Re: 17 ft Fish/Ski with 115
Grear info guys. RotaryRacer, I am not sure what is the best way the find out, VIN? The boat is a hour away so I can make a call. What did Four winns change that made them better? Thanks
Do you have pictures of the boat? The appearance of the 1996 and older boats is quite a bit different than the 1997 and newer boats.
Also, they changed the model designation. 1996 and before they called the boats by there basic length...17 ft = 170 Horizon. In 1997 they called the replacement for the 17 ft model the Horizon QX.
The 1997 boat is a complete keel up redesign. It was a little more compact in fact the length overall was 16ft 6in versus 17ft 6in. Although the beam went from 7ft 0in up to 7ft 6in.
Basic dimensions aside the 1997 boat had a little curvier design and even though it is shorter the interior space isn't that much different since they made better use of the space, espeically in the rear seat/transom area. Also, one of the nicest improvements in 1997 was that they went to a full fiberglass cockpit liner as standard. Snap in carpet was also offered.
On the Four Winns website the have all the old catalogs for previous years.
1996:
http://assets3.fourwinnsmarketing.com/past_product/catalogs//1996/16 Outboards (p14).PDF page 1
1997:
http://assets3.fourwinnsmarketing.com/past_product/catalogs//1997/16 Horizon Outboards (p14).PDF page 1
http://assets3.fourwinnsmarketing.com/past_product/catalogs//1997/17 ... Specs (p15).PDF page 2
As you will note the 115 HP motor is the mid range motor for the 17ft boats. From what I have seen it is also the most common motor.
The 115 motor should get that boat into the mid 40s for a top speed. Hole shot should be pretty good, plenty good for skiing and tubing and the like.
Either way Four Winns makes a nice boat. The outboard models they made are, in my opinion, some of the best.
