www.iFourWinns.com

I am buying a 1996 238 Vista, the only two issues that need attention, is the bent rail. which is at the bow of the boat, someone must have sat on it or something. It is bent down, and suggestions on how to straighten it?
And is it possible to buy a replacment glass for the top hatch? It has a crack that leaks, again someone fell on it.
I have heard the you can't really just heat up the rail and bend it, because it may snap. Is it best to find someone who can weld a new piece?

thanks

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Hi;

not sure about a replacement bow rail, but maybe you can find a section of it at West Marine.. as for the hatch cover.....I have the exact same boat as you, and on mine the piston arm snapped off taking a couple small chunks out of the inside top portion of the hatch. I found a custom plastic shop in Norwalk , CT-called Select Plastics that will make a new hatch for you....i stopped in there a few weeks ago. They were very nice and helpful. Check out their web site; http://www.selectplastics.com. It could get expensive to make a new one though. Good luck!

Steve

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"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

thanks so much for that. The trouble about the rail, is it at the very point of the bow, where the frame has the right angle, so that piece is probably going to be hard to find. Since you have the same boat, do you know the exact diameter/ measurements of the hatch? What I could tell the Select plastics company I need, so I don't have to send them my actual hatch? Another thing I need to replace, is the piston arm for the doorway glass, do you know where I can purchase that?
How do you like your 238? Any issues?

thanks again,
Steve

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Hi,

I don't know the exact measurements--i could measure it (covered for winter in my driveway) but the best thing to do is take it off after you cover it for the winter, send it to Select Plastics so this way they have a template to work from.. I imagine that's how they'd do it anyway........I was there asking about re-attahcing my piston arm for the top part of the hatch. They guy said he could put a little square piece of lexan over the part where the bracket came off for about 100.00. If you're handy you could probably do that yourself--I'm thinking of doing that on my own boat over the winter....as for the piston--well, you can buy that at West Marine-or probably online somewhere. Also check the Four Winns website (http://www.fourwinns.com) for parts. Only thing, parts for a '96 will be hard to come buy. I bought my 238 V, Aug. 08.. I love this boat! It has a re-powered 5.7GL w/ Volvo DP/ gets up on plane in a snap! Tops out at around 40mph/4500rpm. Handles a chop really really nicely! My wife doesn't scream nearly as much as in the old 19' cuddy we had!! I'm on coastal CT. and boat in the Long Island Sound. It can get pretty choppy w/ a SW wind especially when we cross over to Port Jefferson,Long Island-15 miles. We have done several overnights in this boat w/ our 2 kids. A bit cramped -but doable. Only thing that I'm not too thrilled w/ are the 4 port hole windows. The design tends to collect water, so when you open from the inside you get a little bit of drippage--not a big deal. Also, my round cabin hatch has a bit of seppage now and then......real hard to find a new gasket to fit, but i think I'm going to pull it off this winter and reseal it. Other than that, I absolutley love this boat. Good luck w/ yours!

Steve

_________________
"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

I appreciate all the information. Sounds great! We have similar waters, as I am out on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. I have written to Select Plastics for a quote and am searching for a similar business around me, maybe get lucky and find one. Thanks for your help. Can't wait to have summer back!! Also, one thing, did you add an additional swim platform? I definitely want to do that. If so, which company did you use?
thanks again!
Steve

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this looks like what I need for the top glass for passageway, correct?
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP8 ... eck-plates
I don't know the size yet, but looks like what I need.. will these work for bow hatch as well?

Steve

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yup! that looks like the gas shock arm you need......i still have mine, so I'll measure it this weekend 'cause you'll need the exact same size......(i crawl into my boat now and then during winter-for the memories!!). I'm thinking about adding an extended swim platform maybe next year.....here's the place that gave me a quote for about 1600.00 (I know) but I think well worth it......www.swimplatforms.com check out the page for your boat-there's a pix w/ the platform-same boat!

_________________
"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

thank you so much for offering to do that, really appreciate it..
yes, I saw that site for platforms--wow. price is high! I guess that is what we should expect.. I don't know of any local places, but also this is a neat looking swim platforms too, I just sent out a quote for this one too. What I like is the option to have the vents with lighting
http://www.swim-platform.com/swim-platforms.html

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I measured that piston arm for the hatch this weekend......it is 10" closed, and 17" open.........the one i have looks like an after-market version by "Service Plus Distributors" the # is SPD5200-20A. they're located in Bensalem, PA 215-639-7810.......as for the hatch, i measured that too, but I miss-placed the little piece of paper I wrote the measurements on!!!!! Dang! From memory, I think it was 26 1/4" wide, by 18" deep--that's one of two pieces--and the "forward" (closest to windshield) most piece w/ the rounded edge.......the other is I think 10" deep by 26 1/4" wide--remember it's in two pieces w/ a hinge......I can't believe i lost that paper!! sorry....I'll measure again as soon as I can.....the other thing you can try is to make a cardboard template, then make a wood version from that for fitting... you know, maybe out of masonite or some other thin but flat wood--probably not plywood- since that tends to curl........after you're happy with the fit of the wood version, have a lexan version made........I think that's what I'd do.......
I once made a new "wall" for my other boat I had-- a 19' cuddy--the partition between the helm and cabin was rotted, so I used what was left over as a template, got a piece of marine plywood and cut to fit--did a trial install, trimmed it some more to fit, then glued a piece of formica counter top material (from Home Depot) and used a router trim bit for a flush finished edge.....worked out nicely.....
hope all this helps.....did you buy the boat yet???

Steve

_________________
"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

you are seriously the best! thank you so much for doing that, really really appreciate it! Yes, I am buying the boat, right now it is getting winterized, so I do plan on going to pull cushions out etc. this weekend! Really excited about this boat..
I saw a hatch on ebay and asked the guy about it, and this is what he found out from Four Winns and he wrote
.....They no longer make the hatch for that is on the 96 Vista which was made by Lumar. Four winns dealer said that both of hatches are 22 inches same diameter the lumar and the bomar. You may have to make your own holes to mount the bomar but should work for you. Either way you can do longer buy the exact one for your boat,
is he talking about the top hatch? I believe so, but his measurements seem to be different.
thanks again for also measuring that arm!!!
your awesome!
Steve

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this is the ebay one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... _500wt_819

and I found this on Craigslist, locally
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/boa/2081063399.html

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Yeah--that's the cabin/bow round hatch.......but you need the "companion-way" hatch--i think is the correct term.....the hinged part right? the hatch leading into the cabin.........as for the round hatch--you can get a new Lewmar hatch--check the Lewmar web site--our boat uses what's called "a low profile" hatch. the problem is going to be trying to line up the screw holes!! I think I'm going to just pull my hatch up and reseal under the rim with silicone as I was getting a little bit of leakeage--only when washing the boat with a hose, though.....as for the piston arm--I've been using a bungy cord to hold open that hatch--one end of the bungy cord is hooked to the eye-let on the windshield top edge--that clamps the bimini strap--the other end gets looped around the windshield support post and I hook it to the cord itself--holds nicely!

-STeve

_________________
"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

no, I just need the piston arm for the companionway, but I need at least a replacement glass for the round Lewmar hatch. I think the one on Craigslist will work, and even if they don't, only$45, so worth giving it a shot. I love the fact of the bungy cord, I was laughing, "what are you from Baltimore? lol, this is what all my friends and I do, for holding doors open, etc... we never fit in with the Annapolis folks!!
I don't know about your area, but for some reason, there are tons of Steve's in boating!!

Steve

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ok, so i re-measured the two piece top portion of the cabin entry-way--the first part is 18 7/8" deep (the rounded corner part) by 26 1/4"...and the other piece is 26 1/4" wide by 10" deep.....i was close on my other post.........hope your boat is doing well!!


STeve

_________________
"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

thank you so much for doing that,, I actually just need to replace the bow- hatch, and got lucky, a guy was clearing out supplies, and sold us 4 hatches so I bought them all, and all seem to be 22 inches, so if anyone needs one let me know...
they just need the arm that holds them open.

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