Views on Four Winns 215 , yr 2001

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geardownthreegreens

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Hi Guys

After a 2 year break from boating i'm ready to start again!!

Just bought off ebay, from a very nice chap, a Four Winns 215,yr2001 with volvo outfit,5ltr.

Any views on these boats or engines and drives?

Any info greatfully received.

Simon
 
We really enjoyed our 195 sundowner cuddy cabin. Good turn of speed, well built and we used it for both inland and coastal work. A well proven engine which we never had problems getting serviced.

I assume you are towing the boat, in which case you will at least be able to fill up and land rather than water prices.

Enjoy

Henry
 
Thanks Henry!!

Glad you enjoyed yours.
Yes, will be filling her up with jerry cans! :)

In terms of quality, how are Four Winns ranked would anyone think. Middle of the road so to speak?

Simon
 
My take on it is that with the smaller boats the Americans are hard to beat. Sheer numbers means production techniques can be used which aren't available to more cottage industry sized producers. Also volume allows significant development budget.

I would see them as one of the better builders within the size bracket.

Henry :)
 
Thanks again Henry.

Agree, think the Americans have nailed the sub 23ft market for sports boat/cuddy/bowriders.

My take on Four Winns was the same,always thought they were 1 of the better U.S manufactures and this is my first. Had 3 bayliners,1 rinker and 1 crownline in the past,latter 2 were excellent, so i'm hoping this boat will be as good.

Simon
 
Good boat, nice finish and decent quality. I think they are well into the upper end of American boats.

It feels 'big' for a 21ft cuddy and the Volvo 5.0L is tried and tested. The camper canvas is pig ugly, but that allows full standing headroom in all of the cockpit

At the right price and condition, I really cant think of anything bad to say about them.
 
We had a 225 Sundowner - I think it was a 2003 model. It had the 5.7L v8 Volvo engine in it. Seemed pretty well screwed together. Comfy seats and as said before, the camper covers allowed full standing headroom in all of the cockpit. My only wish would have been for it to have had a deeper V hull, as after a high speed run in typical Solent chop, you would look on the cockpit floor for all of your fillings! :D
 
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Landlockedpirate and pinnacle, thankyou very much for your views.

All sounding good so far. Sounds like my hunch is right and four winns are a pretty good manufacturer.

Think most U.S boats are quite shallow V's as most are used on lakes in the States and perhaps not really built for our coastal waters. Personally, i only like to venture out when its calm anyway.

Simon
 
I had one about 7 years ago, good fun boat & fine for coastal hopping as well.
Only downside was the fuel gauge (it kept reading empty) ;)
 
Gilly1 said:
Landlockedpirate and pinnacle, thankyou very much for your views.

All sounding good so far. Sounds like my hunch is right and four winns are a pretty good manufacturer.

Think most U.S boats are quite shallow V's as most are used on lakes in the States and perhaps not really built for our coastal waters. Personally, i only like to venture out when its calm anyway.

Simon
Click to expand...


Its been said before, but lakes in America can be pretty big ! I had a slightly larger Four Winns (268) and I agree its not the deepest V in the world but it was fine with everything we threw at it, including France and the Channel Islands.
 
Hi,

Chartered exactly that model and year twice on the Riviera last year. Very nice ride, we hauled 8 people around in it and pulled both a skier and a wakeboarder (not a the same time) and it performed really well, it's certainly no slouch with the Volvo.

We could have done with a bit more canvas in the SOF france but it's not much of a problem in the UK.

I want one myself, I was watching one on ebay last month but missed out when I was out of the country.

Well done,

Imagegear
 
Thanks for that imagegear. Good to know.

The boat you were looking at on ebay, is probably the same 1 as i've just bought as i've not seen any others.
For me, a mad impulsive buy to which i shouldn't have. I'll let you know when i sell her :-)

Simon
 
So you're the one who outbid me!


Only joking. I was going to bid on it - it looked a nice example, however when it got past £8500 I didn't bother.

From what I have seen in my looking around, they are good boats, well made, and whilst I don't think you got a "bargain" - if the boat is as good as the owner says it was then you have probably had a pretty good buy there.

My only reason for not paying "top whack" for it was that I have been recommended the Duo-prop rather than the single prop - and I am holding out for a good boat, with injection, duo-prop and so on - or a complete bargain I can use for a year or two and then sell on for as close to or just above what we paid as possible...

From what I understand, quality is up with the Sea Ray's of the world not down with the Bayliners - and I would hope on a newish boat like that, everything should work and still be in good fettle.

Let us all know if it's as good as the seller said once you go to collect it!
 
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