1994 Four winns 230 Horizon. 454 King Cobra $500. New Boater?

[Stringerot]

Hello, all I am new to boating. I have come across a 1994 Four Winns with 454 for $500. It has been uncovered for quite a while. Tree limb fell and broke the Port side windshield but the frame looks good when I pulled it off the boat. Deck is shot, fuel locker and ski locker pretty much gone. I have begun to gut it out. Is it best to pull the cap on it to get to the deck up front making sure I take measurments to make sure the hull hadn't spread and do the deck? After watching these threads for a couple weeks I feel with the knowledge on this forum I can tackle the world. Lol.

I have seen posts that say run away from the 454 OMC and repower. I am not able to repower it. Looking to get what I can out of it and get on the water for next summer.

Looking for What would Iboat guys do I guess.

 

[jones01m]

Re: 1994 Four winns 230 Horizon. 454 King Cobra $500. New Boater?

Stringerot, welcome to the iboats forum. Since you have been reading posts, you know that all boats look about the same at this stage. As I struggle through my own rebuild I always look back and think that I really like the hull I have and the engine is good enough. If you are happy with these two things you then read (watch) friscoboater's thread in its entirety, get some supplies, then inform those around you that you are going to be busy until summer.

This is just what one iboat guy would do.

 

[Stringerot]

Re: 1994 Four winns 230 Horizon. 454 King Cobra $500. New Boater?

Thanks for the comment Jones01m. I think the only reason I really feel that I could take on this project was that I found Friscoboater on you tube while seeing what I was getting into. Talk about a great build, great info and an awesome family. I tend to watch those videos over the T.V. now and when I get to hot outside from removing foam. Get hot come in and cool off watch a video or read his thread on here. Rickryder also had a great project from what I saw last night also with a similar front cap/deck rebuild going strong as well. The biggest problem I run into now is getting split off onto all the different build posts. . So far alot of fun tearing into it with a bunch of doubters so now I just don't tell them I have a project :laugh:

 

[Stringerot]

Re: 1994 Four winns 230 Horizon. 454 King Cobra $500. New Boater?

So I got back in the boat and have been cutting. It's all going t o have to go. I haven't had the motor looked at but will do that the first of the year. If the motor and out drive are good I want to be ready to start putting back in as soon as possible. I just don't know what I am going to do with the bow section. There is deck than carpet then the top cap which sits on top of all the that. I am thinking I can cut around the side of it and fiberglass it back in or just build up supports and fiberglass those.

I also am thinking I have to cut the back section off so I can get all the way to the back of the boat. The cut would be a horizontal cut from side to side just above the engine.

Third photo is under those extensions looking at the Transom. I might be mistaken but it looks to me that the only Transom is directly in the middle of the boat and doesn't continue to the sides that support the swim platform. Smaller than I thought it was going to be I guess.

 

[Stringerot]

Re: 1994 Four winns 230 Horizon. 454 King Cobra $500. New Boater?

Had some help getting tank cleaned and digging a place to put the boat so it won't get over grown.