Need some help considering a single engine cruiser

[rsmitty814]

I'm looking at Four Winns 268 Vista cruisers. I would really like to move to a boat with room. But not too much room. Any pros or cons on the Vista cruiser? I ran across a 2000, 268 for around $24,000. It's a 28 footer. Thoughts?

 

[Another retired guy]

It all depends on condition! Have you read the "sticky" at the top of this forum? Lots of good advice in there.

 

[rsmitty814]

Yeah…..ya see I'm really looking for some pros and cons on the vista cruiser line. Nobody? Somebody out there must have some thoughts.

 

[Subman95]

As long as you just want to cruise. That's a lot of boat for a single. Does the 28 ft include the swim deck or is it actual? That's just something I would check on. Big price difference between a 26 and a 28. Good luck!

 

[four winns 214]

I don't have any personal experience with the 268 specifically, but I'm casually looking for the same type of boat. I've owned a 2002 Four Winns 214 Funship deckboat for the past seven years. I suspect the attributes of the boats would be similar, so here's my opinion: The layout of the boats are nice; the engine and out drives are top notch; the canvas and interiors are well made. Here's where FW falls down, at least on my boat- fit and finish. Where a lot of boats have deck hardware fastened with through bolts and nuts, FW fastens it with a sheet metal screw driven into fiberglass. Works, but it is cheap and not long lasting. The interior wood is not protected. I can look up and behind in my ski locker and see bare 2x4. When attaching the rub rail, a production worker broke a drill bit. It was just left there sticking though into the inside of the boat. It's still there.

 

[rsmitty814]

Okay! That's what I was looking for. So 2X4 rail backing. I Wonder if stringers, transom, bulkheads etc. are made of wood and if so how well they were wrapped. Always thought that four winns was a good boat maker.

 

[ssobol]

Don't get anything bigger than you can comfortably tow. This includes the capacity of your tow vehicle and your personal comfort level. Also, figure out where you are going to keep it. If it fits in your driveway (and you are allowed to park it there) then you could be fine. But if it won't, you'll need to have some place to store it and will have to pay for the privilege.

As an example, my boat won't fit in my driveway. The town I live in allows trailers (any kind) to be parked on the street but only if a tow vehicle is attached. For awhile I only had one vehicle so it was a PITA to drive anywhere. Either I had to take the boat, or risk a visit from the cops. They've given me grief about it a number of times. Apparently they have cops that just drive around looking for things like that. In the end I found a place to store the boat, but I have to pay to keep it there and it makes it a pain to work on it.

 

[tpenfield]

Okay! That's what I was looking for. So 2X4 rail backing. I Wonder if stringers, transom, bulkheads etc. are made of wood and if so how well they were wrapped. Always thought that four winns was a good boat maker.

I know of two instances where the early-mid 2000's FW's were not well glassed and had premature wood decomposition (that sounds better than rot). So, it would be something to check out.

PM me if you want some pics.

 

[Slip Away]

I owned a 2000 Four Winns 268 Vista for 6 years. It was the best in class for available room, layout, value for your dollar in a 25-28 ft. single engine cruiser. I also know 8 people that do own, or have owned the same boat in varying years. I have never heard of any problems with structural issues on these boats. It is
possible for any boat that old, but it is not an inherent problem with Four Winns or the 268 Vista. The boat performs just fine with a 5.7L duo prop drive, unless you try to have 8 people on board for a cruise. Then it will struggle a bit to get on plane. We used our's on some inland lakes, but mostly on Lake Michigan, and it was well suited to those waters. Deck hardware is all through bolted, stringers and bulkheads are encapsulated wood. If the boat was taken care of, you should not have any structural issues with this model. We sold our's 5 years ago for less than the price you posted. I would not pay any more than $20 K for a 2000 268 Vista.

If you have anymore questions, just ask.

 

[rsmitty814]

Thanks slip. Like everything it depends on the previous care and maintenance. In the pictures I looked at the boat was immaculate. Included full canvas and camping canvas? Also BBQ, tv, ac, etc. $20k? Really? I'm just starting my research on cruisers. The wife and I want to cruise the Erie Canal, finger Lakes and such. Looking for a boat both comfortable to be in as well as easy to operate. And the biggie….affordable not so much to operate but purchase.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, a 28 footer with a SBC? Sounds like a pig to me. I would recommend a big block motor, and if you have a choice, a Bravo drive. Alpha would be acceptable, with a 454 CID motor.

 

[Slip Away]

You won't find a 2000 268 Vista with an SX drive, only the Duo Prop outdrive. Which is actually more reliable (in my experience) than a Bravo III.
Big block is fine, but you won't find a 2000 model with one, unless you are good at finding needles in a haystack. The boat is the farthest thing from a "pig" as you will find with a 5.7L engine and DPin that size/weight boat. It has plenty of power to do what the boat is designed to do.

 

[four winns 214]

In an earlier post, I mentioned deck hardware not being through bolted on my FW deckboat. The deck hardware that MUST be through bolted is- cleats, tow ring, etc. Unfortunately, things that should be- windshield, deck hatch hinges- aren't. They're fastened down with sheet metal screws driven into fiberglass. The rub rail on the swim platform was not only attached with sheet metal screws, they were too long and stuck through to the inside edge. When a swimmer grabbed the edge of the platform, they got a handful of the pointy end of a screw. I replaced all of the swim platform sheet metal screws with machine screws and lock nuts.