Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
802
Well...here goes. Either I have amnesia, am a glutton for punishment, or I have unconsciously started smoking crack. Not sure which it is, but whatever the case, I have a new project boat. Bit-o-history...have car resto experience-o-plenty with everything from old and late model Mustangs, to Hudsons. Have done a little of everything, and can fix most anything (ha! riiiight...) so a few years ago I tried to go the "cheap" way and bought my first project boat. Project boats are NOTHING like project cars, I quickly learned. Project #1 - 1984 19' Invader bowrider with a 5.7 and an OMC Stringer drive, on a crappy tandem axle trailer. Total package cost - $500. I thought I had a bargain. Long story short, rotten to the shell...and a Stringer drive. After 8 months of misery and toil, someone made me a deal I could not refuse on it, and away it went. Project #2 (listed in the Four Winns section) 1998 Four Winns 220 Horizon with a 5.7 Volvo-Penta GSi and Cobra SX. If interested, you can read about it here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=442937 .
Heart-breaking disappointment, and I swore I would never again get a project boat. I would stick to cars or houses as projects, and buy a ready-to-go boat.
Project #3. Never say never. I accidentally typed in the wrong location while killing time and cruising Craigslist, and my pointer landed exactly on the ad for a 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon for $1500. Why not look? Look indeed. Within an hour, I had struck a deal with the seller to hold and store the boat for me (for an extra $250) until I could get everything lined up stateside to get it transported 250 miles to my home in Tennessee.
This is what I got: a one owner 1990 200 Horizon with a 5.8 OMC Cobra, SLX package (tri-color gel coat, depth finder, etc), a beautifully kept interior with only 4 small tears, and no rot of any kind, (bow filler cushions are even still there), solid floors and transom (always kept in stacked dry storage since new), and a fantastic original Four Winns tandem axle trailer with guide on bunks, surge brakes, removable tounge, new tires and bearings with bearing buddies, and very little usage. Doesn't sound like much of a project boat does it? Well...here's the bad: you may notice the thick dark mud on the hull...this boat got caught in the floods in Nashville in 2010, and was swept away and partially submerged. The only thing that kept it from sinking was the fact that it was in fairly shallow water when it came to rest, and got stuck in the mud as the water receded. The stern of the boat had 10-12 inches of water in it, so the engine was flooded. The owners insurance company pulled the heads off of it, saw water in the cylinders, and totaled it out. It has very light oxidation above the rub rail, the teak needs to be refinished, someone swapped out the tach with one from a Sea Ray (why?) and someone stole the faceplate to the crappy Dual Marine stereo (again...why?)

So, after $250 storage fee, $1500 purchase price, and $350 delivery fee, it sits in my yard now with a nice trailer-able cover on it, waiting for the first week in May, when it goes to the mechanic for a complete sterndrive rebuild, and a bow to stern check up. Wish I was stateside to do it myself...I think I could actually handle this one!
Here are the pics I have, and I will post more as stuff gets completed. The first four pics are of it at the seller's location, before I bought it.
Input and criticism is appreciated.
 

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infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
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Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

More pics...
 

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infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
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Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

more pics...
 

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infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

pics continued...
 

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infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
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802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

and still a few more pics...why only 5 at a time?
 

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infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

just a few more...
 

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jonesg

Admiral
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
7,174
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

I dunno, it doesn't look like a deal if the motor is shot. Is it?
The boat looks alright but you know the story, its what you can't see , below deck, that does the damage.

Funny screen name for a guy over in Iraq,
its better than "bullet magnet.":eek:
 

infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

I dunno, it doesn't look like a deal if the motor is shot. Is it?
The boat looks alright but you know the story, its what you can't see , below deck, that does the damage.

Funny screen name for a guy over in Iraq,
its better than "bullet magnet.":eek:

Below deck was checked (as much as it can be) before purchase by a trusted friend, and all seems well. The engine rebuild will not be too expensive at all, and I have another drive located and locked in if needed. Should have around $5k in it if all goes even half way good.

Yeah, infideltarget started as a joke on my email account. When I first got here almost four years ago, I was in Al Sadr City every night (NOT a good place), and one of the Iraqi Special Forces guys told me "You are Infidel...you are target!" and it stuck.
 

infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

Nothing new going on yet. Ordering a few parts and whatnot. Waiting on my time slot in May to have it towed to the shop.

Happy Birthday to me today! WooHoo! Spending it at work, 8,000 miles from my family and friends! Gotta love it.
 

23SX

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 13, 2009
Messages
35
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

Happy Birthday and thanks for serving. I like the boat and at least you'll know what you have after fixing it up.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
11,798
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

Boat 1.jpgboat 2.jpg3-2009, 4-2009 022.jpgI have almost the same boat but 2 years older, 4.3 4bbl carb and sunsport seating. Mine was in worse shape, needed a mostly new interior, stringer and deck repair. Still running the original 23 year old engine and drive. Salt water boat.
The red gelcoat is oxidized so bad it almost looks grey. Maybe if I wait long enough, it'll turn white!
Last pix is my mooring spot on the north shore of Long Island, view from my back window...

I think you'll like running that boat, the hull has a 21* deadrise and it is very stable for a 20'9" hull. The 5.8 V-8 should push it along nicely. Even with the 4.3 it is not slow because of the 4bbl carb. The mechanicals have been very reliable, given the age of it, and salt water use, too bad OMC's not in business any more because the Cobra in my experience was a good drive....
 

infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

I like that sunsport seating. I would have opted for that if I had the chance. 23 years? Well maintained speaks volumes. And that is one beautiful view! Long Island Sound? Very nice!
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
11,798
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

the water in the foreground is a local bay, that empties out into the Sound which is in the far distance. Conn is about 8.5 miles (Stamford) across....
 

Blue2Green

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 12, 2011
Messages
130
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

Happy birthday (late sorry) and thanks for serving. I did my time as well.
 

infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

Happy birthday (late sorry) and thanks for serving. I did my time as well.


Thank you sir. And welcome to the forums, from a fellow Four Winns / OMC Cobra owner!
 

infideltarget

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
802
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

Happy Birthday and thanks for serving. I like the boat and at least you'll know what you have after fixing it up.

Thank you very much!
 

rhino4552

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
10
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

I have the same boat as yours, except the sunsport seating sort of like Lou's. Be warned, we believed ours to be free of any rot or anything, but this turned out to be false. Over the winter we replaced rotted transom, stringers, lower unit, and carpet. Everything was done by a professional minus the carpet. Have around $7,000 invested but it is a solid boat with the original engine in it. Runs great. Youll enjoy it. Here are some motivational pics of the latest carpet installation and a shot or two of the outside.

Old Pictures
Lake2009036.jpg

Lake2009037.jpg


New Carpet
02c5f645.jpg

54baff3f.jpg

10be5c16.jpg

43ba5970.jpg
 

rhino4552

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
10
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

And as everyone else has mentioned, thank you so much for serving our beloved country. I have friends over there, and am absolutely blown away by the things you do for us.
 

DBreskin

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
799
Re: Third time's a charm? 1990 Four Winns 200 Horizon Resto/Refurb

Here's my FW Horizon with the Smart Tabs SX I installed Sunday. I am eagerly awaiting this weekend when I can try out the Smart Tabs!View attachment 89383
 

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