www.iFourWinns.com

oops, double post

I hear ya on the 260, I cant talk because I took a chance on the 'not so nice' boat to save me nearly 10 grand, plus the SR came with a trailer. It wasnt really neglected by the previous owner I dont think, but like I said it sat at a dealer for quite a while and they never touched it except for winterizing.

My driveway is the problem for me also, plenty long but narrow apron and not a wide street in front of it, with a retaining wall on one side that isnt very forgiving, plus backing uphill is the best approach angle to boot. That limits the size of what I put on the driveway for sure, but I keep mine in a slip year round on a lift and only have to get it in the driveway a couple times a year. Permits are really no big deal here either, unless you get caught by the wrong guy.

Going by the boattest.com reviews for mpg, they put the 2004 SR 260 with a small block at 2.25mpg so the 280 isnt that bad of a hit looking at their numbers. Not sure how accurate they are but at least its something to go by.

My wife and I inspected the four winns today. It was pretty nice. My wife really likes it. I like it mainly because of the low hours (160). Generator only has 17 hours so that kind of worries me...wonder if it even starts...how old is the gas. The boat only needs minor repairs.

I have to admit the aft/mid birth was really large. I have some concern over the possibility of the smell of gas or black water coming thru the aft birth as the fuel and black water tanks are completely under the aft birth. Any one have experience with fumes coming thru the aft birth?

over all the FW appears to be well made. It doesn't have carpet in the cockpit and doesn't have that quick shade/screen for the porthole. But it does have a screen door. The cabin door does seem a little cheesy but functional.

I think we are going to try and get it...with a price reduction of course.

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Now Looking for Cruiser
2001 Chevy Silverado 2500 diesel (my pull vehicle)
Previous:
1999 28' Adventure Craft
2008 24' Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 Signiture
1997 14.5' Sea Doo Speedster with twin motors (whiplash)
1995 Sea Doo XP

My last boat was an '04 268. It had 34 hours on the generator when we bought it, after new spark plugs and adjusting the choke she was fine. It pulls from the same gas tank as the main engine, once you run it a bit it will get to fresh fuel. We had no issue with gas fumes or black tank smell in the aft cabin.

We did have a old bilge smell for a few months, mainly due to the boat being all sealed up for over a year unused. Sounds like a good deal if you get the $$$ right.

Good luck!

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Thanks firecade.

One reason I was concerned about a possibility of a fuel/sewage smell in the mid-stateroom is because when I opened the round access cover thats under the mid-stateroom center cushion and goes to the bilge/gas/black water tanks, gas fumes immediately came through that opening. I believe the gas tank is located right below the mid-stateroom.

So just wondering if anyone else has experienced any issues with the gas/sewage smell coming through and into the aft cabin.

That was probably my biggest concern as I don't like any fumes in the cabin.

Bathroom maybe smelled just a tad.

Where the throttle control lever mounts to the drivers side panel...the side panel moved side to side some. Seemed cheesy.

_________________
Now Looking for Cruiser
2001 Chevy Silverado 2500 diesel (my pull vehicle)
Previous:
1999 28' Adventure Craft
2008 24' Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 Signiture
1997 14.5' Sea Doo Speedster with twin motors (whiplash)
1995 Sea Doo XP

Yep, not uncommon with mid cabin cruiser's. Not something that has ever happened to me in owning two different cruiser's, but as you will read in this thread below, it has happened to a few owner's for several reasons.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4269&hilit=gas+smell+in+cabin

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

The FW cockpit carpet just lays in, no snaps, so easy enough to add if it its not there.

Which generator does it have? I wouldnt worry about the 17 hours but I would replace the impeller before even trying to start it.

The 248 I had had the waste tank and fuel tank right under the mid berth as well, never had any waste odor problems. Just the typical mildew 'boat smell' from the leakiing AC pan that went away after I fixed it. All the cruisers I had would get some slight fuel smell in the cabin after sitting for a while closed up, nothing that hit you when you opened the door or anything like that. My wife never smells anything so maybe its just me, I HATE the smell of raw fuel.

The FW port windows is I used to leave them open all the time when it was just sitting and that helped with the odors, they are on the lower part of the hull like this \_/ and rain doesnt get in them when open, the SR windows are up higher like this /--\ and I cant leave them open. A hard rain and water gets in the SR even in a covered slip if the wind blows the right way, never in the FW.

Sounds like a decent boat, does it have the arch/spoiler?

It has the kohler 5kw.
It has the arch.
Has every option except camping enclosure and cockpit carpet...6.2 liter engine, bravo III, genset, air conditioning, vacuflush, macerator, grey water tank(has 2 waste water covers on the outside hull), 2 remote radio controls(which don't work cause the installed another radio below the existing one), cockpit cover, stainless props, triple axle trailer with 2 axles being drum brakes, white bottom paint (never seen that before).

I did notice the port windows being below the wide hull line. The one window must of been left open as it showed water calcium on the inside lower lock lever.

There was also stagnet water in front of the shower bilge pump.

_________________
Now Looking for Cruiser
2001 Chevy Silverado 2500 diesel (my pull vehicle)
Previous:
1999 28' Adventure Craft
2008 24' Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 Signiture
1997 14.5' Sea Doo Speedster with twin motors (whiplash)
1995 Sea Doo XP

Sounds like a nice boat.

If its been sitting outside on the trailer its not uncommon for water to be forward unless the front is jacked up pretty high.

Nice to have the camper canvas, helps if you get caught in the rain.

Does the generator have the digital display? They were switching to the newer 5ECD (fuel injected, cat converter) around 2006-7.

Kp...I don't remember seeing a digital display on the generator. The hour meter on the gen was not digital. That would be sweet to have the FI one though. Take FI over carb anyday.

I think it had the camping enclosure because it has the zippers and what not on the arch...but I didn't see it in the boat. A broker showed me the boat and they don't know of course...same with any service records...don't know...same with the manuals...broker doesn't know.

Captain Morgan...thanks for the link...learned a lot about fuel smells in the cabin and where to look. This boat did not actually have fuel smells in the cabin until I opened that access cover in the mid-stateroom. The head did have a little smell but not bad.

We put out an offer for the FW and waiting to see if they accept. I personally like the layout of the SR better but the sellers are being a real pain in the but and appear to not want to do a sea trial. I am trying to convince them otherwise...but not being able to do a sea trial will be a deal breaker.

The 278 owner may have the carpet and canvas parts, pretty sure if it has an arch it should come with full canvas and the cockpit carpet was standard as well. Even though the carpet in my old '06 248 was pretty nasty, the black rubber backing was falling apart but the front section was still usable.

The newer generators have a digital display, thats what displays the hours so you would see it. While being FI is nice, the electronics and sensors are a bit finiky and expensive. The carb model is pretty reliable, usual choke/carb issues if its been sitting a while though.

No reason to deal with a difficult owner/broker with the SR unless its a really a great boat or a really great deal, I would be happy with a loaded '06 278. Good luck with the offer.