www.iFourWinns.com

Hello, I'm looking at buying either of two Four Winns H230s that are for sale locally. One is a 2004 with the Volvo 260HP single prop and the second is a 2005 with the Volvo 280HP dual prop.

I've heard great things from a neighbor of mine that has a dual-prop and he said it's night and day but I'd like some feedback from folks that have enjoyed both.

My family and I all wakeboard but it's my "little" brother that's making me move up to a larger boat. He's 6'2" and 285 lbs. Getting him up and out of the water on our current Hurricane deck boat (Honda 130 OB) is VERY DIFFICULT. I've been told that there's a 2:1 I/O to OB ration in that a 260 IO will act like a 130 OB but I can't believe that's the case. Again, any input would be appreciated.

I know that bigger is always better but I'm trying to justify the 20% uplift in cost for for the 2005 with +20 horsepower, one year newer and a dual prop. Thanks!

I'm biased, but the DP, bigger engine, and year newer make it a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. The 230 is a lot of boat, and benefits greatly from the DP; the 280HP Volvo is a strong 280HP. It gets on plane very quickly with little bow rise. The difference between that and your OB-powered deck boat will be amazing to say the least. Either your brother will come out of the water, or some sort of space-time continuum implosion will occur. I could make generalizations about the comparison to the SX or single prop, but since I haven't owned one I'll let others chime in.

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

We once owned a 06 H240(230) with a SX drive and it lasted us only one season.... I became an expert on props. ... We also Installed trim tabs as well in order to make holshot better....... It was not as bad if you select right prop for right use but did not like a heavy load of people. Test drive DP and that all took for us to upgrade.... H240/230 is a heavy boat for the length so I would suggest you would be far better off to go with DP....... In your case I feel it is no brainer to go with 280HP DP...

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

+2

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

+3

I bought my 2005 H230 last November and can't imagine having anything less than the 280 HP with DP. It handles quite well and it pulls a wakeboard very well.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

DP is the only way to go, when it is an option. The pull, out of the hole, is far better. Fuel economy is better, Steering control is better. Slow speed plane is better. Dockside control is better. All you loose is a small bit of top speed.

The Volvo 5.7 280hp engine is a real work-horse. Excellent fuel economy and very high torque for the rated HP.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

+4

I'm a pretty big guy myself @ 260lbs. The first time I skiied behind a boat with a DP drive, I determined right then and there my next boat would have one.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

Thats a no brainer.

When I was in the market for my 225, I was looking at a 5.7Gi SX, or a 5.0Gi DP....couldn't decide. That is of course until a 5.7Gi DP came on the market, which I bought. Best of both worlds...bigger engine, and the dual prop. You will be happy with that combination.

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

Get the DP....the added HP of that engine set up plus what equates to added HP of the DP will make a huge difference in those two boats. As stated - better control and better out of hole and up on top. I wish I had the DP on mine and yours will be 2' longer....that 2' is a lot of weight/size difference in a boat.

Only draw back is much more money if you trash your drive by trying to crush rocks.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

rbatterton,

This just can't be coincidence. Are you from Mn? If you are, by the time you posted this question the "280HP" 2005 was in my driveway. I bought it Tuesday, less than 24 hours after he posted it on Craigslist. - Sorry

This is my first post since I'm a new Four Winns owner. I signed up and was browsing when I stumble across this post.

Actually now that I look at your post again, you say the 260 HP is a volvo, so maybe it's not the same. The 2004 in Mn is a Bravo 1. However, if we're not talking about the same two boats my experience with the 2004 may be relevant.

I drove a 2004 with a 260HP 5.0 and a Bravo 1, there were two of us on it with no gear, an almost empty fuel tank and no fresh water. It really did struggle to get on plane. I may have been over propped, but it was also way under powered.

The reason I put quotes around the 280HP was that the guy advertised it incorrectly, and I honestly didn't notice until the next day after I got it home (couldn't see the forest through all the trees), but it was a 320HP GXi not a 280HP Gi.

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GXi/DP "Nauti Addiction"
Towed with a 2003 Suburban Z71

Redblur,

Yep. You sniped me Nice find on the 320 vs 280. That'd a nice free gift!

I ended up finding another one though and we just got the purchase finalized this morning. It's a 2004 Four Winns H210 With the Merc MPI 350 with 300HP. It's only a single prop but it pulls pretty hard and I think we'll be very happy with it.

Only problem is it was on Lake Minnetonka in a slip and didn't come with a trailer. I called the folks at Wayzata marine and that'll be the last time I ever call them. I spoke with both the service and sales managers and neither one was interested in ordering me a trailer from Four Winns. I guess if you don't have $100k to throw down on a runabout they don't want your business. Bully for them.

I called Zacho Sports in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin which is actually close to me than Wayzata and they were happy to put the trailer order in. I'm getting a new trailer for a 2010 H220. Which is apparently the same boat just rebranded to correct the size in 2005.

Owning a boat that's dry-docked at a broker with only four weeks left in the season is a bummer. Can't wait for my trailer to arrive!

Actually the entire line was re-badged in 2006.

If I was buying a new trailer I don't know that I'd buy one from FW - but it's a lot better than no trailer at all.

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