opinion on boat

hancoveguy · 10-31-2008, 12:24 PM

Hello all, need an opinion on a boat I am looking at. 98 FourWinns 238 vista cruiser with 150 hours. volvo 5.0 duoprop. No trailer, looking for suggestions on a trailer as well. Seatrial it tomorrow, wlecome any and all opinions.

thanks

camp guy · 10-31-2008, 02:56 PM

FourWinns is an excellent boat. My suggestion is to also look at the dearership and the mechanic. After you buy a boat, service is your biggest concern. Generally, a dealership will provide good service, if the boat came from them; however, unfortunately, if you buy the boat "on your own", you may run the risk of having service problems. Also, since you are looking for a trailer, I am guessing you are going to trailer the boat for use (as opposed to docking or mooring for the season) so you want to make sure a dealer will also service your trailer. I'm sure you know, boat ownership goes far beyond just owning the boat. Good luck to you, and congratulations.

VitaBene · 10-31-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

Hello all, need an opinion on a boat I am looking at. 98 FourWinns 238 vista cruiser with 150 hours. volvo 5.0 duoprop. No trailer, looking for suggestions on a trailer as well. Seatrial it tomorrow, wlecome any and all opinions.

thanks

Nice boat, low hours for the year. Nice motor and sterndrive although it may be a bit underpowered for its size. Take note of how much fuel is already on board (the delta between an empty and full tank can be 500 pounds) and try to take some buddies with you to get a feel for it loaded down.

Best of luck!

John

camp guy · 11-09-2008, 09:11 AM

So, hancoveguy, how did the seatrial go last week ?

brk-lnt · 11-09-2008, 09:21 AM

I would also suggest a survey. I have the name/number of a very competent guy if you need a suggestion.

hancoveguy · 11-09-2008, 09:54 PM

Survey went great, Guy checked everything. Eng compression, paint chips, all the way up to WOT engine temp with an external gauge while underway. Got my money's worth. Appraised out at between 19 and 20k as is. We agreed on a price significantly lower than that. Very pleased with the transaction.
Still have to get a trailer and some basic minimal repairs,(mostly preventive maint issues) and a good detailing (been sitting a while)

Open to thoughts on-
Rollers or bunks (boat weighs 5000 wet) should only trailer 3-5x/year plus storage
Need a good detail guy, inside and out
thinking about having the outdrive sandblasted, good idea or bad?
Also, have questions on a GPS/chartplotter- novice boater here

All for now, would invite any and all feedback...
thanks

jrc · 11-09-2008, 10:37 PM

First of all check out unofficial four winns forum at www.ifourwinns.com.

Second consider a chartplotter that takes C-MAP cartridges, if you plan to use it on Winnipesaukee. The Bizer chart is best on C-map. I have the Northstar M84 and love it.

My Dad had a 5000 lb Four Winns on a roller trailer and never had an issue,
but that's just one data point.

Dave R · 11-10-2008, 07:49 AM

I have owned both roller and bunk trailers. I prefer a bunk for typical fresh water ramps (shallow angle). In salt water, the ramps tend to be steeper due to the tidal range, and a roller is usually easier to use on a steep ramp.

I think bunks support the boat better.

I sand blasted my drive, gimbal and transom assembly, then repainted properly using zinc chromate primer and gloss balck paint (on my Bravo 3) It has held up very well and looks much better.

C-Map rocks. I have a Standard Horizon plotter and am quite pleased.

Sounds like a nice boat. Have fun.

Woodsy · 11-10-2008, 09:46 AM

hancoveguy...

Best boat detailer on the lake is John Spooner of Diamond Shine! In fact my Donzi is there as I type this. He has long list of excellent references, (he does almost all of the Hi-performance boats on the lake) does a fantastic job and is insured! Tell him Woodsy sent ya!

http://www.diamondshinenh.com/

He also does winterizing and shrinkwrapping if you plan to store the boat outside this winter.

For GPS... these guys are spot on! You want a GPS that takes the C-Map chip of the lake. I have a Standard Horizon and it works great!

Definitely go with a Bunk type trailer. Your boat is heavy and will spend quite a bit of time (off season) on the trailer. The bunks are measurably better for the bottom of the hull...

Woodsy

PS: Was this boat owned by guy named Steve?

hancoveguy · 11-10-2008, 03:24 PM

thank you to all that replied, Got some good info now. Some follow up questions though...
Standard horizon chartplotters? price range? How are they to install or should I have a dealer install it right?
As far as sandblasting and painting goes, is there any extra precaution I should take to make sure no sand gets in anything important?
The boat was not owned by a Steve, sorry, Boat is out of Amesbury Ma.
Boat names? Can you just change them willy nilly? Paint or vinyl lettering?

thanks again

brk-lnt · 11-10-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

Boat names? Can you just change them willy nilly?
thanks again

No! There is a ritual you must go through when changing a boat name.

http://199.236.110.33/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm

Woodsy · 11-10-2008, 04:18 PM

hancoveguy...

There is def a ritual to be followed when renaming a boat... see the above post! Go with vinyl lettering... relatively cheap and easy to fix if you happen to scratch off a letter. Gator Signs in Gilford is the place to go.

Let me preface the rest of the post by saying I do not have any idea what your skill level is... so please dont read malice into anything.

Chartplotters come in all price ranges... a good one will run you just about $500 or so plus another $100 for the C-Map chip. If you can install a car stereo, you can install a GPS... the key to a GPS install is antenna placement. (although some of the newer ones have an internal antenna so no worries)

I am guessing the boat was used primarily in the ocean? I am also going to hazard a guess the boat was kept in a slip in the ocean. I say this because you want to sandblast and paint the drive. The corrosion on the drive indicates the boat was kept for long periods of time in the salt water and rarely if ever flushed with fresh water. If this is the case, you need to budget for some new exhaust manifolds... a surveyor has no way of telling the condition and they WILL FAIL eventually... they can take your motor with them! Better to replace them before they fail. They arent that expensive and you could probably do this yourself.

If you want to clean up your drive... its my suggestion is to leave the drive alone, perhaps scrape off the the barnacles & corrosion with a wire brush and use a marine epoxy to fill the pits and then just hit it with the proper paint.

Should you decide you want to sandblast.... You DO NOT want to sandblast and paint your drive on the boat!!! Remove the drive. The sandblast media is very fine and will get into places it shouldn't!! If you get sandblast media into your transom assembly it could cause all sorts of problems... If you get that media into your drive then you will be proud owner of a very expensive piece of scrap metal.

Remove the drive, remove the props, then mask off the propshaft and driveshaft very very carefully. Sandblast the drive, fill in the pits with the marine epoxy, then sand. Prime the metal using a zinc chromate primer, then finish with the volvo grey.

Woodsy

10-31-2008, 12:24 PM	#1
hancoveguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 276 Thanks: 95 Thanked 65 Times in 30 Posts	opinion on boat Hello all, need an opinion on a boat I am looking at. 98 FourWinns 238 vista cruiser with 150 hours. volvo 5.0 duoprop. No trailer, looking for suggestions on a trailer as well. Seatrial it tomorrow, wlecome any and all opinions. thanks

10-31-2008, 02:56 PM	#2
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,181 Thanks: 299 Thanked 525 Times in 293 Posts	Opinion of boat FourWinns is an excellent boat. My suggestion is to also look at the dearership and the mechanic. After you buy a boat, service is your biggest concern. Generally, a dealership will provide good service, if the boat came from them; however, unfortunately, if you buy the boat "on your own", you may run the risk of having service problems. Also, since you are looking for a trailer, I am guessing you are going to trailer the boat for use (as opposed to docking or mooring for the season) so you want to make sure a dealer will also service your trailer. I'm sure you know, boat ownership goes far beyond just owning the boat. Good luck to you, and congratulations.

11-09-2008, 09:11 AM	#4
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,181 Thanks: 299 Thanked 525 Times in 293 Posts	Opinion of boat So, hancoveguy, how did the seatrial go last week ?

11-09-2008, 09:21 AM	#5
brk-lnt Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Down Shores Posts: 1,944 Thanks: 544 Thanked 570 Times in 335 Posts	I would also suggest a survey. I have the name/number of a very competent guy if you need a suggestion. __________________ [insert witty phrase here]

11-10-2008, 09:46 AM	#9
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,965 Thanks: 80 Thanked 979 Times in 440 Posts	hancoveguy... Best boat detailer on the lake is John Spooner of Diamond Shine! In fact my Donzi is there as I type this. He has long list of excellent references, (he does almost all of the Hi-performance boats on the lake) does a fantastic job and is insured! Tell him Woodsy sent ya! http://www.diamondshinenh.com/ He also does winterizing and shrinkwrapping if you plan to store the boat outside this winter. For GPS... these guys are spot on! You want a GPS that takes the C-Map chip of the lake. I have a Standard Horizon and it works great! Definitely go with a Bunk type trailer. Your boat is heavy and will spend quite a bit of time (off season) on the trailer. The bunks are measurably better for the bottom of the hull... Woodsy PS: Was this boat owned by guy named Steve? __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

11-09-2008, 09:54 PM	#6
hancoveguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 276 Thanks: 95 Thanked 65 Times in 30 Posts	Survey went great, Guy checked everything. Eng compression, paint chips, all the way up to WOT engine temp with an external gauge while underway. Got my money's worth. Appraised out at between 19 and 20k as is. We agreed on a price significantly lower than that. Very pleased with the transaction. Still have to get a trailer and some basic minimal repairs,(mostly preventive maint issues) and a good detailing (been sitting a while) Open to thoughts on- Rollers or bunks (boat weighs 5000 wet) should only trailer 3-5x/year plus storage Need a good detail guy, inside and out thinking about having the outdrive sandblasted, good idea or bad? Also, have questions on a GPS/chartplotter- novice boater here All for now, would invite any and all feedback... thanks

11-09-2008, 10:37 PM	#7
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	First of all check out unofficial four winns forum at www.ifourwinns.com. Second consider a chartplotter that takes C-MAP cartridges, if you plan to use it on Winnipesaukee. The Bizer chart is best on C-map. I have the Northstar M84 and love it. My Dad had a 5000 lb Four Winns on a roller trailer and never had an issue, but that's just one data point.

11-10-2008, 07:49 AM	#8
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,984 Thanks: 246 Thanked 743 Times in 443 Posts	I have owned both roller and bunk trailers. I prefer a bunk for typical fresh water ramps (shallow angle). In salt water, the ramps tend to be steeper due to the tidal range, and a roller is usually easier to use on a steep ramp. I think bunks support the boat better. I sand blasted my drive, gimbal and transom assembly, then repainted properly using zinc chromate primer and gloss balck paint (on my Bravo 3) It has held up very well and looks much better. C-Map rocks. I have a Standard Horizon plotter and am quite pleased. Sounds like a nice boat. Have fun.

11-10-2008, 03:24 PM	#10
hancoveguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 276 Thanks: 95 Thanked 65 Times in 30 Posts	thank you to all that replied, Got some good info now. Some follow up questions though... Standard horizon chartplotters? price range? How are they to install or should I have a dealer install it right? As far as sandblasting and painting goes, is there any extra precaution I should take to make sure no sand gets in anything important? The boat was not owned by a Steve, sorry, Boat is out of Amesbury Ma. Boat names? Can you just change them willy nilly? Paint or vinyl lettering? thanks again

11-10-2008, 04:18 PM	#12
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,965 Thanks: 80 Thanked 979 Times in 440 Posts	hancoveguy... There is def a ritual to be followed when renaming a boat... see the above post! Go with vinyl lettering... relatively cheap and easy to fix if you happen to scratch off a letter. Gator Signs in Gilford is the place to go. Let me preface the rest of the post by saying I do not have any idea what your skill level is... so please dont read malice into anything. Chartplotters come in all price ranges... a good one will run you just about $500 or so plus another $100 for the C-Map chip. If you can install a car stereo, you can install a GPS... the key to a GPS install is antenna placement. (although some of the newer ones have an internal antenna so no worries) I am guessing the boat was used primarily in the ocean? I am also going to hazard a guess the boat was kept in a slip in the ocean. I say this because you want to sandblast and paint the drive. The corrosion on the drive indicates the boat was kept for long periods of time in the salt water and rarely if ever flushed with fresh water. If this is the case, you need to budget for some new exhaust manifolds... a surveyor has no way of telling the condition and they WILL FAIL eventually... they can take your motor with them! Better to replace them before they fail. They arent that expensive and you could probably do this yourself. If you want to clean up your drive... its my suggestion is to leave the drive alone, perhaps scrape off the the barnacles & corrosion with a wire brush and use a marine epoxy to fill the pits and then just hit it with the proper paint. Should you decide you want to sandblast.... You DO NOT want to sandblast and paint your drive on the boat!!! Remove the drive. The sandblast media is very fine and will get into places it shouldn't!! If you get sandblast media into your transom assembly it could cause all sorts of problems... If you get that media into your drive then you will be proud owner of a very expensive piece of scrap metal. Remove the drive, remove the props, then mask off the propshaft and driveshaft very very carefully. Sandblast the drive, fill in the pits with the marine epoxy, then sand. Prime the metal using a zinc chromate primer, then finish with the volvo grey. Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.