in the Fall when people are facing winterization and storage bills. Trust me the market is tough right now...I haven't had any luck selling my bowrider.
As you search more on the web... the posibilities will be endless. Pick a budget and start searching...
http://www.usedboatyard.com is a good resource to get ideas.

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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

+1...market has never been better and I'm hearing financing isn't as hard as it was a few months ago.

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

I agree with most of what you say except the part about missing the boat for the rest of the season! I tend to get attached to my toys and have a lot of blood and sweet into this one. I am not really ready to sell her, but the wife is.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Find that perfect cruiser...then sell.

We lucked out and bought/sold at the same time. A friend is buying now...but won't sell his old until he has the new. Can't blame him for doing that if you can afford both!

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

Maybe I need to save up for one of these! Seems to have the best of both worlds except it sure would suck some gas!!

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/boa/1856372083.html

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I think you need to soul search real hard before buying a cruiser if you're still hoping to run 55mph. I know the feeling. That was my toughest call in giving up my 260. My initial thought was that I wanted something to essentially "crash" on a little bit more comfortably than trying to "camp" on my bowrider. So, the big sport cuddies entered the equation. My favorite, the Monterey 298SC. Also, considered Chaparral 275. But then I realized if I was going to make the switch out of a sport boat to something more comfortable I couldn't sacrifice those main benefits like a generator, head room, full size head with vacuflush, aft cabin etc. So, I gave up the ghost of seeing 50+ but 45mph in a cruiser still isn't bad. Damn, I wish I had 350 mags in my boat!!

I think I made the right choice especially now that we can trailer again. But I still miss that 260 occassionally. I'll tell you one thing, it was a lot less work!!!

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

+1 on the the less work.

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2008 Horizon 260 VP 8.1 Gi