www.iFourWinns.com

We went back this year again to a house we rented on Lake Keowee SC.
It is a long haul from Florida (13 hours towing each way) but worth the trip.
As much as we love the snorkeling and varied sealife of saltwater, big freshwater lake means lot of activities that are harder to do around saltwater like skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding.
At one point when we were touring the lake we had nine adults and three kids on the boat (boat capacity) The boat had no issue planing and crusing down the lake. Duoprops and a good planing hull are great.

Here are some picture ---

this waterfall is at the waters edge on Lake Jocassee


The grandkids and a friend tubing.


One of the friends (sort of relatives) on another falls right at the waters edge on Jocassee.


A picture of the North Carolina mountains across the lake.


And finally a boat picture -- there has to be one right -- This is my son getting ready to go out to take some kids tubing.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

Nice looking lake and family. Now I know why I see so many Floridians driving north on 75 during the summer. I guess living on the beach can get old although I would without a doubt like to give it a try. Thanks for the pics.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Well it is sometimes hard living in Paradise. The best snorkeling north of the Florida keys is 20 minutes from our house. My boat stays on a trailer at the house. We pretty much boat whenever we want, but have become real floridians and love the summer boating and the hot weather. Having been a serious trailerboater, and visited more than a hundred lakes from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, we do miss going to new places sometimes. We still trailer to the Keys some, but not as much as we used to.

I have passed Altoona a few times, and had a friend who lived on the water there a few years ago, but have never boated on the lake. It seems nice, but probably a bit crowded with Atlanta so near.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

Great pics. Love your swim platform. Is that FW OEM? DId you install it yourself?

My dad is the Power squadron commander for the golden lakes area (Jocassee, Keowee, Hartwell) in the carolinas. Very nice lakes.

FYI, the lake I boat (Lake Blue Ridge in GA) on has cabins for rent on the lake that have docks where you can keep your boat.

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

The swim platform is OEM --- it was there when we bought the boat a couple of years ago -- we love it.

I have never heard the name "golden lake area" that is new to me. How did your dad get to be Power Squadron?

I appreciate the info on the cabins, sound great. We are a bit picky however --- we like a lake a minimum of 20 miles long ---clear water ---we prefer something like a 4-5 bedroom house -- hot tub -- pool table -- big private boat dock ---maybe a two story dock with a relaxing area on top etc --- My wife in particular is spoiled -- her idea of roughing it is no TV in the bathroom. Although we once tent camped across the whole United States for 45 days on our honeymoon, out of the back of a 67 Mustang. When she talks about that now she calls that "Young Love" as she had never camped a day in her life before that.

I own lots with deeded boat docks on Lake Keowee and also one on Watts Bar lake -- either of which I might sell given today's economy ---

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

Kelleyo -- I just realizied you do have the same boat as we do. it works fine for our needs here, but since we are heading more and more into the ocean a few more feet and a second engine would be useful.
Where do you boat most of the time?

No one makes the boat I would really like to have. There are almost no "saltwater" bowriders. Almost everything here is a Center Console and a T top. That is OK --- but a little too "fishy" for our taste.


Since I an sort of highkacking my own thread -- my boat current ideal boat would be ---

about 28 feet (big enough to cross over to the Bahama's)
good freeboard for inshore saltwater.
twin ourboards for saltwater
bowrider type (double console)
good size head
self bailing cockpit
saltwater designed electrics and auxiliaries
internal anchor winch and anchor
bow boarding ladder ----

and of course free and weigh almost nothing so my little expedition could tow it.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

Great pics, looks like a great lake too. (Jealous)

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2007 Four Winns 190 Horizon Merc 4.3 MPI

Our boat on Crescent Lake in Oregon

It's actually "Golden Corner Lakes" http://www.gclsaps.com/Power_Squadron/Welcome.html



I think when I said "cabin" you probably got the wrong impression
Our "cabin" is 3 bed 3 bath, hot tub, game room, detached 2 car garage, satellite TV, etc.....

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

We only boat on N GA lakes. That said I am planning to do the same trim tabs you have on yours and adding the swim platform....

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

Kelleyo __ Yes -- that picture give me a better idea of the "cabin" -- very nice. You will really like the Swim Platform for any water activities -- it is great for sitting on when changing people on skis or wakeboards, and also when we snorkel here.

I like Four WInns in general, but have been disappointed with how things have stood up to saltwater use. It really is a totally different environment.

We do like the boat though. The size is always nice to have. I was really pleased when it planed easily (without really needing the tabs to plane) when we had 12 people on board. I did use the tabs though to level the boat out once on plane. My son and I do that automatically. I am sure I would like a big block, but the 5.7L and duoprop still does a good job.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop