www.iFourWinns.com

For fun and because I love to look at performance numbers, I was just reviewing the information Four Winns has published on performance for my boat compared to the H210 SS.

The newest numbers for the H210 are from 2009...I don't think much if anything has changed.

My boat: 2004 Freedom 180 with E150FPX
http://assets2.fourwinnsmarketing.com/p ... m%20(p8-13).pdf

H210 SS with MC 300 HP; Bravo I
http://assets2.fourwinnsmarketing.com/p ... H210SS.pdf

Top Speed:
Freedom 180: 44-46 mph (I have GPS confirmed 47.5)
H210: 52-55 mph

Fuel Flow @ 34 MPH:
Freedom 180: 7 GPH
H210: 10 GPH

There are other intersting comparisons to make also. Take a look at the pdfs. Too bad there aren't acceleration curves.

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

2011 Four Winns H180 OB 90hp Four-Stroke Base Pkg - Blue
$22,333.00

Class: Runabout
Hull Material: Deep Vee
Hull Shape: Fiberglass
Overall Length: 17 feet
Actual Length: 17 ft 4 in
MerCruiser 90ELPT EFI 4S EFI Four-Stroke Outboard 1741cc 4-cyl
Horse Power: 90hp
Fuel Type: Gas-Petrol
Engine Type: Four-Stroke Outboard

Upgrade to 115hp 4 - Stroke +$967.00
Bow Filler Cushion +$206.00
Buckets Seats Flip up bolster pair +$308.00
Bimini Top +$538.00
Ski Pylon +$585.00
Wakeboard Tower (w/custom bimini top) +$2,462.00
SS PKG :Includes SS gel scheme & graphics,low profile tinted windshield,bucket seats -flip up bolster pair,color coordinated helm & port console,SS designators,pull up cleats and chrome gas fill . +$1,531.00
LS PKG:Ski pylon,cushion,bow fill -in,bucket seats flip up bolster pair,bow/cockpit cover.N/A with fish &ski and SS pkg. +$1,500.00
Fish & Ski Pkg :Includes livewell,trolling motor,fishing seats w/ski pylon,fish finder,bow fill in cushion and SST rod holders +$4,000.00

It adds up quickly to the base price. Could not find the upgrade cost to the 130hp.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Cap'n,

The MSRP is right on the FW website:

Mercury 115 EFI Four Stroke 115 hp $23,300
Mercury 90 EFI Four Stroke 90 hp $22,333
Evinrude 115 E-TEC 115 hp $23,300
Evinrude 130 E-TEC 130 hp $24,273
Evinrude 90 E-TEC 90 hp $21,865
Yamaha 115 Four Stroke 115 hp $24,133
Yamaha 90 Four Stroke 90 hp $22,665

The best value really seems to be the 130hp E-Tec.

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

I think there is definitely a market for this boat... Cottagers. They are usually on smaller bodies of water, want to pull tubers and skiers, take guests for short cruises etc... FW just needs to market the benefits of lesser maintenance, more space etc and they will sell.

_________________
Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

For sure there is a market in this boat as a cottage boat, and I am a fan of outboards, the ETEC in particular (I wish they would get a 9.9 version to market for my sea flea!). No arguing the performance to weight ratio and simplified servicing either. It is the flow/lines of the 180 with the outboard that I'm stuck on. It just looks too much like an afterthought.

The Glastron MX 180 was at the show, and the transom looked much better IMO. The lines flowed with the boat, and the seating looked like it was designed to be there, not fitted afterward.

_________________
2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

Has anyone actually worked with the seats of the new H180 OB? Maybe they look that way because they're designed to do more than just sit on? Are they hinged? Do they 'transform'?

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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.

To answer your question about the transom seats.... yes they "transform"... I'm working on getting a youtube video up but basically you remove the cushion and from there you have options on sliding out the lower seat base which allows for the back rest cushion to slide down to a lowered height. This makes it easier to get in and out of the boat as well as removing the lower seat base making it easier to move around while fishing. The ski pylon base also acts as the base for the fishing seat if you order the fish and ski version.

_________________
Bryan Mutter

http://www.twincitymarine.com
http://www.facebook.com/twincitymarineinc
http://www.youtube.com/user/twincitymarine
http://www.twitter.com/twincitymarine

There we go everyone, function over form !

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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.

Pictures of the rear seats were posted previously

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

My Trailer Boats Magazine showed up this week, and guess what's on the front cover?? Quickly turned to the article. Not a bad article, there was one mistake I found. The disappointing part of the article to me was the top speed they got with two people aboard with test gear, powered by the 130 ETEC: 39 mph. That's pretty low!

Stopped in to my local dealer today, and he's got a black SS H180 OB in the back room. It's still shrink wrapped, so I couldn't get inside. I told him that FW is gonna need to re-think the HP rating for some of it's target buyers. I know for sure the USCG rating would be at least 150 using their calculations. He said there's been some talk of upping the tag to read 150 instead of 130.

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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.

WHAT!!! I really figured the top speed would be 45-47.

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

Strange isn't it? I think the magazine guys ought to know how to trim for best speed?

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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.

Yeah, it sure seems they would know how to get the most out of a boat.

Do they note what the test conditions were?

I really wonder if it was a typo...that happens more often than we realize.

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

Was cold out, on Lake Cadillac, and the engine reached a decent 5700 at WOT. Hole-shot to 30 mph took 9 seconds. Should have been a better top speed. The new 20' checkmate I'm also looking at was clocked (by the factory) at 50 mph with a 115 Merc.
I'm planning on taking my issue in to my dealer when I'm done with it so he can check it out.

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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.

JW,

When you saw the boat at your dealer did you notice if the motor was a 20" shaft? I assume it is.

Going to a 150 eTec compared to the 130 would add only 28 lbs....at only 418 lbs the 150 eTec is only 4 lbs heavier than a 115 Yamaha 4-Stroke.

I have a feeling that they kept the power rating to 130 mostly for weight reasons. I would guess they were trying to keep the motor weight to about 400 lbs. In my view if the boat can handle the 414 lbs Yamaha it could also handle the 418 lbs eTec (V6 150-200hp).

This boat has a deep (21 degree) deadrise. This certainly has some effect on top speed...likely making it slower and having a bit slower acceleration compared to my boat.

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