1987 Four Winns Boat 16ft inboard would you Buy?

[MotorMan101]

I am on a pretty low budget of $3000 and came across a 1987 Four Winns bow rider for $2500 running and that was winterized. It has a 3.0L Mercuiser motor. Would this be a good buy? I am new to boats like this and only have experience with a small john boat.

 

[Scott Danforth]

It will most likely need a complete hull restoration. I would pass

 

[JimS123]

Yes, most likely need thousands to be safe. But then again, you never know. Pay for a marine survey and see.

 

[matt167]

I have that exact boat.. well the nearly identical 1986 version. Freedom 160. I bought it for the motor and drive for my other boat. It’s structurally unsafe and I knew that when I bought it. The previous owner thought that it just needed a floor and he even had it on the water…. If boat in question is actually in good shape it’s a really nice little boat…. But it’s probably a rotted mess

 

[havoc_squad]

Won't touch an OMC or Yamaha sterndrive boat under most circumstances.

Only justification I could see is if the hull was not rotten and the engine was in good running condition that could easily be used for an Alpha 1 Gen 1 or Gen 2 setup.

For example. If they were selling an aluminum Starcraft islander/chieftain 20ft/21ft with a good engine but OMC cobra drive was busted for stupid cheap price and the boat was in good enough condition to restore, that would be worth buying. Fix the interior and convert to Mercruiser Alpha One Gen 1/ or Gen 2 if possible.

For fiberglass boats you are taking a big financial risk if the transom and deck is not properly checked by someone who knows what they are doing for boat cancer (structural rot)

 

[04fxdwgi25]

Won't touch an OMC or Yamaha sterndrive boat under most circumstances.

Only justification I could see is if the hull was not rotten and the engine was in good running condition that could easily be used for an Alpha 1 Gen 1 or Gen 2 setup.

For example. If they were selling an aluminum Starcraft islander/chieftain 20ft/21ft with a good engine but OMC cobra drive was busted for stupid cheap price and the boat was in good enough condition to restore, that would be worth buying. Fix the interior and convert to Mercruiser Alpha One Gen 1/ or Gen 2 if possible.

For fiberglass boats you are taking a big financial risk if the transom and deck is not properly checked by someone who knows what they are doing for boat cancer (structural rot)

It is a Mercruiser 3.0, according to the OP

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... At that age, you can pretty much count on the stringers, 'n transom are all rotted out,.....

 

[matt167]

The easy tell that something is wrong is by looking at the center windshield. If it fits crooked, you know the consoles are not square anymore. That means there is rot. If the deck is solid and the center window is crooked, you know it’s a cover up

 

[airshot]

If you dont have experience, then look for an aluminum hull boat, old fiberglass boats can have so much hidden rotten wood they are not worth repairing !! Older alum boats just have wood in trabson and floor, much easier to repair. That price is no bargain in my area..

 

[MotorMan101]

Thanks, for all the responses! The boats hull looks great and in my area summer is short so I am guessing low hours. It seams from what I see here the main thing I need to look into is the engine and drive?

 

[matt167]

Thanks, for all the responses! The boats hull looks great and in my area summer is short so I am guessing low hours. It seams from what I see here the main thing I need to look into is the engine and drive?

Other way around. You can assume with a decent likelihood that the engine and drive is probably okay. But the boat is probably structurally unsafe. These are pictures of my parts boat, which is same boat you have interest in. You can see the hull from a glance looks great. It even came with the mooring covers. It also runs perfectly… but a closer look shows the structure is a rotten mess.. the deck is literally a sponge, transom and hull shows cracking. previous owner had it on the water. Thinking it just needed a deck

 

[MotorMan101]

This is the one I am looking at currently.

 

[racerone]

Motors and drives are easy to repair.-----Rotten plywood cores not so much.

 

[JASinIL2006]

You absolutely need to have the boat’s structure evaluated - the wooden transom core and the structural pieces (stringers and bulkheads) that underlie the deck. If you don’t know how to check that out yourself, do you have a buddy who knows boats? Or a marine mechanic who could look it over for a couple hundred bucks? That could save you a bunch of money and a lot of headaches…

 

[Scott Danforth]

I am on a pretty low budget of $3000 and came across a 1987 Four Winns ....

I would suggest you read these two threads to understand why we suggest something else than a 36 year old entry level fiberglass boat.

1995 Sea Ray 220 Signature Deck and Stringer Restoration

************************************************************ This is a condensed version of my original thread to provide instructional help to would be builders. If you would like to read the complete thread (and keep up with new additions to the boat) please click the link below to the...

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Perspective of Fiberglass Boat design life

Having been a member on this wonderful forum for a few years, I thought I would share some perspectives Design Life..... that magic duration of time that your product is designed to survive until being replaced. Lawn and Garden equipment has a design life of about 7 years for the average...

forums.iboats.com

 

[matt167]

The other part of this is, it is a neat little hull if it’s really in good shape. But it is pretty tiny inside.. the engine takes up 2’ of the rear of the boat. It’s only 16’, so it’s pretty cramped

 

[Buster53]

You absolutely need to have the boat’s structure evaluated - the wooden transom core and the structural pieces (stringers and bulkheads) that underlie the deck. If you don’t know how to check that out yourself, do you have a buddy who knows boats? Or a marine mechanic who could look it over for a couple hundred bucks? That could save you a bunch of money and a lot of headaches…

Good advice and I might add, with any boat you are looking to buy, DO NOT buy without a sea trial. I can’t tell you how many threads I have read here and other boating forums over the years that all started out the same, “engine ran great in the guy’s driveway”. And then the poster listed all the problems found after putting the boat in the water and trying to run it.

 

[jlh3rd]

It certainly looks cared for...including the trailer
take it out and run it.......good...take it over it's own wake....
look for stress cracks in the gel coat everywhere...
run every electrical device on it.......how clean is the engine bay......
certainly have a qualified expert examine it....
why is the owner selling?

I'm not there, and I'm looking at only two pics on an ipad........

to the experts: Wouldn't there be obvious signs if stringers, plywood , foam etc. were rotten?.....just asking...
What a nightmare in that one article.....I've exceeded design timelines with my own possessions. ( my electric water heater was built in 1991)....
The vinyl seats in my '06 pontoon are not ripped or torn....

 

[tpenfield]

If you are on a low budget, then think about how much additional money the boat might take to become a keeper. At 35+ years old the boat is 2X its designed life. So, expect to put more money into the boat.

A detailed inspection would be needed to determine if you have found a diamond in the rough, or are joining the restoration parade.

Boat brand and age are not much to go by, since it means little/nothing without knowing the details of its condition.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I personally have purchased 2 boats with water soaked foam and rotten stringers. Neither had any external signs of rot until the tow eye pulled thru the transom on one, and I noticed brown water running out a screw hole on the other