Follow up to S23 post - Four Winns...others?

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Overdraught

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Thanks to everyone for the good feedback on the S23 - seems a well thought of boat. Friend and I looked at a 2005 Four Winns 248 Vista with a Kad 32 today. 2005 boat, 30 hours, dry stored 2 years. It's almost a 'barn find'. The people attempting to sell it suggesting mid 20's could buy it as owner well and truly fed up. This surely seems very cheap for a 2005 boat? It looks brand new with all the kit included.

Don't know much about Four Winns so thoughts welcomed, plus any other suggestions. They really want diesel, although the petrol vs diesel argumnent has been lengthy! They also don't want much over 25' as its first boat. They like youth and low hours (don't we all!)

Any thoughts on this, particulalry vs the S23/25?

thanks again
Adam
 
Can't pretend to give a full evaluation report, but I've been chuffed to bits with my Larson 240.

Boat.jpg


It doesn't seem to be in the main stream of popularity, but I've found it very good. Handles quite well, good in seas, I've done about 3,000 miles in the two seasons I've owned her, including cross channel and a trip up the Thames from Poole, through London up as far as Oxford. So she's done quite a bit of work. Still looks like new.
 
I have owned a Four Winns for almost 2 years. I bought it second hand. Its got a petrol engine so that bit is not really relevant to you original question.

What I would say is that it seems to have been pretty well put together - its a 2004 boat and the cockpit looks almost new, while the cabin is similarly "fresh". Ok, its not perfect, but it does seem to be a cut above many of the others in the marketplace.

Hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I had the 268 (same layout but slightly longer than 248). Well put together, with no faults at all for the 4 years I owned it.

The Four Winns feels bigger than the Sealine (mainly because its got a slightly bigger beam). The cabin works well and the cockpit is sociable. The Sealine has a better galley, Four Winns relies on a single burner and microwave. I prefered the Four Winns over all.

The cheapest 248 I have seen was a yr 2000 with 5.0l petrol at 20k, the cheapest oil burner I have seen is 30k and thats for a 2001. At mid 20's even in todays market it seems like a good buy.
 
I don't know much about the Four Winns apart from that it doesn't have sidewalks / walkaround side-decks

When you have a boat with these, you'll never be without them again... just my opinion
 
I agree i think side decks with well placed grab handles are a must for the open sea/cold water. Having crew accessing the foredeck up through the screen or out via the overberth hatch can be a pain if not dangerous. Ok if your young and fit though.
 
On that note, possibly the biggest side-rails i've ever seen for a 25ft boat while still remaining proportional to the boat as a whole.. I love big strong handrails as they serve a purpose
 
We may be about to purchase a boat with access through the screen, and I already planned to fit two low parallel grab rails running along the front deck. If someone needs to access the bow in emergency in choppy conditions, they can secure a lifeline round one of the rails knowing they can't reach the water whichever way they fall. I also think they look cool on the right boat, with teak laid in between them.
 
When looking for the next boat up from our then Fletcher, initially we looked at the S23 and most of the American stable. For us, the general fit and finish was easily in favour of the Sealine, but I have yet to enter a US boat of that size that I have been impressed with, from a interior perspective.

One of the things that I wasn't so impressed with regarding the S23, was how easily it rocks from side to side (even when you are berthed, when stepping on to one side of the swimdeck). I could imagine that if you were caught in a small amount of chop, as can be found in the mouth of the Hamble/Southampton water, while going slow, then things could get uncomfortable.

It was one of the reasons we "pushed the boat out", and went for the beamier S28. The S23 is a impressive boat for a 25 footer in all other respects though.
 
Side decks are not an issue with the Four Winns. It has steps upto the bow and the bow area is virtually flat with decent non slip and grab rails round the outside. The advantage of no side decks is a wider cabin, and at the sizes of boat you are looking at ,even this small amount of extra width makes a big difference in the cabin.
 
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