Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

[mjfink]

Looking to trade up into a significantly larger boat; and looking at the following as my possible next vessel:

http://www.intermarineboats.com/sea...B&indid=1&sortCol=Length&sortDir=DESC&page=4&

2007 Four Winns 288 Vista.

What do you guys think of this boat? Any current owners that can offer their advice/warnings? This boat does not have the composite outdrives; I looked at another that did (2005), but, from what everyone says, it sounds like I really want to stay away from them?

Boat seems to be in good condition; I haven't had it in the water yet though, so that's a hurdle that I need to overcome before I move forward. Anything in particular that I should be checking for (specific to this model or engine/outdrive package)?

Thanks for any help you guys can offer; I'm eager to get into the cruiser world, but really worried about the ongoing costs for a boat this size. I know that all the engine/outdrive work is going to be 2X my current boat. What else is going to be a "price shocker" coming for a 22' bowrider? I slip at my house, so that cost isn't going to go up. Insurance seems to be much higher (not surprisingly) on the 288. Fuel costs aren't much of a concern; I know it's going to burn more fuel, I typically don't go that far/fast, so I'm not really worried about that. On my current boat, it's a big day if I burn 15 gallons; if that turns to 30; it's still the cheapest part of owning a boat like this.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

 

[smitty28]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

Looks like a beautiful boat to me...I moved up from a 25 to a 31' this year. (with twins). If you are capable of doing your own maint, the twins will not break the bank. I find that I burn $150-200 in gas a weekend...not bad. You definately want to STAY AWAY from volvo XDP drives, they are known to have faulty bellows... I would consider it a deal breaker if XDP's are installed... Also, I know there are other boats in this size range with larger beams, the bigger beam makes a huge difference in room.... good luck! nice boat! fair price!

 

[mjfink]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

Thanks very much for the help Smitty.

How many miles you running in a weekend to burn that amount of fuel? That doesn't seem too bad to me; but, if you're staying in your slip with the genny running, I'll probably burn more gas going up and down the ICW.

I'm reasonably capable of doing things on engines, I typically don't do this today because on my current boat you need to be a contortionist midget to get into the engine compartment. I've heard the Volvos are really expensive to maintain; I'm just not trying to get myself into a nightmare where this boat bleeds me dry.

What do you think (assuming you use a marina for most of the routine stuff) I could expect for annual bills on a boat like this (oil changes/impellers/etc)? Not the big stuff (my outdrive exploded), just the routine stuff that everyone does on their boats on an annual/bi-annual basis. I understand the impellers on the Volvos are expensive, but don't need to be changed very often?

Thanks!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

Looking to trade up into a significantly larger boat; and looking at the following as my possible next vessel:

http://www.intermarineboats.com/sea...B&indid=1&sortCol=Length&sortDir=DESC&page=4&



What do you guys think of this boat? Any current owners that can offer their advice/warnings? This boat does not have the composite outdrives; I looked at another that did (2005), but, from what everyone says, it sounds like I really want to stay away from them?

Boat seems to be in good condition; I haven't had it in the water yet though, so that's a hurdle that I need to overcome before I move forward. Anything in particular that I should be checking for (specific to this model or engine/outdrive package)?

Thanks for any help you guys can offer; I'm eager to get into the cruiser world, but really worried about the ongoing costs for a boat this size. I know that all the engine/outdrive work is going to be 2X my current boat. What else is going to be a "price shocker" coming for a 22' bowrider? I slip at my house, so that cost isn't going to go up. Insurance seems to be much higher (not surprisingly) on the 288. Fuel costs aren't much of a concern; I know it's going to burn more fuel, I typically don't go that far/fast, so I'm not really worried about that. On my current boat, it's a big day if I burn 15 gallons; if that turns to 30; it's still the cheapest part of owning a boat like this.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

2007 Four Winns 288 Vista.9.8 beam.

You won't regret getting this boat. I bought my 07/288 new/Genny/ac/heat. The engines are 5.0 gxi-g and the drives are dps-a. The motors are going to get there first set of impellers this spring.Not that i think they need them but. Boat has 360 hrs on it. The only thing i don't like about the boat is the location of the jenny. You need an anorexious dwarf to change the impellers because they are on the stern end of the jenny.The cost of impellers are not really that expensive. Everything for the most part is easy to get to. I havn't changed bellows yet. I keep mine in the water 6 months out of the year. You won't be burning alot of gas unless you are running wide open all the time.I installed a set of flow meters on mine. If i remember 3000rpm's (plane) burn 18 gph each engine. 3500 it really gets crazy.Something like 24.5 give or take. I don't beat the heck out of my boat. I am in no hurry to get anywhere so i cruise around.
Your jenny will draw from the stbd tank. Make sure the fuel flow levers on the manifold(On bulkhead in the enging comp.) one open for each engine and the center one closed.Run the generator often. They don't like to set. That is what makes the impeller go bad.
The XDP drives where ok, it was an issue with the bellows being scraped by the ujoint when people trimed up the outdrive.They have since discontinued that drive.Still not a good one to buy. If you drag the skeg and tear it off there is no fixing other then buy another one.
The cost of maintainance is no more expensive then any Merc. All you have to do is maintain it. I had a Bravo 3 SeaRay before this one and i won't go back. Volvo has a nice drive. No where the corrosion issue as a Merc drive.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

I insure mine through N.B.O.A. $411.00 a year. $2000.00 Ded. Agreed price.$97,000

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

mjfink--thats a great lookin' boat--everything looks cool--
I wanted to share my experiance. I purchased a well kept,re-powerd 1983 Wellcraft 26ft pocket cruiser -View attachment 123733
It was a great boat- loved it. 454merc bravo 3-genset-HVAC
But we kept it in a slip "down the street" less than a mile from the house. It burned $150 gas a weekend.
Only spent one night on the boat- we prefere to sleep at home.
My buddys gave me a hard time saying I had a "26ft runabout"- crowded seating for 7 outside--
since I never used stove-fridge-microwave-beds-genny-hotwater tank.
I got to thinking about it and they were right. I sold it and went to the fun little runabout in my signature.

I understand you my plan on overnighting on the boat but if you do not- I reccomend you get a real 26ft runabout.
just my $.02
Anyways-- get something you like! Congrats!-Joe

 

[mjfink]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

WOW! That's a LOT cheaper than the quote I got from my current insurer (Progressive). I'm paying about 400/yr to insure my 22' bowrider (20K agreed value). I'm in FL, so I'm sure my insurance is going to be more (12 month season and hurricanes), but still, the quote I got from Progressive was about 5X what you're paying for more value. I went to NBOA to get a quote, hopefully there's not too huge a FL premium.

I insure mine through N.B.O.A. $411.00 a year. $2000.00 Ded. Agreed price.$97,000

 

[mjfink]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

I currently have a 22' bowrider; my biggest complaint is lack of inside space (like, none) and ability to be on the boat all day. I'm not sure if I will sleep overnight on the boat, but I know I'll like having the cabin. Also (don't laugh too hard) my wife really wants a microwave on the boat, she loves popcorn and wants to be able to make it away from the dock. So, genny for me to run the microwave. And finally, AC is kind of a big deal down here in FL, even in the shade and on the water, it can be too hot for comfort at certain times of the year; the ability to get out of the sun and into AC for a little while is something that I'm really looking forward to.

mjfink--thats a great lookin' boat--everything looks cool--
I wanted to share my experiance. I purchased a well kept,re-powerd 1983 Wellcraft 26ft pocket cruiser -View attachment 123733
It was a great boat- loved it. 454merc bravo 3-genset-HVAC
But we kept it in a slip "down the street" less than a mile from the house. It burned $150 gas a weekend.
Only spent one night on the boat- we prefere to sleep at home.
My buddys gave me a hard time saying I had a "26ft runabout"- crowded seating for 7 outside--
since I never used stove-fridge-microwave-beds-genny-hotwater tank.
I got to thinking about it and they were right. I sold it and went to the fun little runabout in my signature.

I understand you my plan on overnighting on the boat but if you do not- I reccomend you get a real 26ft runabout.
just my $.02
Anyways-- get something you like! Congrats!-Joe

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

WOW! That's a LOT cheaper than the quote I got from my current insurer (Progressive). I'm paying about 400/yr to insure my 22' bowrider (20K agreed value). I'm in FL, so I'm sure my insurance is going to be more (12 month season and hurricanes), but still, the quote I got from Progressive was about 5X what you're paying for more value. I went to NBOA to get a quote, hopefully there's not too huge a FL premium.

If i can be of any assistance feel free to pm me. What she is really going to like is the bathroom. Oh by the way, do not use any toilet paper other then the type that is supposed to be used. (1ply). It will and i mean it will clog your macerator. Not a pretty job cleaning it out.

 

[kylejb2663]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

REALLY nice looking boat!!!!! I have heard nothing but good things about Four Winns and the Volvo's!!

For insurance, check out Foremost Insurance and get a quote from them - http://www.foremost.com/

You will not REGRET getting a quote from them.

 

[smitty28]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

Yeah, I have foremost ins on my 01 310 Rinker... I think I pay $400-something a yr. Not bad!! I put very few hrs on the genny.. maybe like 2-3 all summer... everywhere by me has shore power and i really dont sleep much "on the hook". So all the gas I burn is from cruising. The $150-200 will get me about 3-4 hrs of cruising (33mph). I get about 1.2 mpg. Marine gas by me averaged $4 gal. Sooo 200 / 4 = 50 gallons...so ide say my trips averaged 25 miles there, 25 miles back to slip.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

Yeah, I have foremost ins on my 01 310 Rinker... I think I pay $400-something a yr. Not bad!! I put very few hrs on the genny.. maybe like 2-3 all summer... everywhere by me has shore power and i really dont sleep much "on the hook". So all the gas I burn is from cruising. The $150-200 will get me about 3-4 hrs of cruising (33mph). I get about 1.2 mpg. Marine gas by me averaged $4 gal. Sooo 200 / 4 = 50 gallons...so ide say my trips averaged 25 miles there, 25 miles back to slip.

Try N.B.O.A ins. I am only paying &411.00 and mine is 6 yr's newer then your's.Does yours have twin Merc's Bravo 3's?

 

[mjfink]

Re: Four Winns 288 Vista - What do you guys think?

On a related question, what do you folks think I could expect for ongoing annual depreciation on a boat like this? I know the first few years are the worst, but, say the boat is well maintained, what do you think this would sell for in 5 years (assuming 75K today)? Does the depreciation on a boat like this start to taper off around 4 years old, or does it continue pretty quickly for another few years?