Four Winns or Rinker

[dboat]

I am looking at new Four Winns 240 Horizon and Rinker 232 Captiva. Both equiped / priced about the same with 320hp duoprop or B3. Don't know much about either manufacturer. Biggest difference is hull, stringer and deck construction. Four Winns is all fiberglass. Rinker is encapsulated wood. Is one better / stronger than the other?

 

[DJ]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

Go Four-Winns.

 

[johnkc]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

get a crownline with a mercruiser <br />just my BIASED opinion, 4winns has undergone some traumatic times in the last year and i don't know where they really stand and they will have volvo in them ,unless you have a real strong dealer i would stay away from volvo . don't get me wrong volvo is good but in some areas of the country parts /service availability is scarce. and as far as rinker ,they are very popular ,but not much more than a bayliner {i'll catch hell on that one }.take a look at the fit & finish,not just on the outside ,but in the engine compartment and under the seats, how much stainless vs plastic ,structural integrity of the wind shield ETC, TEAR IT APART have fun

 

[oar master]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

i've never heard anyone compare bayliner with rinker. that's baloney. their customer service is top notch. i wouldn't hesitate to buy a rinker.

 

[johnkc]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

I knew i would catch hell

 

[runrrob]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

If you buy a Crownline, don't complain about anything. Their Customer Service people don't like that.

 

[DJ]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

Four Wins will survive. They've been around since the early 70's, have survived the OMC fiasco and come out fighting.<br /><br />I believe they will be offering Mercruiser shortly-if you're concerned about Volvo.<br /><br />Resale on the 4W will be better.

 

[runrrob]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

The Four Winns we looked at when we were looking seemed very well built and looked great. I think a Four Winns would be a good choice. I don't know anything about their Customer Service. Unfortunately we didn't think about Customer Service when we bought. We will be more careful next time. Customer Service is very important.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

OK,JohnKC..I'll back u up on that one. Bayliner is not the same builder it was in the 80's and 90's, but I still wouldn't trust them.<br />Rinker is NOT built very well. I know nothing of thier customer service, but one needs only to look closely at the glasswork where visable (they do a pretty good job of covering flaws with floss,as does Bliner).<br />But the fit and finish,as someone stated above will bear-out all...This will save folks like me and John here from ending-up in some tight crackz,defending our opinions..JMHO.<br />It's not so much opinion,as it is facts about the engines I wish to cmment on...Volvo is slightly more reliable ,but parts cost way more on average than an equivalant Mercruiser of simular size. Four Winns boats are visably built better, but still aint all that, in my eyesight. Take a look at a Boston Whaler,Mako, or Grady White,and the way they are built,then,take a look at the other three(bliner,rinker,4 winns), ad you will settle on a Whaler,even tho it costs a bunch more.<br />All the above comes from a proud Bayliner Captain, so my opinions should count where the bliners are concerned. Don't know much about the newer ones tho. Supposedly, there is zero wood in the new bliners..Time will tell.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

Sorry to whip a dead Eska, but..<br />While we are on this subject.. Have you ever seen a Rinker sitting in the water? Something is not right there.The ones I have seen seem to be bow heavy, and have a lot of waisted space aboard (rounded corners with nothin in them but floatation maybee).<br />They ARE pretty, but then,so are Bliners.

 

[johnkc]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

HI all, if you can check out the jd powers ratings of boats .......very interesting

 

[DJ]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

If you've got some extra $$$$ and want the best go-COBALT. You'll never be sorry.

 

[dboat]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

Hey Johnkc, I see from another post you work for a Crownline dealer.That explaines why you recommend Crowline with a Merc.I've got a couple of questions for you. Are you Volvo certified or just Merc certified? Have you ever worked on a Volvo? Parts availability aside, whats your opinion of Volvo?<br /><br />Obviously you see Crownlines everyday. Have you ever been able to take a good look at a 4W or a rinker? If so i'd like an honest opinion from a boat mechanic.

 

[johnkc]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

dldl,we are a volvo dealer also and have worked on many volvo ,havn't sold much volvo in the past 10 years .volvo is a good set up ,just not real popular in the mid west ,that is why i made reference to how strong the local dealer was with volvo service support. i am mercruiser master cert and have never been volvo cert.at the boat shows every year i do get up in and look at all the boats that are in our mkt area,because i do sell at the shows also.4w and rinker are in our mkt.and my honest opinion as a mechanic was in my earlier post .would like to add that i think 4w glass work is good . happy new year to all!

 

[its-a-sweater]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

DLDL,<br /><br />HERES MY OPINION. AND THATS ALL IT IS. WHERE I COME FROM MICHIGAN. BOTH ARE VERY POPULAR. THE FOUR WINNS ARE BUILT IN CADILLAC, MI AND THE RINKERS IN INDIANA.<br /><br />THE GENERAL CONSCENSUS WAS THAT THE FOUR W IS A STEP UP. GLASS WORK, DEALER SUPPORT ALL BETTER. VOLVO VS MERC? THIS REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DEALER. NOTHING WRONG WITH EITHER ONE. DONT COMPARE THE OLD VOLVOS WITH THE NEW. IF YOURE THINKING 2 PROP. VOLVO PIONEERED IT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

 

[dboat]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

Hey guys, thanks for all the input. Isn't the internet great. Right now I'm leaning to the 4W.There are a few specific things I want with a new boat.<br />1. Bow rider 23'- 24'<br />2. Walk thru transom w/ raised sun pad in front of L-shaped seating.<br />3. Extended swim platform.<br />4. Minimum 300hp w/ twin prop.<br />All this with trailer for 40K. (budgets suck) From the 23 to 24' boats I've seen only the 4W and Rinker have 1,2 and 3. What am I missing?<br /><br />Hey johnkc, another hypothetical question. I'm buying X-brand boat from you and both Volvo and Merc are available. I want Volvo. Do you sell it to me or try to talk me into a Merc. The reason I ask is on your first post you went right to the Crownline w/ Merc. even though you are also a Volve dealer.

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

If you want to spend some time to look up just about every manufacturer there is go to www.pagexpress.com and click on boating.

 

[johnkc]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

dldl,we would try to sell the merc first but if you want volvo you got it! our crownlines and caravelles do come with volvo also .

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

I find it absolutely amazing that no one here is bad mouthing the boat they own..So I guess they are ALL GOOD.I know mine is.

 

[johnkc]

Re: Four Winns or Rinker

what, mean my old piece of s!!t reinell that i resurected out of the junk heap 10 years ago and spent lots of money on