www.iFourWinns.com

Welcome Jabc and yep I think I underestimated the life of this thread
When you figure it out ( I am still pretty average at posting pics) look forward to some pics of your boat
regards
Ardy

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

G'day Giffo and Ardy

Sorry for the slow reply and thanks for the welcome. Yes Giffo, I would like some help re photos. I tried uploading to 3rd party site and then inserting the url into the Img tab - but I kept getting the message of something like 'It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image'

For the time being, you can see a pic of the boat and the vehicle needed to tow it (well, tow it with ease) by going here http://mantoys.shutterfly.com/pictures/11 - and if you can't access that then it just confirms that I am technical minion!

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Cheers!

2005 Horizon 230/240
Volvo 5.7 GXI DuoProp with 320 Neddies

Nice boat mate. Nice car too!
Mate I joined up tp photobucket.com Then i down load photos from my computer to photobucket site. make a album, say "BOAT"
Then once downloaded the pics select each pic by ticking the box under the photo.
Then select select 'CHOOSE ACTION' down the bottom left hand side of the page.
Select 'Generate link codes for selected'
Then under 'IMG for bulletin boards and forums' click on either full size or thumbnails. It will highlight the photo line with all the photo details etc. This should go yellow for a second or so and say 'copied'
Then go to ifourwinns page where you are creating your thread and put your cursor wheer you want the picture/s and right click and paste. 'Preview' your post to see if the pic/s are there.
Thats it. Just remember if you delete the post off photobucket it will loose connection with the thread as well.
Its the easiest photo storer I know.
You can select as many pics as you wish as long as you select them and select generate link codes.

Let me know how you go. Any probs and I can call you and explain on the phoneu wish.

Steve

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

Hey all - First post!
Just bought a FW Horizon RS from LA and hope to have it landed in Melbourne within a couple of months!
A mate who owns Brook's American imports has helped me source the boat, inspect it & ship it...
This Horizon seems a little more rare than the rest, as it comes with the Volvo Penta 5.7GL and SX outdrive.
I'll probably need a hand with some initial maintenance bits & pieces to ensure it's reliable for summer!






Cheers

Daz - Notting Hill, VIC.

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Hey Daz,

Looks the goods mate. Good trailer too. How much to land in Oz? (if you dont mind me aking).

Any help let us all know?

Steve

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

Hey Steve,

Cheers for the response!
Landed, GST, complied & everything will be in the vicinity of $16K.

For preventative maintenance, I'm thinking along the lines of the following & would appreciate confirmation:
Oil & oil filter change (Nulon Marine 15w50 & Ryco filter ok?)
Drain old fuel & re-fill with fresh fuel & fuel system cleaner (Spitfire or similar?)
Leg oil change
Replace impeller?
Replace Thermostat?
Replace bellows?

Cheers!

_________________
2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

There are plenty of fellow FW owners on here who will help too.

Onya.

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

I've been wrenching on cars for years and a low-tech carburetted Chev should be a walk in the park with maintenance.
The leg & bellows are something new to me, though!
I'd hate to waste my beer money on having a Mechanic uncrew filters and check hoses - but see your point...

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

G'day Steve

Just following your very clear photo advice and...






... you are bloody legend. How easy was that!?!
Thanks mate and enjoy the pics

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Cheers!

2005 Horizon 230/240
Volvo 5.7 GXI DuoProp with 320 Neddies

Holy crap. Good job. What an awesome boat.

Glad you worked the photobucket out.

Welcome mate.

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

Hey Daz, I'm in Vermont, so not far away.

Yep the Nulon 15W50 is exactly what I use - it's great. Ryco oil filter wil be fine, but I generally get the genuine Volvo Penta ones from Marine Parts Express in the US http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/. Genuine items at less than $10 each - unbeatable. Ditto for fuel filters, impellers, etc. In fact any VP parts! Great service, great prices, usually only 10 days or so for shipping, and has always been a good experience.

As far as changing the bellows, I just dropped my boat off this morning at JV Marine in Braeside to get them to do it as well as check the gimble bearing and check engine alignment. I could do it myself, but just running out of time! I'm OK to pay them for a couple of hours of labour - I supplied the parts.

As Giffo says, maintenance will always cost you $$. BOAT stands for Break Open Another Thousand!

Cheers
Alec

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Hey Alec,

You're just up the road!
Cheers for the advice on parts and I'd love to borrow some of your servicing tools to do the leg & engine oil (for some beer of course!).

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

No probs Daz. I was going to build an outdrive stand but like I said, running out of time before the boating season starts again so outsourced it!

This is the sump pump I use - http://bla.com.au/shop-online/engine-maintenance/engine-maintainance/manual-sump-pump.html - not the fanciest, but it's functional. Ordered it at BLA and they delivered to Regal Marine in Forest Hills for me to pick up. The guys at Regal are great, but not a lot of Volvo Penta experience. I get a lot of watersport stuff there as well as electronics. Don't really need any other specific tools, but make sure you have a 1 1/16" socket for the prop nut and filter wrenches for the oil and fuel filters. The fuel filter is a bitch to get off!

Sounds like you got a great deal on the purchase of your boat - I've always looked at doing the same myself.

Just looking at your pics again Daz - looks like it has a painted trailer - not galvanised and so will not last long in salt water if you plan to use it on the bay. They usually rust from the inside out. Something to bear in mind over the next few years.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Cheers for the advice, Alec.
I know most Marine Dealers this side of town through my work (Moose from Regal marine & Michael & John at JV), so should be in good hands with tricky mechanical bits.
If you don't mind me asking, what did your Bellows install, bearing & alignement set you back at JV?
Would be good to know what to budget for if I can't do it myself!

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS