www.iFourWinns.com

It really BURNS my butt that FW did not offer an Arch for the 248 yet Chapmybuttaral does on thier smallest cruiser. So does anyone have any idea what my options would be? I know I could go with an Atlantic Tower but what if I wanted a hinged, aluminum arch? What if I want a hard top? And do you think any of these could be made to look "right" on a 248?

Future projects... And for some odd reason, none of them are cheap

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Brett DiMichele

Al over on BABC had a tower custom made for his Carver. I believe he was mightily impressed with the job they did. You might ping him and get his thoughts, especially as he's a former Vista owner.

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

FW now has a tower for the 258.

http://www.ifourwinns.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=910

I wonder if it would fit your 248? Its works well for pulling wakeboarders. I believe its a stock piece. I will check the model on the arch next time we are at the boat. The only caution I was given is that you really need to beef up the hull. That's why we had FW install it. The canvas work fine under it.

Hope that helps

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Just when I thought you couldn't come up with another mod


I meant to comment on your davit thread too. Back a few winters when I started seriously looking at the 248's I called fw and asked them about the load capacity on the swim platform because I wanted to slap the jetski on the back like the big dogs have. They said pretty much no way. Im sure the dingy is def. do-able.. funny though.

I have to figure out how I'm going to pull the jetski because the manual says there is no towing provisions for the 248. Gotta come up with something..

As for the radar arch, that would be bad ass, but you would also have to integrate the camper canvas and bimini. I was thinking that you could find something and graft it into place custom. But this would make doing the windlass install puppy food! Get that windlass in man! I bet you'll love it as much as an arch!

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

Bren,

I don't want an arch for wakeboarding, I won't ever be pulling anyone with my boat. I want the arch so I have a place to mount a TV Satelite and Terrestrial Antenna and possibly an open array radar WAY in the future

I don't want to replace any canvas so whatever I do will have to be taller than the canvas so that the stock canvas can still be used. Atlantic has an arch in a box for around $1100 it's universal and it's very well made, but I would rather have some custom bends in the tubing where it comes down and attatches to the hull, to make it more asthetic. I am guessing a custom arch is probably 2K or more... These are all things on my "want to do" list.. But I can not afford any of the big ticket items right now since I am saving up cash to put up a 36' x 20' x 15' garage to park the boat in. I will have the garage up by the end of summer so hopefully at that point I will be able to divert some cash flow to the flexiteek and windlass and then the tower and the dinghy would be last on the list.

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Brett DiMichele

I know that's what you wanted the arch for - as would I. The towing thing was me rambling, I gotta put a hook down low like my horizon has. Kinda going back on the reinforcement issue like the other dude brought up. The only thing that kills me having an arch is the friggen RR bridge I have to go under. If they raise it I'll *crosses fingers* get that 298 with twin diesels in a few years. I figure if when I'm 30 years old I should have at least a 30' cruiser!

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

Brett,

Since I also have a 248 Vista - I'll offer my two cents...but feel free to ignore it, since it is just my opinion... doesn't mean I'm right...

Do you really need an arch on a 248? Some boats need sprucing up since they are not great looking, and arches help accomplish that. However, the 248 is a great looking boat in that size, and I dont think it needs an arch to look better. I cant tell you how many compliments I get on my boat when I am sitting at the dock. As far as needing it for a TV/sat antenna....are you really going to watch that much TV on the boats? I never watch TV during the daylight hours (I'm on the deck or swimming), and for those times that I am in the cabin at night I bought a really nice $250 portable DVD player and a bunch of movies (or netflix ones). The DVD is rechargable and also can plug into the DC port. As for radar, do you really need that in a boat that size? Are you going to do much nighttime open water cruising? Personally, I'd rather spend that money on a kick ass new big screen GPS Chartplotter that I know I would get more use out of. Some of the stuff they have these days is awesome. Also, I'd rather spend the extra money I'd save on gas and do twice as much boating! As I said, just my opinion. When I upgrade to a 288 Vista or bigger in a few years I will get an arch and radar. Until then, I dont miss those things on my 24 foot boat.

P.S. As for the Dinghy, I bought a Coleman Colossus 4 person inflatable that is awesome. It is thick (will not puncture) and sturdy (840 lbs capactity) and comes with 4 breakdown oars. It inflates in less than 5 minutes with the coleman rechargable inflator/deflator and delfates just as fast. When I am done with it for the day I deflate it, roll it up, and it fits perfect under the stern bench seat totally out of the way. I use it to paddle my wife and 3 year old around the long island sound...and I love it (no motor, but I never go that far, so its okay). Just a thought as an alternative to the hard bottom and all the work that it would take to install it and haul it.

Like I said, just my 2 cents. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.. I hope you enjoy your 248 as much as I do!

HBender
2006 248 Vista
Norwalk, CT

Bender,

I'm sure the main reason is for the Radar. The other stuff you can find another way to mount. I've heard stories about being caught out in ZERO visibility fog and boats nearly colliding as a result. That and you can also pick up precipitation with the radar. Would be nice to have for those conditions. Also you have sports fans that can't miss their team or event live etc.. I'll be happy with my dvd setup for now though as well.

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

Bren,

I hear you...like I said, it was just my opinion. I personally dont go out if I know its going to be very foggy so I never really felt I needed radar (not till I move up to the 30 footer and take big trips). Also, I like sports, but like the peacefulness of the water more. Never felt the urge to watch a baseball game on TV when I could be on the deck watching the waves or swimming, lying in the floating raft, etc. Anyway, to each his own...

Hbender

Um, get a bigger boat? Seriously. If the factory's already nixed the idea of using the platform that ought to be a clear indicator.

Same thing goes with a radar arch. By the time you graft all that onto the boat of that size it's certainly going to have a negative impact on it's handling. The center of gravity would end up being much farther forward and a lot higher. Little boats do not benefit from this, nor will it's gas mileage and resale value.

And an open array? Are you joking? What's the point on a boat that small with the arch that low? Even on larger boats it's often pointless to waste the money and power on an open array. You're not going to get better coverage anywhere that boat has any prayer of being safely operated. But hey, feel free to waste the money/time/effort.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Ah! Bill, in due time. How many 28 year olds do you know that own a Vista? I'm sure by the time I'm your age I'll be able to afford myself at least a 348. I think you confused me wanteing to place a pwc ON the ESP with making a tow hook with the reinforcement to PULL a pwc. Now there is also no factory windlass for the 248. That also DID NOT stop me! If they can put a tower on the 258 then there's obviously a derived benefit to having one on a 248 in some cases..

Additionally, I'd feel comfortable taking the 248 ANYWHERE the 348 can go if I had radar and a few other small mods. We don't have as many parts to break either

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

Just turned 31... By the time I am OLD I'll be on my Viking or Paul Spencer thank you.. and then I will pick on all those with those "little" 40 footers!

Hahaha

Seriously though... It's "Stupid" to have a 248 and go out and use it.. But it's cool to have a 348 and not be able to afford to run it more than 20 miles a weekend? I personally take my little boat long distances in day and night and I don't consider a Radar arch to be stupid at all, and obviously none of the other manufacturers do either, they all offer fiberglass or aluminum radar (not ski boat) arches on thier pocket cruisers.

Throwing off the balance of the boat? By what, adding 100 maybe 200 Lbs? If that's the case then putting sodies and gear in the cabin throws off the balance too. The open array doesn't have to be expensive, Garmin does make pocket open array units for as little as a grand (for the array) but if it's closed array that's fine too.

I want a place to mount the things that I want... And I wanted options and solutions not someone's opinion of how I shouldn't need this on my wee little boat.

But knowing my trend in boat buying it may well be a moot point. I had big ideas for all my boats and if my track record keeps up, I will probably go bigger before I get to complete these mods.. I've pretty much replaced my boat each season so far.

Thanks again for the sage advice Captain Bill.. Truly appreciated!

For those of you that really offered help Thank You!

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Brett DiMichele

Yea man, I'm thinking you could go completely custom by starting out with a tubular frame fabricated by someone who's good at doing rollcages. Possibly wrap that in fiberglass? Might be a cheaper way of doing it? And hell, you could make the frame from Aluminum as to not weigh down that puddlejumper!

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

Puddlejumper hahah!

Tubular aluminum is fine with me if it's done right. I've seen BIG boats with lots of tubular towers, most of the Sport Fishers in the millions are all tube tuna towers. It's all in how that pipe is bent, it sure makes an asthetic difference.

An OEM white arch would be nice, but even if the arch for the 258 could be fitted, the canvas probably wouldn't work at that point.

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Brett DiMichele

Now, Now, Boy's! Let's Play Nice!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"