www.iFourWinns.com

Recently bought a 2002 Horizon 170 with the Yamaha 115 outboard. Love it, GREAT tubing boat. I'm thinking I have a pretty rare boat. Four Winns bought some Yamaha outboards for a while during the OMC bankruptcy.

Anyone else out there have a 170 or 180 with Yamaha power from the factory? Great running engine, much better than the troublesome '03 Johnson 150 I owned on my '03 Freedom 180.

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Previous Four Winns: 2003 Freedom 180, 150 Johnson XL, purchased new July 2005, sold Sept. 07
Current Four Winns: 2002 Horizon 170, 115 Yamaha V4, purchased May 2010 from family friend.

Yes. Your boat is rare.

I spent nearly 1.5 years looking for an outboard powered Four Winns. I bought my 2004 in May.

While I was searching, I searched high and low. I think I came accross every ad posted to the internet in the entire midwest. I also saw many ads for boats on both coasts and in the South.

In the time I was searching I came accross 1-2 boats other than the one you bought with Yamahas. I know 1 for sure was out in Washington.

When Genmar bought Four Winns from OMC they offered the outboard powered boats with Yamaha. Based on the catalogs that would have been only 2002-2003. In 2004 they only show Evinrude/Johnsons. In 2005 they don't mention what power was available on the 180 Horizon LE, although they show it with an Evinrude. The 2005s are extremely rare also.

I think I have a pretty good idea of what boat you bought. Is it a green boat? Was it in Kalamazoo? Was the owner selling the boat and lift at the same time, as a package?

If you don't mind me asking, what did you end up paying for the boat?

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Looks like the outboard lovers will be able to order one once again. I believe they are offering one on the 183 fish/ski right now for 2011, as well as the other 180's and possibly 190's. Look for it to be an Evinrude......

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP

Yes, according to my local dealer, Four Winns will be coming with outboard power once again

With the added cost of catalyst in the I/O's, it makes economical sense to install the current crop of outboards again.

My boat did get offered at first with the boat lift, and yes Kalamazoo. Family friend, so you understand I paid quite a bit less than the original asking price...................

This is my tubing boat until I end up with another Checkmate Pulsare 2100BR with a 250 outboard. It's really growng on me though, with the hose-out interior I dont mind wet life jackets and bathing suits! Checkmate still builds with a lot of wood, which causes me to cringe when wet friends climb aboard. No matter how well a wood cored boat is built, water gets thru eventually.....................This all 'glass boat takes the worry away!

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Previous Four Winns: 2003 Freedom 180, 150 Johnson XL, purchased new July 2005, sold Sept. 07
Current Four Winns: 2002 Horizon 170, 115 Yamaha V4, purchased May 2010 from family friend.

I haven't seen any literature yet. Have you?

I have heard it direct from Four Winns that the Four Winns outboard project is moving forward though.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

FW's new VP of sales/marketing was the guy that brought Evinrude back to life. Although you can't build/price a 2011 on FW's website, they are selling pretty good with the same price and features as the 2010's only with a 2011 "stamp". Not unlike a lot of car models in some years. I understand that in the order form the dealers have for 2011 the outboard is now an option. They're trying to compete with "Bayliner" type 18 footers with a cheap price tag and not get eliminated from the market as all of the new engines have to be "environmentally altered" to comply with new laws. To me, it makes a lot of sense. If you can sell a 18' or 19' without tacking on $4 or $5k for the new laws and get the buyer into a boat, he will probably turn in around in the not too distant future with "2 foot itis" and stay with the brand.

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP

If I had the choice today between I/O and OB, I'm not sure which way I'd go, but it would be nice to have the choice again.

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