Larson or Four Winns?

[JCHAM]

Looking at a 2000 Larson 226 lxi or 2000 Four Winns Horizon 210. Roughly same hours and same price. Please advise.

 

[Kracken]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Four Winns, Larson, Glastron, Marquis, Champion, and Wellcraft are all the same company.

Four Winns is a superior boat to Larson and Glastron. (Larson and Glastron are actually made in the same factory).

But where are you going to use the boat? 1 foot does make a difference.

 

[JCHAM]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Thanks. (Shows you how little I know about boats.) Intend to use it on lakes - skiing, tubing, etc.

 

[Kracken]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

What are the drive systems in each boat?

 

[Kracken]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Actually I would go with the Four Winns.

A 210 Horizon is actually a 22" boat (for some reason they undersell)

The Larson Dry weight is 600+ lbs LIGHTER.

Go with the Horizon.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Four Winns, Larson, Glastron, Marquis, Champion, and Wellcraft are all the same company.

Four Winns is a superior boat to Larson and Glastron. (Larson and Glastron are actually made in the same factory).

Be careful with that first statement.

All of those brands (and more) are in fact all owned by Genmar. However, most of the companies operate independently of each other. The only significant exception is the Larson and Glastron VEC boats as you mentioned.

Four Winns boats are all unique designs that are not shared with any of the other companies. Four Winns and a couple others have been owned by Genmar only since 2001. Four Winns was owned by OMC before that.

So for the original poster who is looking at model year 2000 boats the entire Genmar thing doesn't really enter into the equation.

 

[Kracken]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Be careful with that first statement.

All of those brands (and more) are in fact all owned by Genmar. However, most of the companies operate independently of each other. The only significant exception is the Larson and Glastron VEC boats as you mentioned.

Four Winns boats are all unique designs that are not shared with any of the other companies. Four Winns and a couple others have been owned by Genmar only since 2001. Four Winns was owned by OMC before that.

So for the original poster who is looking at model year 2000 boats the entire Genmar thing doesn't really enter into the equation.

I wasn't suggesting they were the same. But all three are very similar in quality. I was not aware that OMC owned Four Winns at any point. But I will take your word on that. Most Four Winns 80s through 98...ish have OMC drives. I thought OMC went out of business and was purchased by Bombardier and then Volvo-Penta.

I guess it doesn't matter, they are all in bankrupcy now.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Yeah the history of Four Winns and OMC are pretty interesting.

OMC bought Four Winns and many other boat builders in 1988. Prior to that Four Winns was family owned and actually preferred the use of Mercury/Mercruiser.

OMC had a captive audience for their motors and drives when they owned all the boat companies. In the 94-95 timeframe OMC started a joint venture with Volvo Penta that resulted in the VP SX outdrive. That was a joint venture. OMC was completely out of the outdrive side sometime in 96.

The company existed until 2001 when the remaining assets were sold to Genmar and Bombardier.

Genmar got all the boat brands and Bombardier got Evinrude and Johnson.

Genmar sold some of the boat brands right away to private investors the most significant was Chris-Craft. Other boat brands were eventually sold off to Brunswick, Lowe comes to mind.

Oh and to your last point. As far as I know only Genmar is in bankruptcy. Brunswick, Volvo Pent and Bombardier may be struggling but I don't believe any have declared bankruptcy.

 

[Kracken]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Thanks Rotary, I did not know that.

I believe Brunswick has filled chapter 11. I also heard Crownline has closed its doors. They shut down in December 08 and were supposed to begin production June 09, to my knowledge they have not. To bad they are nice boats as well.

 

[jkust]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Four Winns over Larson.

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Sorry, my last boat was a four winns, current boat a larson. I made a good choice. there is not another boat on the lake thet even resembles my larson and it out handles my four winns. I made the choice and I'd do it again.

 

[_chris_]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

I have a 93 Four Winns 190 Horizon LE with the 5.0 OMC and love the thing, in my mind it is a very sturdy and well built boat and like any other outdrive the OMC can last a life time with propper maintnence.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Larson or Four Winns?

Four Winns and Larson are equal in their build quality, which is top-notch. I've always liked Larson's cabins and Four Winns' performance. Too bad they don't share their designs.