www.iFourWinns.com

We have a 06 Horizon 240. We are process of trading with a new Horizon 260. My dealer only have one 260 with a Merc MX6.2 MPI (320hp). I asked them to make arrangement to test drive it as well as if they can find a 260 with a VP 5.7 GXI (320hp) and VP8.1GI (375hp). My dealer told us that they only sold a few VP8.1 in 240 or 260 in last 3 years in my area but there are many good customers who can let us test 260 with a VP 5.7 GXI. They made an arrangement with a few 260 owners (nice families) and have a test/ picnic time together. (I offered gas and lanch) A 260 with a MX 6.2 performed well but I was impressed more with a 260 w VP 5.7 GXI. The boat we tested had trim tabs and hole shot of this boat was great even with 8 adults in it. (We never put trim tabs down) My 240 have a VP 5.7GI but this 260 felt the same if not quicker.
The engine also felt rev up higher than my 5.7 GI. This boat reached 50.6mph (GPS), which was great for this size of boat with a 5.7
I do not think my 240 would reach 50 marks. During this test we have pulled tubes, slalom skiers but we did not feel underpowered at all. Since my wife is dead against to get a big block engine and hull thru exhaust so I do not have too much choice to go with a small block but I like to know when I really feel I need an 8.1? Resale value as well as gas cost has no meaning for me but for freshwater use I like to get some feed back from 8.1 owners what they can do where 5.7 cannot to do.

Just my two cents, I would not buy a 260 with less than the 8.1.

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

Why not? 260 is not as big as the most people thinks. It weight 600 Ib more than our 230/240s... I thought same way as you first. But after riding on it I am curious why people say bigger is better I do not see too many people has one with 260/250. I agree if we have 8.1 we do not wary about anything...

You may know better from experience with this particular model but, when it comes time for someone else to look at buying your boat somewhere down the line, they are going to be thinking "bigger is better." That will undoubtedly affect the resale value. Like I said, you may know it doesn't really make a huge difference from personal experience, but your buyer isn't going to know that and probably won't take your word for it.

If you're going to hang onto that 260 for a LOT longer than you're hanging onto your 240, this is probably a lot less important.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

I personally have had contact with only 3 people who own 250/260's. But all of them have the 8.1.

That 600# additional weight doesn't include the additional fuel capacity (75 gal. vs. 58 gal.), which will be another 105# for a total of over 700# heavier than your 230/240. Altogether you're talking about the equivalent of at least 3 more large adults aboard at all times.

Hey, buy whatever blows your hair back. Heaven knows I love my GXi, but I wouldn't get it in a 260.

As to resale, Paul is exactly right. Bigger is ALWAYS better at resale time. You will never hear a potential buyer say, "Gee, I really like that boat but I just wish it had a smaller engine."

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

I haven't been on a 260 with the 320 horse motors so I can't compare. My 260 with a light load will hit 58mph by GPS.

I think this article is the gospel on showing exactly what difference you can expect in this exact situation.

http://www.boatingmag.com/article.asp?s ... int_page=y

On weight, you need to take into account the smaller block is a couple hundred pounds lighter than the big block.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

All denpends what you plan on doing with your boat. Cruise, I would go 8.1. Slug out of the hole but less struggle once on top. 5.7 will hole shot for tubing ect faster but rev higher to keep speed. I drive a Crownline 270Br with a 8.1 in it and it drives great, but not fast.

Good article…. I am convinced I want an 8.1 for our 260. But I have one issue. Money is not an issue as well as resale value but my wife is a big one. My wife originally wanted us to buy a Rinker Captiva 246BR ever since our next neighbor bought one this spring. It took me all this summer to convince her to stay with Four Winns as long as she can order a new 260 with all the options and color she wants. Unfortunately 8.1 is not on her list. I was hoping some people can tell her convincing reason why we need an 8.1 but this is a challenging one.
May be I should order an 8.1 and when the new boat comes in put 5.7 decal on it so she would not know. Any thoughts?

How about using: Bigger boat = bigger motor?

When we were looking for our boat, my wife wondered why we needed the V6...she understands now

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

Tell her once your under powered your always under powered.

You're probably kidding, but 8.1 is going to be all over your paperwork at the dealer, your title, your insurance forms, etc. Very high probability that you'd get caught. Might as well just order it, and not bother to change the sticker. In some cases it's better to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission.

Still, if you have to convince her, tell her it's the only engine for the H260 that's nicer than the one in your next door neighbor's boat.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Be careful here!! The 8.1 is a Great engine, but does have it's drawbacks!! I have the 8.1 on my 268Vista, and the boat is fast and planes quickly! All my boating buddies with similar boats with the 5.7 are amazed of how quickly I plane off and they have called me on the cell phone while we are running togehter, and they ask what RMP I am at and I usually say 3,000 to 3,200 which gets me 28 to 30 mph which is the most comfortable cruising speed for my boat! They are amazed because to get that same speed in their 26' express cruisers they are running 3,800 to 4,000 rpm! The way I see it they are probably burning more fuel than I am at that speed!

The caveat here is because of what you said about your wife! She may not be happy at all with the 8.1 especially if she finds out it costs $5K more, because do not let anyone tell you differently, IT IS NOISY under load!!! It is not the engine that is noisy, it is the damn exhaust noise. The 8.1 puts out too much thrust to exhaust entirely thru the prop hub so it exhausts also thru the top of the outdrive, and when you have a crowd on board and you are trying to do some sightseeing and are not quite on plane, it is very, very noisy and it echoes under the swim platform!

After 4 years of owning the boat, I am glad I got the 8.1 but I sure wish it was not as noisy! A friend of mine just got a Chapparal 256 bowrider with th exact 8.1 Volvo DP that I have, and just this past week I went out for a ride on it. It was Great, and we were cruising at 55mph without a problem, but it was very noisy compared to comparable 5.7's!

If speed is really what you want go for the 8.1, but if your wife balks about the noise, don;t say I did not warn you!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

Success!. We have ordered a 08 Horizon 260 with VP 8.1 Gi.
Last week while we were up Northern New York on St Lawrence River, we run into a family with a Monterey 248LS with an 8.1. They took us a ride and convinced my wife that it is not a big deal to go with a bigger engine. The engine was not quiet but noise was very acceptable level. I was not going to push my luck to get a Thru Hull exhaust. In exchange I had to agree to get new patio windows for our recent purchased water front house in upstate New York for her parents to retire. In mean time we have found a buyer for our 240 so everything seems turning out well here. We are expecting to take a delivery of our new 260 in mid October. Thank you for help and see you on water.

Sounds Great! Congratulations and Best of Luck!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

Congratulations! I cruise the Sacramento Delta and Lake Tahoe, even took the boat to Lake Havasu, AZ. Pile in all your friends and throw out the wakeboard or tube. You are going to LOVE the 8.1. (I did get permission for the thru-hull exhaust and it is fun with the guys on board)

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2006 260 Horizon 8.1 Volvo DP
2007 Tahoe LT