2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

[Slip Away]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

Yep a marina neighbor of ours planned a 8 hour cruise north on Lake Michigan in July. He made it about 2 hours until the lake kicked up. His 30 foot cruiser was not happy in the 5 -7 foot waves, so he pulled into the closest harbor. The Lake remained rough for 2 solid days. Then the 4th day he made it to his destination. By the time he got there, he could only spend
one night in the marina,as his week long vacation was over and he had to return. Luckily he made the return trip in just under 8 hours.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

Get the generator. You will be glad you did even though it is something else to maintain. You will appreciate the A/C when on the hook at night.Coffee in the morning. Microwaveable breakfast. Wife will be able to use the curling iron.

 

[bekosh]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

Agreed. Looking to haul... that's a long ways to go in a 29' cruiser, and I don't have the experience to take a trip of that caliber just yet.

Probably a good call. I'd do that trip in a heartbeat but I've had my boat for 3 years and have run Lake Michigan before. She's wonderful when she's calm, but a royal cast iron B*@ch when she kicks up. You have to be able to be flexible with your schedule. The lake dictates where & when you get to go.

Get the generator. You will be glad you did even though it is something else to maintain. You will appreciate the A/C when on the hook at night.Coffee in the morning. Microwaveable breakfast. Wife will be able to use the curling iron.

Ditto! Hot coffee and a hot breakfast in the morning while out on the hook is absolutely the best.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

and scrambled eggs n bacon n A/C to take a nap in the afternoon while the temps near 100 so you can charge up for the evening again

 

[agallant80]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

Get the generator. You will be glad you did even though it is something else to maintain. You will appreciate the A/C when on the hook at night.Coffee in the morning. Microwaveable breakfast. Wife will be able to use the curling iron.

Listen to him. I did not get my boat with a generator and I wish I did. I have the portable on the swim platform which is kinda a PITA.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

Remember, the OP has been looking feverishly at boats. Asked for opinions on Regal 2760, Carver, Four Winns 298, and now on his latest thread, a Monterey 282.
So...... I think we need to just wait it out and see what boat he finds next to ask about.

 

[Air Traffic]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

If you have the time and money, take the "long way home" and cruise around the mitten. Up to Beaver Island, Grand Traverse Bay, under the Mackinaw bridge is an awesome site, stop at Mackinaw Island, swing by East Tawas, stay wide near the tip of the thumb as it is very shallow, under the Blue water bridge is another pretty site and through the river to home. Of course it's best if the wallet is bulging with cash and you have a couple of weeks in case the weather turns foul but it could be a "once in a lifetime' great trip.

 

[JoLin]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

Listen to him. I did not get my boat with a generator and I wish I did. I have the portable on the swim platform which is kinda a PITA.

How hot does it get in Northern Michigan where the OP lives? There are very, very few times I've wished I had a genny. When I'm at anchor (bow into the wind) the breeze through the cabin hatches keeps me cool. When I'm docked I have shore power to run the A/C. Bacon and eggs? 2-burner alcohol/electric stove. Shore power or no power, I still cook. I also carry a single burner propane stove that I use in the cockpit to brew coffee when I don't want to wake the wife. I have both a percolator and an electric coffee maker aboard.

Frankly, I don't need yet another mechanical device to service, not to mention making the engine room even more cramped than it is.

My .02

 

[Slip Away]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

I believe the OP is from SouthEast Michigan (Detroit/Lake St. Clair) area. It gets a little warmer there than in Northern Michigan generally, but not more than a handful of days where it is too hot to be uncomfortable. I have never wanted or needed a gen set on either of our cruisers in the 8 years we had them. Sure you can find a use for one, but it depends on what type of boating he plans on doing. Going out for the afternoon, floating on the lake and running the A/C off the genny just to sit in the cool cabin and read a book, or fire it up to cook a bag of micro corn, seems to be a waste of time on the boat.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

How hot does it get in Northern Michigan where the OP lives? There are very, very few times I've wished I had a genny. When I'm at anchor (bow into the wind) the breeze through the cabin hatches keeps me cool. When I'm docked I have shore power to run the A/C. Bacon and eggs? 2-burner alcohol/electric stove. Shore power or no power, I still cook. I also carry a single burner propane stove that I use in the cockpit to brew coffee when I don't want to wake the wife. I have both a percolator and an electric coffee maker aboard.

Frankly, I don't need yet another mechanical device to service, not to mention making the engine room even more cramped than it is.

My .02

You sorta answered your own statement. That's why i suggested it. If you have it you can use it if you want. Don't need it don't run it.

 

[JoLin]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

You sorta answered your own statement. That's why i suggested it. If you have it you can use it if you want. Don't need it don't run it.

Point taken.

When I started shopping for a cruiser that was equipped for weekending, however, I also wanted a genny. I found out that they aren't plentiful in the under-30 foot class, at least not in the north. After our first season on Escapade I was glad I didn't have it. The ER is already crowded with 2 engines, multiple batteries, fire suppression system and water heater. The generator is another item that needs to be stored, serviced and maintained.. and like everything else, if you don't use it it won't work when you want it.

Another reason I don't like them is that when we overnight on the hook, we always raft up with at least one other boat (Linda won't stay out if it's just us). I don't begrudge my neighbors their generators, but nothing spoils the ambiance of a quiet morning at anchor, like the guy next door firing one up at 7 am to make breakfast.

If the OP puts a generator on his must-have list he'll pass up a lot of good boats, so I'd advise him to think about why he 'needs' one. The ONLY thing I can't do easily is run A/C. If the weather is so hot that I'd have to spend my time in the cabin with the A/C running I wouldn't be out there anyway.

My .02

 

[wakerider09]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

@Slip... I am researching boats for next season, should I not be asking for opinions/information on all the options that I come across, isn't this a forum to do just that?

 

[JoLin]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

wakerider... important to note the 'smiley' in slip's post. I don't believe any offense was intended. We go through this often- folks looking for boats, seemingly ad infinitum. We actually respect people who take the time to look around and ask questions. It can start to get a little humorous after awhile, tho... mostly, IMO, because of the debates 'you people' spark among those of us who've been around awhile.

You'll never get a consensus of opinion on ANYTHING around here, but hopefully you'll get some good food for thought.

Keep looking and keep posting. We like to spend other people's money

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 2000 Four Winns 298 Nautical Range

You'll never get a consensus of opinion on ANYTHING around here

What a load of BULL ...no way can I agree with that!