www.iFourWinns.com

Hey all! I'm currently in a 1998 Chaparral Signature 240 and am looking to upgrade to something bigger. I've always like Four Winns and today we found a 2001 Vista 298 being sold by the same broker we purchased our current boat from. The boat has lived in fresh water almost its entire life and looks to be excellent condition. It also has just about every option I want minus a radar package but that's more of a want than a need for me. My only real concern is the engine package. It has the 5.0 Volvos with duoprops. I've read mixed reviews on whether or not this package is adequate for the boat and that you shouldn't go with anything less than the 5.7 engine package. Are there any 298 owners out there that can put my mind at ease? Thanks!

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'01 Vista 298

I have a 2002 Vista 298 with the 5.0Gxi engines. The boat tops out at 40mph - cruising speed for best speed/fuel savings is @ 3100-3200 which delivers 25-26mph (@ 9 gph per engine fuel burn). The 5.0Gxi's are 270hp each. The non injected engines are 250hp each. I do not see anything wrong with the 5.0 set-up. Certainly the 5.7's would add additional torque which you would see when first coming up on plane. I use the trim tabs and have no issues.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

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2002 Vista 298 VP 5.0Gxi

Thanks. I'm going back down there later today to verify the exact engine model but I'm pretty sure it's the 5.0 Gi which is a 250 Hp engine....though still fuel injected. I checked out the Four Winns site and their information on earlier models. Their data listed the 250 hp engine so I'm guessing that's what this one has. However, the performance numbers and fuel consumption are pretty close to what you listed as seeing with your configuration. And to be honest, those fuel consumption numbers are a little scary after running a single 5.7 for the past few years...but I guess that's what I need to expect with two V-8 engines sitting in a 10,000 lb boat.

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'01 Vista 298

99' 298 Vista here with 5.7L engines you might consider.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6362

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

We have a 2000 298 with 5.0's (250 hp) and they work fine for us because we boat on a lake and only boat as a family (in other words, we don't need the power). However, if you plan on having a big crowd on board, it would be nice to have the 5.7's to shoot out of the hole quicker. Are you going to be in salt water or fresh? If salt, e-mail Narcosis about the size of his engines because he has a 298 and just got back from a run to Bimini.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Thanks but that's a haul for us. The boat I'm looking at is about 100 yards away from my marina and I trust the guy selling it. In fact, if this boat hadn't appeared in his listings at a price within our budget we wouldn't even be considering buying a new boat right now. We had resigned ourselves to another season or two on our current boat but this one just happened to pop up.

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'01 Vista 298

I've never heard that question before in terms of performance...does it make a difference? We're on the Chesapeake so we'll be in salt water though this boat particular boat has lived almost it's entire life in fresh water. And like you, we're mainly family boaters. There will be times when we have 6 adults plus kids on board, but that will be the exception rather than the rule.

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'01 Vista 298

I run 4-5 adults on average with no issues with the 5.0Gxi's. As for salt versus fresh, n/a as to size of engine. If you move forward, check your anodes on the outdrives. They should be made of zinc for saltwater rather than magnesium which is commonly used for fresh. The Chesapeake is brackish but still considered salt conditions.

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2002 Vista 298 VP 5.0Gxi

I would think that if you were on salt (or a big lake) you would want a bigger engine because you were more likely to go futher distances and the bigger the engine, the less work it had to do and would last longer. Is this not the case?

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Thanks for all of the replies. I have no idea what our distances will be though I'm sure the longer we own it, the further we'll venture. In reality, it may come down to how much gas we feel like burning in a typical month. A lot of our boating now consists of short trips to quiet coves to anchor and relax or to the local dockside bars/restaurants. I still see us doing a lot of that but now we'll also be looking at making runs up and down and across the bay to more coves to spend a night and to bars/restaurants we haven't found yet. I'm really hoping this works out...stopped by the boat again on my way home from work and it's everything we want. Fingers crossed.

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'01 Vista 298

I was out on my friends 298 all weekend. Great boat but it's a WET ride in the bay. They have the 5.7's but also routinely haul 8-9 adults full everything and a cooler that resembles a coffin is a permanent fixture to the swim platform I would suggest taking it out in some 2' chop at about 30 deg. from plane and see what your tolerance is for getting wet. It doesn't take much to kick up 2' chop on the bay as I'm sure you know.

Annapolis/Severn/South River area? I've seen a Four Winns fitting that desciption with the cooler on the swim platform many times in the area....and always loaded with a ton of people. We actually followed that boat over to the Blue Angels show this year and ended up docking next to it in Ego Alley after the show. Nice boat.

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'01 Vista 298

Not them but I've seen some other 298s down that way. Hard to get them to stray away from still pond, fairlee, middle river. We are up on the Bush river.

That link above is mine and its officially up for sale, not sure what you are looking to pay but I can be pretty competetive in price to compensate for a long haul. Where are you located? I have a few interested locals that are coming by this week to see it. If the distance is too much I completely understand but if its worth considering let me know and I will send you some pics. Also, I have the survey that was completed on the boat exactly a year ago last week showing the boat in excellent condition with no issues.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

http://www.shorelineboatsales.com/listi ... a-231.html

Not quite as long of a haul..........

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy