Four Winns Horizon 240 or 260?

[Stuartbp]

Looking at possibly buying a 2007 Four Winns Horizon 240 or 2006 Horizon 260 this coming week. I currently own a Horizon 210 that will be sold after I buy another boat.

The 240 is from a dealer, good condition, low hours. Not a fan of the graphics on the exterior. The 260 is from a private party, great shape, low hours. 240 is priced high in my opinion...several thousand over the NADA retail average. Not sure how much dealer would come down yet...checking the boat out Tues.

Family does mostly cruising and hanging out at sandbars and beaches. Occasional tube towing and knee boarding...possibly a wake board from time to time.

I always had the 240 in mind as a good size for me..but the 260 looks like a really good deal and having a little bigger boat seems nice for when we invite guests. Is there any huge disadvantage or advantage to the bigger boat? How much more fuel would the 260 use? Both boats have 5.7 engines with duoprops. Is the 260 too much boat for towing tubes around?

I live in the Great Lakes area. The boat will be stored on the trailer. Boat will be used on larger inland lakes and lakes with access to great lakes. I never really go more than a few miles away from a channel or safe harbor when out on the great lakes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

since you only tow tubes to 20mph, no problem.

 

[Stuartbp]

Another question. When I check NADA for boat values, are those snap on Canvass Covers considered Factory standard equipment or are they an added option? I've never bought a boat new from a dealer so I don't know if they're included or extra.

 

[tpenfield]

2 feet more . . . just don't tell anybody.

NADA values are mostly a depreciation curve so not the best market value estimator. www.bucvalu.com is another source which is based on more market information.

According to NADA, you only add 'options' to their estimator if the item was not standard equipment on the boat. Most often canvas is not standard equipment. It should not sway the price much on a 14 year old boat though . . .

Since Four Winns is a prevalent brand of boat, you should be able to find a few listings of same/similar boats and get an idea of the asking price ranges. Keep in mind that actual selling prices are usually at the bottom of the range of asking prices for a particular brand/model.

Spring market brings higher prices as per the demand for boats of that type/size is the highest then.