Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

[irish1985]

This Fall I've been looking around for a bargain boat and I recently found a 2004 Four Winns Horizon. The boat yard says it only has 100 hours on the engine, although there's no gauge, so I'm taking that as a grain of salt for now (maybe my mechanic can somehow confirm this). I looked at it once in person, but since I am not a mechanic, I didn't really know what to look for, other than to make sure that I liked it... I'm bringing my marine mechanic with me to look at it again this coming weekend, didn't want to drag him out the first time since it's an hour away.

It looks like it books for 6-7k and the boat yard said they're willing to do 5k since the owner doesn't want to have to winterize it, store it, etc.

I guess the reason for my post is to see what everyone thinks? If my mechanic says it checks out, does this seem like a decent boat for the money? I primarily just like to cruise around the lake, and am getting tired of having to tinker on an 88 Bayliner with a 30 year old Mercury Outboard, so this seems like a pretty big upgrade. I love that it doesn't have carpet too! That sounds dumb, but I never want another carpeted boat. The snap on cover is awesome too... I am hoping to put away the dozen water jugs that hold on my Bayliner cover and never look at them again!

My main concern is that it was used in saltwater... the owner says we can take it for a sea trial which is good. Trailer is garbage but he has a nice EZ Loader that he will sell for $300... so I would be looking at $5,300. Has Garmin 498 GPS, VHF... pictures below. Any replies are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

More pictures:

 

[NYBo]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Looks very, very clean. Part of the reason for the bargain price is probably the 3.0L motor. You need to do that sea trial to see if you're satisfied with the performance.

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Looks very, very clean. Part of the reason for the bargain price is probably the 3.0L motor. You need to do that sea trial to see if you're satisfied with the performance.

thanks for the reply. yeah, i'm looking forward to trying it out.. a bit nervous that i may own a boat that's newer than my car hah! would of course be insuring it, etc.

and it didn't look quite as nice as the pictures in person... nothing major, but some chipped paint, oil stains on the interior/side walls (hidden from the view in the photos) but i think it'll clean up nicely with a little bit of effort.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Is that bottom paint because it was stored in a slip; in salt water?

My Maxum, and now the Sea Ray were both salt water slipped boats so you'd want to have a mechanical and hull inspection if possible.
Obviously maintenance records to review would be ideal if they have them, if not, you'd have to assume it may need some $money$ in past due maintenance.

Even if it does all check out, I'd not go higher than $4k figuring you may need to put money into it getting it current.

Mark

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Is that bottom paint because it was stored in a slip; in salt water?

My Maxum, and now the Sea Ray were both salt water slipped boats so you'd want to have a mechanical and hull inspection if possible.
Obviously maintenance records to review would be ideal if they have them, if not, you'd have to assume it may need some $money$ in past due maintenance.

Even if it does all check out, I'd not go higher than $4k figuring you may need to put money into it getting it current.

Mark

great advice, thanks mark

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

will be looking at this tomorrow with my mechanic, cash in hand. last call to see if anyone has any tips? one thing that caught my eye, was the brown stains on the back (drains?) that could be a cause for concern over the hull condition?

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

will be looking at this tomorrow with my mechanic, cash in hand. last call to see if anyone has any tips? one thing that caught my eye, was the brown stains on the back (drains?) that could be a cause for concern over the hull condition?

It could be I would check the transom over really good for any signs of water intrusion from those tie downs not being sealed properly. Although I suspect they're above the waterline and just rusting a little bit. If anything after you get it pull them out inspect/clean or replace and reseal everything with 3M 4200 just to be sure.

That looks like a good boat especially for the money.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Not all that abnormal to have some rust stains in that area especially if those are chrome but even stainless steel hardware can do that especially from salt water in a slipped boat.

Obviously that left trailer light assembly will need to be re-attached before trailering.....

Hope it works out for you.

Good luck.

Mark

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

thanks guys

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Not sure of your area,,,, price is regional. You surely should be able to get them down another $500 and I'd try to have the good trailer in the deal for $4500 if all checks out.

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

my mechanic blew me off today. at least i got to watch football. when i finally got him on the phone he told me it's probably a rip off anyway, he seems to think anything that's been in saltwater is an automatic red flag. i understand his concern, but without even looking at it, it seems pretty presumptuous. i think he just didn't feel like dealing with it today.

bringing a different mechanic with me tomorrow. we'll see!

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

my mechanic blew me off today. at least i got to watch football. when i finally got him on the phone he told me it's probably a rip off anyway, he seems to think anything that's been in saltwater is an automatic red flag. i understand his concern, but without even looking at it, it seems pretty presumptuous. i think he just didn't feel like dealing with it today.

bringing a different mechanic with me tomorrow. we'll see!

I suggest you find a different mechanic for all your work. I've put more hours on boats in the salt than fresh without problems. Both require proper maintenance. Those in salt require the motor to be flushed with fresh after every use. 14 years on my last boat that was used every week of every year not one motor problem. 3700 hours on the Yamaha with maint completed every 100 - 125 hours. Only a raw water pump needed replaced. When I lived in Yankee Land we would vacation around FL and buy boats for less than we could at home. Use it for 2 years, sell it for more than paid and upgrade.

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

I suggest you find a different mechanic for all your work. I've put more hours on boats in the salt than fresh without problems. Both require proper maintenance. Those in salt require the motor to be flushed with fresh after every use. 14 years on my last boat that was used every week of every year not one motor problem. 3700 hours on the Yamaha with maint completed every 100 - 125 hours. Only a raw water pump needed replaced. When I lived in Yankee Land we would vacation around FL and buy boats for less than we could at home. Use it for 2 years, sell it for more than paid and upgrade.

thanks john. i live in a lake town, over an hour from the ocean, so i think it may just be general inexperience or possibly 1 or 2 bad experiences that has my local mechanic trying to turn me off from a saltwater boat. regardless, it left a bad taste in my mouth today when i blocked out the entire day and then didn't get a phone call from him until 3pm cancelling on me (not to mention giving the guy at the boat yard the run around after he agreed to come in on a sunday when they're normally closed). just a crappy day all around... and the patriots couldn't even pull off a win to lift my spirits haha.

the new mechanic i talked to seems very knowledgeable, and eager for my business. he lives on the coast too, which is nice... most of the boats he surveys are on the ocean. he's meeting me at the boat yard during high tide for a sea trial tomorrow, so i'll post an update asap.

question, and possibly a stupid one - do you flush the motor after every use if you store the boat in a saltwater slip? or just once at the end of the season when it comes out of the water and gets winterized? this is a northeast boat that was stored in a slip but was taken out every winter.

thanks!

 

[pckeen]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Ah - locally, the market for boats in this shape would have a higher price than $5k, so that price seemed reasonable to me. My only concern looking at the photographs was that the outdrive looked to have some corrosion on it. The stains from the drains may just wash off - though there may be a yellow residue left behind after you do this.

All in all - it looks OK, but only if its in good condition mechanically.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

.... do you flush the motor after every use if you store the boat in a saltwater slip? or just once at the end of the season when it comes out of the water and gets winterized?

With most i/o packages where the boat is slipped and in salt water it's hard to see using flushing muffs to be effective as, at least with Merc. drives-not sure if Volvo drives have the same limitation, the drive needs to be in the mostly down position to run so you'll be sucking in salt water anyway.

However, on my Sea Ray the original/previous owner had one of these (FLUSH KIT-MCM (#898235A01) | Performance Product Technologies) setups installed where you can hook up a hose and salt-away type unit that can be used without running the engine and flush areas out. Even though I store the boat on a trailer, I use this to "pre-fill" the water pump and packages whenever the boat sits for a few weeks before I run it on a hose to give the engine/drive some run-time.

Whether Volvo has a similar type device I do not know and how much it might help making certain parts last longer flushing with this type of device on a slipped boat I can't quantify but the way I look at it: it can't hurt.

Mark

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

thanks john. i live in a lake town, over an hour from the ocean, so i think it may just be general inexperience or possibly 1 or 2 bad experiences that has my local mechanic trying to turn me off from a saltwater boat. regardless, it left a bad taste in my mouth today when i blocked out the entire day and then didn't get a phone call from him until 3pm cancelling on me (not to mention giving the guy at the boat yard the run around after he agreed to come in on a sunday when they're normally closed). just a crappy day all around... and the patriots couldn't even pull off a win to lift my spirits haha.

the new mechanic i talked to seems very knowledgeable, and eager for my business. he lives on the coast too, which is nice... most of the boats he surveys are on the ocean. he's meeting me at the boat yard during high tide for a sea trial tomorrow, so i'll post an update asap.

question, and possibly a stupid one - do you flush the motor after every use if you store the boat in a saltwater slip? or just once at the end of the season when it comes out of the water and gets winterized? this is a northeast boat that was stored in a slip but was taken out every winter.

thanks!

If stored in a wet slip it is difficult to flush after every use. Not really required. One at my marina flushes his Yamaha at the slip about monthly though. The motor has a connection just below the cowl for a hose. Use in a lake does not require flushing unless a problem with zebra mussels or other growth that can compromise the cooling system.
There may be some confusion with value as it is regional. The photos look like she is a clean boat. They show the cushions to be in good shape indicating proper storage. That gives HOPE the stringers, transom, and floor are solid. In some areas the $5K would be a bargain, in some it would be low, and in others a little high. You should know, and your new mechanic may be able to help, the pricing in your area.
I'd stay far away from any mechanic with preconceived ideas of condition. I'd not want to count on repairs he was to do be completed on time. I'd question if he performed diagnostics or simply just started replacing what he 'thought' the problem may be until he accidently got it right. I prefer someone that values my time as I do theirs.

 

[jkimball]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

That's a really good looking boat. Pretty clean and all the rust stains will come right off. I have a '99 Four Winns Horizon 170 and I absolutely love it! The only difference is mine is an outboard (which I actually preferred). The boat handles and rides exceptionally well, and it trailers well too. For a small runabout the performance isn't too shabby either; with a 17" Stainless wheel I get about 44 mph WOT and a great hole shot, although the 3.0 may be a little more sluggish due to weight and RPM limitations? Not sure.
Overall, great boat. I paid $4,500 for mine. It has no carpet and the interior is almost identical (mine is all white). Another great thing about the FW boats is no wood in the hulls, therefore no wood rot. If it's clean and the surveyor checks out, I wouldn't hesitate on it. Even with it being in the salt. As long as it was flushed properly and maintained (which it appears it was) that boat should last you a while. Those little pinto engines are work horses.
Good luck!

 

[irish1985]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I bit the bullet and bought it. It cleaned up real nicely, I'll post some pictures later.

Funny enough, I spent about 5-6 hours cleaning the interior - grime under the seats, etc. Beautiful day today, went to take it out and it wouldn't start! All I hear is a single click (and the very annoying alarm chiming)... scary. Brought in the battery and put it on the charger, that wasn't the issue. Everything "appears" to be hooked up properly, so defeated, I decided to call it a night and give it another go in the morning. Maybe I got more than I bargained for with my first I/O! When we first dropped it in the water, it fired right up, and I got to my dock without issue. Hmmm..

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Four Winns owners... I'm looking at a 2004 Horizon 17. Good idea?

Not just charged, but fully charged with all cells in good condition.