1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

[MillerTime88]

Hi everyone, Im new to this site and new to boating in general so bear with me.I have wanted a boat for a while and I'm finally getting serious about buying one.Im looking for something reliable that I can ski with and not have to worry about dropping ridiculus amounts into repairs.Ive been searching Craigslist and this caught my attention the most..http://albany.craigslist.org/boa/1340621565.html ...Please give me some advice on if this would be a good decision.Ive read on these forums that OMC isn't a very good make,is that true?...I know this boat has a 5.0 v8 I/O.Is the set up on this boat a good one with 330 hours?and also I seen this that this setup puts out 180 hp which seems sluggish for a v8,does that seem right?Sorry for the stretched out post,Im just a newbie trying to learn something and this seems like the best place to do that.Thanks for anything.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

Welcome to iboats! You have found a treasure mine here full of great information!

Four Winns makes a very good, solidly built boat. I have a 1991 Four Winns 190 Freedom. It is a pretty similar boat as what you are looking at. I like it a lot, my only complaint is that it does not handle the chop all that well. My next boat will be a "deep v boat" for that reason.

As far as OMC goes, I have one and am happy with it. I did my research before hand and found 2 delears locally that still fully support them and stock parts for them. I also don't mind working on it myself so that helps too. You will need to do this research in your area to find out how well supported then engine drive combo is. Sounds like it has had some maintenance done to it so you may be ok. (However, the OMC could become quite costly in the future)

My 4.3L V6 OMC puts out 175 HP so that 180 HP for the V8 doesn't sound right to me. But I can't say for sure.

Also, do you know how to check the boat over before buying it? If not, you may want to consider a survey or at the very lease, take someone with you that knows how to check a boat for rotten wood, etc.

Have you done much boating before? If not, I highly recomend taking a safety course. The info you learn is invaluable. Also, if you can, take a friend with another boat out with you the first time you go out just in case!

Good luck on your boat search!!!

 

[MillerTime88]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

Hi Blue. Thanks for the reply. The "OMC could become quite costly statement" is the thing that kind of turns me away because I'm the type that would rather spend a little more to have the satisfaction that its reliable.I did take a boating safety course back in '04 due to jet ski laws in NY. I have been thinking about that whole survey thing due to me not knowing all that much yet about boats. How much does that usually cost? I just read that the Horizon 190 put out 190 hp on a different website but i still am not sure...Anyone else have any other input on this boat before I pull any triggers? Thanks

 

[Thad]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

My buddy had a '79 OMC 5.0. It produced 200 hp. I do not know if that was rated at the prop or the block. That makes a lot of difference. I remember the valve covers saying 200hp as I got to know them quite well working on his engine, that is the only reason I know this. A carb can change the hp on an engine as well.
Even at 190 or 200, the engine will give you the torque you need to pull a tube or skier. Your top end will be crap, but, it will still cruise along decent.
I know that a 5.0 now a days can produce as much as 260 hp. But a lot has changed.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

I would walk away. The boat is equipped with an OMC drive . The parts can still be found but at a higher price than Merc or Volvo. All boats will eventually need something replaced at some time, I would rather not pay a premium for parts.

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

Personally I think it sounds like a decent price on a good boat, it it checks out.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

The motor would be either a carb 190HP motor or an EFI 200hp motor.

Specs can be found here:

http://assets3.fourwinnsmarketing.com/past_product/specs//1993/02 190 Horizon (p8-11).pdf

Also, from a design and durability standpoint OMC is as good or better than Mercruiser. The only issue is that they are no longer in production. Be leary of buying for one reason only...parts/service availability. They are good outdrive by all accounts.

 

[MillerTime88]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

My buddy had a '79 OMC 5.0. It produced 200 hp. I do not know if that was rated at the prop or the block. That makes a lot of difference. I remember the valve covers saying 200hp as I got to know them quite well working on his engine, that is the only reason I know this. A carb can change the hp on an engine as well.
Even at 190 or 200, the engine will give you the torque you need to pull a tube or skier. Your top end will be crap, but, it will still cruise along decent.
I know that a 5.0 now a days can produce as much as 260 hp. But a lot has changed.

Since you worked on it,what did you think? Did it have a lot of serious issues? and is there a caertain year that boats changed to fuel injected?

 

[MillerTime88]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

The motor would be either a carb 190HP motor or an EFI 200hp motor.

Specs can be found here:

http://assets3.fourwinnsmarketing.com/past_product/specs//1993/02 190 Horizon (p8-11).pdf

Also, from a design and durability standpoint OMC is as good or better than Mercruiser. The only issue is that they are no longer in production. Be leary of buying for one reason only...parts/service availability. They are good outdrive by all accounts.

That made up my mind right there...It seems like a lot of boat companies went out of production,why is that? by the way its the carb 190

 

[madurodave]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

good friendof mine has an 88 Horizon and LOVES it. Beautiful, dependable rig.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

So, you are not going to buy it?

OMC went out of business officially in 2001. The writing was on the wall in 1998 or 1999. When OMC went down they brought a lot of companies with them. OMC at that time had many, many boat companies and the Johnson/Evinrude outboard brands under their umbrella. They sold off the sterndrive design and production facility to Volvo Penta in 1996 or so.

Four Winns and most of the other boat companies were sold to Genmar.

Evinrude/Johnson were sold to Bombardier. What is interesting is that you can still get a lot of parts for the Cobra drive from the Evinrude/Johnson dealers and through Bombardier.

 

[MillerTime88]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

So, you are not going to buy it?

OMC went out of business officially in 2001. The writing was on the wall in 1998 or 1999. When OMC went down they brought a lot of companies with them. OMC at that time had many, many boat companies and the Johnson/Evinrude outboard brands under their umbrella. They sold off the sterndrive design and production facility to Volvo Penta in 1996 or so.

Four Winns and most of the other boat companies were sold to Genmar.

Evinrude/Johnson were sold to Bombardier. What is interesting is that you can still get a lot of parts for the Cobra drive from the Evinrude/Johnson dealers and through Bombardier.

Thats very interesting. So Im guessing Volvo and Mercruiser are the best way to go..I wish boats were simple,haha.I just want to get on the water.I don't know if I am buying that one.I am still searching hardcore because I want to get on the water before the short New England season ends. I know this is probably more of an opinionated thing, but as far as reliability, what are the high, mid and low end boat manufacturers?

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

Before Volvo's joint venture with OMC they weren't all that poplular in the US. It wasn't until around 95 - 96 when they were used on several mainstream boats. In fact if you get an OMC from that era it will actually be the same as a Volvo of the same era...which are basically unchanged to current production.

So all that being said go out and find a boat. If it is currently in good mechanical and physical condition that is the most important. Most of the mainstream brands are pretty similar in quality and construction. Condition is the most important.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

I forgot to mention that the boat you posted in the first post indicates it is a Ford engine. That could be either the 5.8L or 5.0L. Carbed version of the 5.8 is 215hp.

edited to clarify

 

[redone4x4]

Re: 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon

does the Manta Ray tube in the pic come with it??? That would be sweeeet! I have the OMC in my boat, sometimes I feel like I should be shot for it. but its been good for 5 years that I've had it. I expect to rebuild it, just like any outdrive would have to be after some time. Im not sure if i think I would stay away just because of the OMC factor. Is it everything else you want in a boat?