www.iFourWinns.com

Looks better with the low profile windshield.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Still looks stubby to me. But to help out Four Winns new marketing head, I'd be willing to do an even up trade to help their exposure.

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2000 Four Winns - 298 Vista

I've heard the term 'bleach bottle' used to describe how some powerboats look. Seems spot-on for this one.

Still, it's all about compromises. Could have a lot of nicely laid out amenities that offsets the looks of it when popped-up on plane.

But I'm certainly glad to see the tall windshield go away, that was just plain fugly.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Love what Four Winns is doing with their bowrider line....cruiser line not so much. The lines of this boat scream Bayliner to me. Not sure why and I know the quality is a lot better. Just commenting from a exterior look standpoint.

Yes, I thought the same thing!! Bayliner

That's those stupid side windows. Looks like a cheap trailer or hippie van.

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Richard - FL - 2005 Vista 248

ric...for me it is not those windows. I have been pondering this all afternoon and I think i finally came up with what my reasoning is. The Vista series to me has always looked very sleek and kind of low to the water. Even in their shorter boats like the 268/298 they looked longer then they were. Bayliner has always been a little harsh in the lines and sit waaaaaayyyyy out of the water. To me that is what the new Vista line does.

That does look bad but if they would tint the window the same color as the hull (if they can even do that), I bet those windows really open up the cabin.

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

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

At least it doesn't look like this:

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/30/new-stealth-boat-glides-over-gas-layer/?test=faces

Cool concept ... but fugly. Looks like the cardboard boat my daughter made last year for Marina Day. I affectionately referred to it as "Picasso boat".

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Alright, I'll be the lone guy here who says "I kinda like it".

My wife and I looked at alot of small cruisers 24' to 28' when we were at the Toronto boat show earlier this year. It is what we hope to move to for our next boat (our "5 year plan") What bothered the admiral the most was that most of the small cruisers we boarded made her feel claustophobic below decks. This included the V265 and V285. So, to no surprise, she quite liked the Bayliner boats in this size range because of the big & high side windows and the airy feeling cabin. The V305 was better than the V265/285 with its side windows, but the low placement was still not as good as the Bayliners, (according to the admiral).

I like the idea of the cooking station being topside on the V305. I have never had to do any cooking aboard a boat, but to I would imagine it would keep the cabin from getting stinky if the cooking area were outdoors. The low windshield also definately looks better IMO, as well as getting rid of those tenticle looking features at the back of the bimini arch....

So yeah, you can now put a firecracker under my but for saying that maybe we liked some things about Bayliner better than the Four Winns.....
At least if the 5 year plan works out, and the wifey wants to buy a Bayliner in a few years, it will be cheaper to buy! LOL

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

Good points. The Regal's also have "window express" cruisers that have the same "airy" feeling.

Did you and the wife get to see a new Bayliner 285 ? Very nice boat with a wide beam, canvas that attaches above and outside the arch (as it should) single engine and wndows !

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I didn't notice that on the Regals at the show. To be honest, I never paid much attention to Regal. Worth noting though, we will have to check them out as well.

We did board the new 285. Quite nice indeed. Not sure yet, but it might be a bit to big for us, both in price and size for the first stab at a cruiser. We liked the 245 and 255 for both price point and size. I would imagine though that our first cruiser will be a used purchase. So, just dreaming and planning things out for now.

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

Check out the Regal 2565. If you want a nice small cruiser, I think this one does it right! Nice below-decks and good cockpit. (and I owm a FW Vista 248, and would swap if the option presents itself!)

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2003 248 Vista on Lake Champlain