Would you still buy a Four Winns?

[dorelse]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

I agree with you to a point Dorelse.

The problem is many boaters are religiously devoted to their brand. If you don't believe me...start a "who makes the best boats" thread". Or the also fun "who makes the worst boat"

Differentiation is great for the consumer, not so cost effective on the production side.

Funny you should say that (because I 100% agree). I'm a Glastron fan (especially the 70's stuff), running a Bayliner right now.

If I knew how to work on an Olds 455/Berkeley Jet pump setup I'd have one right now...but alas...its beyond my abilities at the moment.

I'm not saying it'll be a plus for folks, I just think its a reality of their economic environment.

But, I guess I'm getting off topic. I would buy a Four Winns today, just like I'd buy a Larson.

Maybe its a regional thing? But I'm used to seeing lots of Larson's in these parts, while Four Winns are pretty uncommon. Crownline's, Rinkers, Bayliners, an occasional Glastron (no local dealer here), but not a lot of Four Winns.

Would I buy any Genmar boat today is maybe the bigger question? I would, yes, but I would also be assuming the risk that its the next Oldsmobile...

 

[Kracken]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

Totally off topic and I think the guy that started this like probably already boat his boat....
Yet his thread lives on.

I always wanted a Glastron. I was a kid in the 70s and my first exposure to boating was a 70 something Glastron 16 Ft closed bow with a 140hp I/O, owned by a friend of my dads. At a time when there were a lot of ugly runabouts with 70 hp outboards, this boat was the Led Zeppelin of boats.

The boat I have now is superior in every imaginable way....but it does not diminish the admiration of a 70 something Tron.

 

[henrye718]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

I kinda wonder what will happen if they start making boats in china. Only a matter of time? For sure that is the case for automobiles and that may be the end for the US car makers at least one of them if not two.

 

[marcnrobin]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

Not sure why you are "Volvo Bashing"??? I've owned mine for 11 years and has performed flawlessly... I was a Mercrusier fan before I test drove my boat and the ease of shifting and quietness of the outdrive is unmatched.
I won't even think twice about my outdrive on my next boat...It will be a Volvo/Penta DPS

marc

PLEASE read the following I just found on this forum....should I be concerned?

Stay away from Four Winns and Volvo Engines. I bought a new 2008 Horizon 180 and every other time I use it, something breaks. Radio, speakers, top, engine cover, trim switch. Small stuff at first, but now impeller goes out and runs hot, power steering pump fails and leaks everywhere, and now throttle cable just snaps in the middle of the lake. As I was holding throttle open manually, noticed bolts just vibrating out of engine. Four Winns name came from a contest, if you can use it 4 times (and you can't) without something breaking, you must win something. If you like being stranded in the water, this is the boat for you. Yea it is under warranty, but it don't help you when you are paddling and have to take it back all the time. If you must get one, see about having ores installed on each side and keep a strong rope on board.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

It may be because most boats in my area go in the brine or just the luck (or lack there of) of the countless Four Winns boats I have come across, but I have never seen a Four Winns used boat in any kind of good shape. I mean everything on it falling apart, soft decks, shoddy seals and fittings. I look at them thinking if they hit one hard wave the whole thing is gonna bust apart. Again, maybe it's just my experiences with what I have seen of them.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

Not sure why you are "Volvo Bashing"???

Not sure why you dug up a year old thread.....

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

This is an old thread that was revived for some unknown reason.

That said, I can't help but respond to Andy's comments.

He is right....sort of.

Four Winns was owned by OMC from 1988 through 2000-2001. At first when OMC took over they cheapened the build quality a lot....then by the time they figured out that that wasn't going to work long term they really turned around and made a lot big improvements. This all has nothing to do with the outdrives they were putting on the boats. I'm talking about the structure and interiors of the boats.

Four Winns boats from 1988-1996 or so, really aren't all that great, in my opinion, of course. They aren't bad, just not great.

Prior to 88 and after 97 I would say that Four Winns is a very good, sturdy boat. They aren't dedicated saltwater boats though.

 

[Kracken]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

I owned an 89 Four Winns 210 Horizon with the OMC 5 litre HO until last year. The boat was a rock (in a good way). No problems at all with the boat with 500+ hours. The boat's interior was better than most 4 year old boats, the floor was solid and the hull shined like a mirror. The only reason why I sold it was the outdrive. Every time I needed a part I was on Ebay bidding on used junk.

It just proves that if you take care of a boat it will last a very long time.

by the way the boat sold for 16K new, I sold it for 6K.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

After looking at the Bryant website, I think I'd be all over that boat. Gorgeous! If it's relatively close moneywise, no doubt I'd do the Bryant.

 

[iBrent]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

After looking at the Bryant website, I think I'd be all over that boat. Gorgeous! If it's relatively close moneywise, no doubt I'd do the Bryant.

I own a Bryant so keep that in mind. But as you do your shopping, make sure you outfit the competitors boats with options that Bryant considers standard. When I did my shopping I was looking at some competitors and after I included some options to make the boats comparable, the Bryant was actually cheaper.

Did you know Glastron considers side windows an option*? The frame is standard, but if you want glass, that's extra.

* apparently that isn't the case anymore. But it was with the '08 models.

 

[Stlouisboating]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

I know you've probably bought your boat long ago, but my advise is avoid Four Winns. I bought a 2002 Four Winns Funship and kept it for 6 years. The gelcoat cracked at each hardware fitting after year 1. Four Winns accepted responsibility and took it in over the winter and completely worked the gelcoat over. It lasted for a year. When I showed them the spider cracks again their response was we fixed it once, now its yours. They refused to honor the warranty after that. The fiberglass shop they authorized to repair the boat told me it was probably rushed off the line and none of the hardware was countersunk. Never trust a boat builder.

 

[Four Winns Erie]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

It may be because most boats in my area go in the brine or just the luck (or lack there of) of the countless Four Winns boats I have come across, but I have never seen a Four Winns used boat in any kind of good shape. I mean everything on it falling apart, soft decks, shoddy seals and fittings. I look at them thinking if they hit one hard wave the whole thing is gonna bust apart. Again, maybe it's just my experiences with what I have seen of them.

This is a rediculous statement. Where I live you can find many high quality used Four Winns boats. Mine is over 20 years old, solid as a rock, and I have never had ANY problems with it. Maintenance is the key with any boat. If you don't keep it covered and take care of it, ANY boat will fall apart.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

I spoke with Brian in Four Winns CS Wednesday in regards to a Wellcraft matter. We talked for a while, and they are doing better, production wise. There CS # is (231) 775-1351. He's been with the company 25 years...

 

[spudshaft]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

This has been an interesting read. I don't really know much about FW, but I'd always assumed they were (i) expensive and (ii) well made. I guess every brand has its detractors.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

This has been an interesting read. I don't really know much about FW, but I'd always assumed they were (i) expensive and (ii) well made. I guess every brand has its detractors.

Four Winns are good boats. I have unfortunately seen a lot of boats from the 90s that had been neglected. Any brand won't last well if neglected, however, with the amount of wood used in the 90s boats it seems they were rot prone.

My 81 has a lot less rot than a lot of boats I have seen over the years.

In 97 Four Winns went with standard fiberglass cockpit liners on all of the boats....this went a long way to making the boat last a lot longer.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Would you still buy a Four Winns?

This is an old thread that was revived for some unknown reason.

That said, I can't help but respond to Andy's comments.

He is right....sort of.

Four Winns was owned by OMC from 1988 through 2000-2001. At first when OMC took over they cheapened the build quality a lot....then by the time they figured out that that wasn't going to work long term they really turned around and made a lot big improvements. This all has nothing to do with the outdrives they were putting on the boats. I'm talking about the structure and interiors of the boats.

Four Winns boats from 1988-1996 or so, really aren't all that great, in my opinion, of course. They aren't bad, just not great.

Prior to 88 and after 97 I would say that Four Winns is a very good, sturdy boat. They aren't dedicated saltwater boats though.

I have to agree with this based on what I saw when I rebuilt my '88...the glass work on the hull was good but the stringers were not glassed in well at all and not glassed all the way up or on top...the deck was stapled down with about a 1000 rusty staples each one starting a rot spot...none of the scew holes for the seats had any sealer on em and the carpet just held moisture to rot the deck....by the time I got done with it (had the glass shop re-do the stringers...replaced the foam...deck...then had the glass shop gelcoat the new deck) it was better then new by a LOT...

Great running and stable hull....21* deadrise true deep V...
if FW still sold outboards I might get another...but not sure about another sterndrive in the salt...