Looking at a 2000 h180

sachem29 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:02 pm

Ok now I'm looking at an 05 horizon with an evinrude 150Fpx direct injection. does anyone have any experience w these engines, I vaguely remember that these engines had a few problems when they first came out. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thnks

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:12 pm

My opinion...BUY IT!!!

OMC had some issues with the FICHT when it was first released. The issues were mostly resolved by the 2000 model year. Unfortunetly for OMC they didn't fix all their issues, financially or otherwise. They were out of business by the end of that year.

The 2001 model years were the last ones that OMC made. Bombardier bought the outboard divisions of OMC. They took the improvements to the FICHT engines even further and there are essentially no widespread issues after the 2001 model year.

2005 was the last model year of the 150 Direct Injection. The e-tec came next.

My opinion...BUY IT!!! Great boat, great engine, perfect combination.

Of course, I'm not biased or anything.

sachem29 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:21 pm

I'm looking at it fri so far I'm very interested. Asking price is 12,500. I'm stepping up from my 1997 qx, and my Johnson, I really like outboards vs I/O s for many reasons, 1 being ease of maintenance. Less draft and so on.... Is that price reasonable.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:31 pm

sachem29 wrote:

I'm looking at it fri so far I'm very interested. Asking price is 12,500. I'm stepping up from my 1997 qx, and my Johnson, I really like outboards vs I/O s for many reasons, 1 being ease of maintenance. Less draft and so on.... Is that price reasonable.

OB vs IO has very positives and negatives. What draws me to an IO is the ease of fixing it if it does break. In the year I've owned my boat I've been able to resolve all issues by purchasing parts at the local parts stores. You can't generally pick up outboard parts at 10pm on a friday night to go boating saturday morning.

sachem29 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:58 pm

For me personaly I've had both and for my use the outboard suits me. My dock is shallow so the outboard does draft less than the comparable inboard, as for picking up parts on a sat nite you really should have a spare boat. Lol

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:12 am

well, you're talking about a 2 in difference in draft.. empty. filled with gas, cooler, 4 people.. that 29in will go to low 30s

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:15 am

sachem29 wrote:

I'm looking at it fri so far I'm very interested. Asking price is 12,500..... Is that price reasonable.

Yes. The price is reasonable. Not great by any means, but reasonable. I have seen only 2 or 3 other 2005s on the market. It was the last year this hull was offered and the last year Four Winns had an OB in the line up before reintroducing the H180 OB last year.

If I were in the market again and the boat you are describing was close to me, it would be a top contender at that price.

In my opinion this hull design with OB power is one of the better boats Four Winns has made. I think they knew it as well since the kept this old hull design around for several years after it was "replaced" on the I/O boats.

These boats demand a premium compared to I/O boats.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:29 am

That is a really nice boat...

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/boa/2955045334.html

One picture alone explains a primary benefit of an OB. Look at that cockpit space.

If there was one thing I would change on my boat it would be to have the back to back seat on the port side like that one. I have 2 buckets. That limits where passngers can sit, but opens up the cockpit space even more.

That boat looks an aweful lot like one that was sold out of Northern Michigan a year or so ago. If it is that boat, I know how much it was listed for up here.

sachem29 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:39 am

The owner did say the original owner was from Michigan, this is probably the same boat. It has 350 hours on her.
I agree u can't beat the space on these outboards.

sachem29 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:45 am

ric wrote:

well, you're talking about a 2 in difference in draft.. empty. filled with gas, cooler, 4 people.. that 29in will go to low 30s

I agree that 2 inches isn't much, but sometimes it could mean the difference between hitting or not. I do think the I/O version looks sexier.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:11 am

We are in a severe drought here in Florida, pretty soon I might wish I had an outboard for those 2 extra inches. That boat is REALLY nice though, if I was in the market for an H180, I'd get that over something like my 3.0 I/O... but for the price I'd rather have a H180 with the 4.3. Faster and better GPH then any other engine avail (io or ob)

I like my non-sunsport interior. Tons of room like the OB, but that little 'table' where the motor is inbetween the rear seats is actually quite handy. The folding captain's seat is 100% worthless though. I'm 6'2 and it's low for me I can't see anything that's 100ft in front of the boat, my GF who's 5'5 can't even see over the gauges.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:14 am

sachem29 wrote:

ric wrote:

well, you're talking about a 2 in difference in draft.. empty. filled with gas, cooler, 4 people.. that 29in will go to low 30s

I agree that 2 inches isn't much, but sometimes it could mean the difference between hitting or not. I do think the I/O version looks sexier.

Well even ric will agree that "looks aren't everything", based on his recent posting of his current gf on his boat. :wink:

I like the boat you are considering, and agree with RR, go for it !!

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:35 am

ric wrote:

well, you're talking about a 2 in difference in draft.. empty. filled with gas, cooler, 4 people.. that 29in will go to low 30s

I can easily make head way in approximately 18 inches of water. My depth finder quites reading accurately that shallow.

Don't look at the spec'd draft with the drive down.

You can run an OB trimmed almost to the extreme with essentially no concern about damaging the driveline.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:48 am

RotaryRacer wrote:

ric wrote:

well, you're talking about a 2 in difference in draft.. empty. filled with gas, cooler, 4 people.. that 29in will go to low 30s

I can easily make head way in approximately 18 inches of water. My depth finder quites reading accurately that shallow.

Don't look at the spec'd draft with the drive down.

You can run an OB trimmed almost to the extreme with essentially no concern about damaging the driveline.

You could even get a jack plate and really do some shallow water boating

sachem29 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:50 pm

Will keep u all posted tomorrow. Thanks for all your input....

www.iFourWinns.com

Looking at a 2000 h180

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