94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

[hardiek]

I recently bought a 1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE with io. I had the engine checked out before the purchase and the mechanic said it was in good shape.

The interior was torn out when I bought it, but it looks like only a little bit of rot is actually present (pictures below). On my initial inspection the stringers seem and look fine, but I have not taken core samples yet. I paid $2000 for the boat and I was okay with the price knowing that I would have to redo the interior.

Anyway, let me know what you guys think about the photos below. There is definitely rot under the walkway to the bow (not sure the proper terminology is for that little walkway that takes you to the bow).

I have not taken core samples yet, but my initial instincts from other construction projects is that that the rot is minimal. If you look at the photo where the resin has been stripped away the wood is solid and white and looks good.

Let me know your thoughts on how you think it looks.

Also, I have one question. How far up does the the decking go into the bow? Or where does it stop as it moves up past the captains area and into the small hallway on the way to the bow.

Thanks for the help and I look forward to building a nice new boat for summer fun.

Kevin

P.S. More photos coming shortly.

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

More photos of the deck and rot.

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

and a few more photos of the decking. Today was my first few hours of work on it and it was pretty fun working on it in 80 degree sunshine.

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

and here are some more. We took a bunch of photos today, can you tell.

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

last set of photos for now. if i should post these differently than i am let me know.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

Nice boat .
I guess it depends how you will be using it, if you intend to install all the usual furniture and rugs then it makes sense to do the floor over.

If you just want to fish, well I'd glass and paint after taking core samples.

But before drilling/coring you don't know what you're dealing with, the transom could be shot too regardless what it looks like or sounds like.

Under the console seems to be a common weak spot in bowriders, the proper fix would be pull the cap, I'd hate to have to do that this early in the yr.
I saved my project until last fall and just enjoyed the boat last summer.

The engine looks pristine, were it me I'd convert it to a center console but I'm a fisher with no time for furniture or carpet.
No matter what you do its going to be good because the foundation is great, hull and engine. Trailer looks mint too. I can see why you paid good money.

so get the sawzall, cut those 2 consoles off....

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

thanks for the reply. Sorry, not more than a once in a blue moon fisherman so we are gonna go down the furniture, ski and lounging boat road. My daughter thinks she is a Sun Goddess and wants most of the boat for her specific sunning area where she can just lounge.

Besides that, I'll leave the fishing to you guys that know what you are doing. But I do have some more boat questions.

ok here is dumb question #1. What and where is the console? And after I cut it off how do I put it back on after the new deck is put on? Also, what is type of console do I have and what is a center console?

Lastly, how many core samples should I drill?

Sorry for all the questions but I am very green. Looking forward to renovating the boat though.

Thanks for your help.

Kevin

 

[Lou C]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

It's hard to tell just from pix, but it doesn't really look that bad to me, you might be able to rebuild the section between the helm seats (that opening is where the ski locker hatch was) and that section on the port side of the inner hull where the deck meets the side of the hull. If the rest of the floor is solid I would not be ripping it up. I would seriously consider glassing it over once all the rot is fixed, and then coat with a deck coating such as Durabak, I hate carpet on the deck of an open boat. It and unsealed holes is what caused the rot. My 88 was a lot worse than that, I had to rip up the deck from in front of the helm seats all the way back to the engine compartment, repair stringers, replace foam and reinstall the deck. The thing you are going to spend money on is the seating and side panels, they are not cheap to get redone.

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

Lou,

thanks for the input. if I choose to just rebuild the helm section is there any tips you can give me to simplify that? I would guess I just have to extract the current flooring and replace it with matching new flooring.

Also, where are the best threads on Glassing? I am new to all this and have no idea on how to glass.

anyone else have any favorite deck coating solutions in addition to Durabak?

Thanks.

Kevin

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

is there a glossary of terms anywhere on the site? thanks.

 

[Lou C]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

There are pros here that can detail the finer points of glassing than I can...to redo the helm section is not that hard, there is a layer of 1/2 ply for the upper surface, and another layer of 1/2 , that in the OE construction was just screwed underneath to form a lip to set the ski locker hatch into. I reproduced this but attached it with 4200 and stainless screws and made it much stronger than what was there. You want to probe all around and look for weak spots, it it's mostly solid, I would fix the damage and then glass the whole thing over. Then you have to decide what to do for the deck covering. Like I said, get rid of the carpet, I kept it just on the gunnels but that saved having to gelcoat the whole interior, I had a glass shop glass in the deck and gelcoat it for me after I installed it.

 

[hardiek]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

Quick question for you decking gurus. Once I have replaced the decking what is the next step? Do I Durabak next?

Also, how should I handle the gas tank opening and the ski locker opening by the helm?

Thanks.

Kevin

 

[samdimaio]

Re: 94 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE Project

also have 94 four winns horizon 180se. i believe your boat is in much better condition overall - the opening for the floor hatch just aft of the walk thru area on my boat was badly rotted - much worse than yours - no way i could rebuild the opening asyou know this "hatch" (see photo) is really nothing more than a crude wooden slat arrangement that was carpeted - went to the local four winns dealer to see how four winns constructs the hatch on their new boats - i liked their hinged fiberglass door they use now so after taking measurements and photos it appeared that it could be retro-fitted - so i ordered the whole assembly (see pix) from four winns with all the hardware and went to work - because the opening in the floor was so extensively rotted i had to remove approx. 3-4" of rotted perimeter area - which was actually wooden flooring - of course this made the opening larger -then fabricated a new "opening" using 3/4" marine plywood for the new door frame and door assembly and installed the whole thing in one piece so that it is flush with the original floor - since we had previously carefully removed the old carpet we were able to re-use it and the installation really has a factory-look and significantly upgrades the apparance of the boat's interior - overall nota bad retro-fit - i can send you the list of parts i ordered from four winns if interested - i would suggest that you carpet the door only because it gets pretty slippery when wet - i'm going to do this soon - i'll get a pic of this new hatch as it looks today and post it as soon as i get home from this business trip - send me your email address

sam dimaio 484-467-3762