NEW BOAT ADVICE

Jim Del · #1 February 20th, 2002, 02:51 PM

We've been to our boat show and decided on a 24 foot bowrider. We've narrowed our choices to Four Winns, Chapparal and Sea Ray. The nearest Sea Ray dealer is about a two hour trailer ride away and Chapparal about an hour. The local Four Winns dealer with a crack mechanic crew is a few hundred yards up the river from our place. We will use the boat for cruising, tubing/skiing and some fishing on the river and a 22 mile lake it connects to. The Four Winns 240 Horizon package includes a 320HP Volvo/Penta twin prop, boat cover, bimini, trailer and about two grand of extras at $39,500. Any advice on our choices would be greatly appreciated. This is our first boat and nothing beats good solid advice from experienced boaters. Thanks!

TxRiverRat · #2 February 20th, 2002, 06:37 PM

I dont have experience with Chapparal, and I used to own a Sea Ray. My understanding is that they arent built like the one I used to have anymore (1981). A close friend had a 4Winns and it ran like a top all the years we skiied on it. If i didn't own a Mastercraft (or some other inboard), I would have bought a 4Winns, Crownline or Cobalt.

Hooty · #3 February 20th, 2002, 07:23 PM

Howdy Jim Del,

I'd arrange a ride in all of 'um if I could.My neighbor has a 4Winns and I don't believe you could dynamite him out of it. I don't own one but they appear to be fine boats.

g'luck & c/6

Hooty

albany joe · #4 February 21st, 2002, 06:09 AM

I have a friend with a 2 year old Horizon 240 that he has been very happy with.

If you have a good dealer, I think it is a tremendous benefit to have him on the lake or close-by. Each year we have had some minor problem that was easily resolved becauae the dealer was on the lake, as opposed to dragging the boat for 1-2 hours.

I think the boats are close enough that that would be the decision-maker for me. - Joe

KCook · #5 February 25th, 2002, 07:13 PM

I'm not clear on which Sea Ray. They have no 24' bowrider. The Sea Ray 230 is really a smaller boat than the 24' Chaparral and Four Winns. Sea Ray does have a 240 deckboat and a 260 bowrider. Did you have one of these in mind? The 260 is an inflated number from the integrated swim step on the stern. Real size of the 260 is not a lot different from the Chaparral and Four Winns.

All nice boats, somewhat different flavors. I would expect the Chaparral to have the sharpest handling. Four Winns tries to think of everything, their designs really baby you. Sea Ray is posh and comfy. Whatever fits you druthers the best (my case would be the Chaparral).

That you like your Four Winns dealer and he is close are certainly huge pluses. Never hurts to shop of course. I would expect the Four Winns to price out a little less than the Chaparral. Hard to know just where to set the Sea Ray price, since they don't have a matching model. In general you can expect Sea Ray prices to be a little higher than Chaparral. But not a lot more! As Hooty sez, it would be nice to ride 'em all.

All nice boats, just watch that price!

Kelly Cook

TxRiverRat · #6 February 26th, 2002, 03:57 AM

Personally, goven the choice of the discussed boats, I would go with the 4Winns. They do make an excellent boat.

DJ · #7 February 26th, 2002, 04:13 PM

Jim,

I think you answered your own question. THe dealer is the most important thing. You can't go wrong with a 4 Winns.

jxp · #8 February 26th, 2002, 05:17 PM

We currently own our second Four Winns. Our first was a 258 Vista and our second a 278 Vista. We have had our ups and downs but I would not hesitate owning another one. The quality is #1. I do believe as with all boats the most important factor is the dealership and the service and knowledge it has. Good Luck!