www.iFourWinns.com

Hi
I'm new to boating, but I went ahead and bought a pretty looking '94 Horizon with a 5.0 OMC a couple weeks back that (to me) seems in fantastic shape. The kids went nuts -I'm now the coolest dad in the elementary school.

The boat came with the full 16 year history of repairs/winterization receipts, etc. Not too much in repairs considering the time frame - belts, water pump, exhaust once, new battery last year, new starter a couple years back, upholstery work, etc.. Overall, less repairs than our 2005 Chrysler mini-van....but that's another story. The boat began as a salt water boat on Cape Cod for a couple years, then went to lakes only in NH. I'm the 3rd owner.

I've read a million different things about the engine on-line, good and bad. The seller called it a Ford 302. The engine label (and detail-lacking manual) says OMC but the serial plate on the engine says Volvo-Penta, so being new to this, I have no idea about the engine really other than it works fine right now. As long as the repairs are less than the mini-van, my wife will be happy.

She runs smooth and fine so far and starts easy (3 trips out) - just wondering what things with the engine I should look out for with regards to common problem areas/repairs? Thanks in advance for any thoughts/suggestions!

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1994 Horizon 190
5.0L V8
SX/Cobra

Been there... that's why we're on our 2nd Honda Odyssey now.

I'd say, if you aren't sure about when the impeller was last replaced, you should do that, and check the condition of your anodes. As important as any of that, get up to speed with the condition and maintenance of your trailer.

Welcome to the forum. We'd love to see your boat, so post up some pics when you get a chance.

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

Congratulations! We got our first boat 6 years ago and have been on the water almost every weekend the weather allows ever since then.

At first when I saw "OMC" it threw up some red flags as they're hard to get parts for, but since the plate on there says "Volvo Penta" you must have one of the crossover years. I don't know much about it, but I know I've heard that for several years in the mid 90s OMC and Volvo partnered to build drives. Eventually OMC went bankrupt and Volvo bought the drive part of their business. So, the older pure OMC drives are somewhat harder to find parts for, but the crossover years are much easier.

Our first boat was an 86 Ebbtide with a OMC Cobra that shelled. That was an experience I'd rather never repeat!

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

Hi
Thanks for the info! - I asked the shop that winterizes down the road to look at the anodes and the impeller. However, when he called back last night, well.....The honeymoon ended. I guess there is a hole in the bellows and they need to be replaced and the lower unit drive gear case has a bad/very bad seal and when he took it apart, water, oil, rust, misery dropped out and he figures that its better to replace the whole thing with something gently used than rebuilding/repairing.

Funny how my wife changed from calling the boat "ours" two weekends ago, to "yours". At least the boat wasn't too expensive and was under my budget, so I guess I don't feel too badly feeding it the tax return in February. I didn't get a deal, but I guess I wasn't too ripped off (yet).

Trying a photo. Hopefully it works

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1994 Horizon 190
5.0L V8
SX/Cobra