coombm
Member
Any views as to the sea faring abilities of this cruiser - is it more than a US 'lake boat'?
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Four Winns 248 Vista - help please
- Thread starter coombm
- Start date
shane1202
New member
Hi,
I currently own a Four Winns 238 Vista and have had fun on the South Coast (Brighton, Newhaven area) and also Thames Estuary. Performs well and for the size a good solid ride. In May I have a long weekend where we plan to go from St Kats to Ramsgate and back, this should be fun providing the weather is fine.
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I currently own a Four Winns 238 Vista and have had fun on the South Coast (Brighton, Newhaven area) and also Thames Estuary. Performs well and for the size a good solid ride. In May I have a long weekend where we plan to go from St Kats to Ramsgate and back, this should be fun providing the weather is fine.
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gjgm
Active member
i think there s a degree of nonsense talked about "lake" boats. Modern production boats, sail and power, are built to exacting standard and in EEC then rated for their suitability. Remember those lakes can be pretty vast. Modern mass production builders are building for the modern mass market, and top of their priority might not be those who want to enjoy 2500miles of Atlantic weather off a UK headland. If you envisage lengthy cruises in all conditions, then yes, a UK or Scandinavian built boat is probably superior, but otherwise dont be put off. Just bear in mind that to get all that interior volume, you WILL have high freeboard and probably lower deadrise. Nothing wrong with that, just depends what sort of boating you want to do. And Id guess that if you are looking at this type of boat, you ve already got a fair vision of the type of conditions you wouldnt enjoy.
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Kevin
New member
Hi
I have used and owned a fair few US built boats but haven't had experience with the one your contemplating.
I agree with whats been said already that there is a lot of talk of lake boat when discussing US built boats, probably an old cliche but moderns boats will take far more knocking about than most owners probably care to, these boats in sensible conditions are working well inside their design and build limitations, the decision to continue to play or not is when it stops becoming fun for the people on board rather than the boat not being able to take it.
nearly all modern boats are compromises of performance and space etc so I think the bigger question isnt whether its US built but the builders reputation, the company back up record and that the boat suits your intended use plus things like the handling is to your liking.
I think that the difference between a lot of US production boats and UK boats is that US boats are often built to a cost for a mass market whilst UK builders seem to build the boat and set the price according to that, so you will find lower cost US boats that will be of a 'lesser' standard than UK boats but I think, sometimes, people take this as that the US cant and dont build top notch boats, they can when they are building them within the same remit as most UK builder seem to and outside the normal 'build to cost' US remit. Iif you choose a Sea Ray, Four Winns etc they are a match for the UK produced boats without a shadow of a doubt IMHO.
ultimatly the best offshore boats come from the USA, so they can do it when they really need to, all IMHO of course.
From what i can gather Four Winns do have a good reputation for build quality.
Kevin
I have used and owned a fair few US built boats but haven't had experience with the one your contemplating.
I agree with whats been said already that there is a lot of talk of lake boat when discussing US built boats, probably an old cliche but moderns boats will take far more knocking about than most owners probably care to, these boats in sensible conditions are working well inside their design and build limitations, the decision to continue to play or not is when it stops becoming fun for the people on board rather than the boat not being able to take it.
nearly all modern boats are compromises of performance and space etc so I think the bigger question isnt whether its US built but the builders reputation, the company back up record and that the boat suits your intended use plus things like the handling is to your liking.
I think that the difference between a lot of US production boats and UK boats is that US boats are often built to a cost for a mass market whilst UK builders seem to build the boat and set the price according to that, so you will find lower cost US boats that will be of a 'lesser' standard than UK boats but I think, sometimes, people take this as that the US cant and dont build top notch boats, they can when they are building them within the same remit as most UK builder seem to and outside the normal 'build to cost' US remit. Iif you choose a Sea Ray, Four Winns etc they are a match for the UK produced boats without a shadow of a doubt IMHO.
ultimatly the best offshore boats come from the USA, so they can do it when they really need to, all IMHO of course.
From what i can gather Four Winns do have a good reputation for build quality.
Kevin
TwoStroke
New member
What model year are you looking at?
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coombm
Member
2000 (2860KG version)
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