Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

[JillyP]

Looking to replace the '95 16.5 ft Stingray outboard with a newer boat, 2003 or newer. I like the Crownline design and Four Winns are nice, also. I'd get a 19-20 ft. Thoughts? Other nice lines out there?

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Unless you are talking brand new, show room boats, how they were maintained is much more important than the brand name.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Buy pre 2009, post 2001 if it's a Four Winns.
Most years of Crownline are acceptable. Also broaden your search to include Monterey and Regal.

 

[jkust]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

I'll assume that every boat you look at is in excellent condition then we can differentiate brands as you are asking. Four winns and CL's are both decent brands. If there was no such thing as a Chaparral, I'd have probably went Crownline. My beef with Crownlines in the early and mid 2000's is their inexplicable lack of standard fiberglass floor with snap in carpet. I believe it was optional but nobody I know with one has it. No fiberglass floor is a deal killer to me. I dont' use my snap in carpet at all any longer in my sig boat. Crownlines tend to be more sporty than luxury and be a bit narrow in the bow as well. I like sporty and luxury but not narrow. Four Winns had the glass floor but a few quirky looking things like their helm design in some of their early 2000's boats. I like Monterey in the early 2000's as well. they were feature packed and ahead of their time a bit. Regal's on the other hand in that era, I can't stand their interiors as they lagged behind other mentioned I think. I also hate their walkthrough transom design they tried out in the early days of walk through transoms. Here in MN that's all there is is 99.9999% under 20 foot boats. I see all of them and know people with just about every small bowrider boat you can imagine. When you start getting toward the latter part of the mid to late 2000's it is much harder to differentiate as they all started really making nice boats. I will also mention that there was a good chunk of time from the early 2000's to pretty much current where the small Sea Rays have really lagged behind but not their out the door pricing. The late 1990's and very early 2000's seems to be where the line is drawn.

One of the easiest ways to differentiate on a spreadsheed each model of boat say on an apples to apples basis is their dry weight and gas tank size. IE an 18 foot bowrider with the same engine where one weighs 2300lbs and the other weighs 3000lbs. The nicer boats/boats higher up on the branding scale generally (not every time) weighed more and have a bigger gas tank. Some boats such as Tahoe for example that are ultra-budget have large tanks because of their fishing heritage so tank size alone won't do it.

 

[RyanSS]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

I just did this search earlier this year and ended up with a 2007 Sea Ray 185 Sport. One thing....make sure in that boat size you get at least the 4.3L. Avoid the 3.0L because you won't be happy with it.

 

[Mason78]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Buy pre 2009, post 2001 if it's a Four Winns.
Most years of Crownline are acceptable. Also broaden your search to include Monterey and Regal.

Why pre 2009 on a Four Winns? Did something change with them?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Why pre 2009 on a Four Winns? Did something change with them?

I was wondering the same thing, because the new models (2012-2013) are a whole lot better looking than their previous stuff.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Why pre 2009 on a Four Winns? Did something change with them?

Wondering the same thing. The only thing i can think of is they were going through some financial problems.
Four Winns owner, Minneapolis-based Genmar Holdings, Inc., ceased to exist as of Jan. 20, 2010.
Platinum Equity owns FourWinns now

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Jury is still out on 2013 Four wins models IMO, despite their "good looks" Too early to tell if they are made with the same attention to detail, quality materials
that were in their 2002-2009 models. Looks are one thing, build quality, materials and support are another. plus I don't think the OP was looking for a 1-2 year old boat.

 

[robopath]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Small sample size I know, but my 2013 Four Winns does not have a single problem or issue at 47 engine hours. Would recommend in a heartbeat. Agree that the OP is looking older though.

 

[jkust]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Small sample size I know, but my 2013 Four Winns does not have a single problem or issue at 47 engine hours. Would recommend in a heartbeat. Agree that the OP is looking older though.

Almost 200 hours on my 10 year old chap and no issues and boat and interior still looks 99.9% new. I wouldn't expect anything less. 2013 better be perfection.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Every long standing member here knows I am biased so take that into account, I am a Crownline guy, the little things are what drive me crazy, for me fit and finish are King and that is where you see the difference. Crownline has made its name on superior glass and gel work, if you look at a boat the first thing I do is look down the sides of the hull, when you see that mirror finish, no waves, dimples or imperfections, your looking at a first class boat and that is where Crownline sets itself apart, Crownline builds boats to spec, they have a base and then let the original owner pick and choose from there so you will have some odd combinations but almost always expect a serious powerplant with a serious outdrive, sporty lines and high quality build fit and finish.

Crownlines will hold their value better, they are one of the only manufacturers that will put a big block in the smaller boats(below 225), they are heavier and ride better also.

I have nothing bad to say about Four Winns, they have a great interior layout, I looked at a 2005 260 this weekend for a friend, to me the differences were pretty obvious nothing bad but certainly not a high end boat.

But as others have said, there is no difference in either boat if it has not been cared for properly.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

We have a 2000 Crownline 266BR and love it. It's larger than what you are looking for but I can attest to the quality. This boat also spent the first four years of it's life in saltwater and it held up extremely well. It's heavy.

I looked at a lot of boats before I settled on a 2009 Larson 18'.

Like a previous poster, Ii looked at dry weights (same powerplant) as a comparison. The Larson was nearly the heaviest. That tells me something. After owning it for a while now, I am impressed with the quality. The quality is there in the places that most consumers don't look. That tells me something too.

 

[Mason78]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

My Crownline is nearly 20 years old and still runs great looks great. Although the kids have reeked havoc on the seats:facepalm: It is a 19' with a 5.0L and it runs like a champ.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

I have a 2002 FW Funship 214. Nice layout, good engine and outdrive- Volvo-Penta 5.0GXiB & Duoprop. Has a huge swim platform that is one of our favorite parts of the boat. Fit and finish overall a notch or two below Crownline. As others have said, care and maintenance of the specific vessels you're considering more important than brand.

 

[JillyP]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

Thanks for the info. I understand that hours and care are important. I talked to a boat broker and he swore by Four Winns over Crownline, but then he had a Four Winns in stock that he wanted to unload! I looked at the Crownlines in the showroom & have seen some on CL, and they look like quailty. Was unaware they were a MN boat co. prev. I need to buy older, as I won't pay $30k+ for a runabout, though. I don't even pay that for my vehicles... Keep the comments coming! Thanks!

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Four Winns or Crownline? or other?

I looked at the Crownlines in the showroom & have seen some on CL, and they look like quailty. Was unaware they were a MN boat co. prev.

Huh ??? Crownline boats are made in West Frankfort, Illinois. They started production in 1991 in Whittington, Ill. The plant is still on layoff since june 4th due to lagging sales of sterndrive powered boats.