Need Help & Advice on a Purchase....

[Msp079]

Hello Everyone,

So here is my dilemma. I am looking at two boat, one being a 2002 Four Winns Vista 248 with a Volvo Penta 455 hours & the other is a 2007 Crownline 240 EX with a 5.0 Mercruiser and Bravo 3 Outdrive 330 Hours.

Both are in immaculate shape and the interior is well cared for.

Maintenance records are available for both and been Marina maintained. The only issue I have is that the Crownline has seen salt water trips and the motor shows on the exterior the outer corrosion due to this. The Four Winns has been fresh water its entire life. Again both maintained with service records.

I have a boat mechanic that I shoot ideas off of and he was mentioning that the Volvo Penta is an extremely good set up. He did mention one thing I should keep an I out on is the Bravo 3 outside being in salt water and the corrosion.

Four Winns I can get for $15k....Motivated to sell due to being in late 50s early 60s

Crownline $14k...Motivated to sell due to bought another boat.

I have two kids 8-7 and just wondering in the long run which one to choose as this is a big purchase for my family.

Any help or insight is very much appreciated.

Thanks you all.

 

[alldodge]

Welcome
You mentioned the Four Winns has 455 hours but not what motor/drive package it has?

The Crownline has a Merc 5.0 and seen salt but which 5.0?

Sounds like the same Marina has maintained both boats, and is the info your getting from the Mechanic work for the Marina?

A 1K difference between boats means nothing, it all depends on how it was taken care of. Sure you might get one cheaper but the motor and drive make the boat. Doesn't matter how the boat looks, if the motor won't run its junk

 

[Msp079]

Welcome
You mentioned the Four Winns has 455 hours but not what motor/drive package it has?

The Crownline has a Merc 5.0 and seen salt but which 5.0?

Sounds like the same Marina has maintained both boats, and is the info your getting from the Mechanic work for the Marina?

A 1K difference between boats means nothing, it all depends on how it was taken care of. Sure you might get one cheaper but the motor and drive make the boat. Doesn't matter how the boat looks, if the motor won't run its junk

Four Winns has a VP 270HP V8 with a Duoprop....Crownline I am not sure which 5.0 it has thats what it says in the listing (5.0 Merc w/ Bravo 3)...

If I choose to purchase either (Different Locations) I can obtain records from the owner that the marina gave him upon servicing...Each motor runs its the salt water that is a concern, but the layout of the Crownline is more spacious obviously due to no cuddy.

 

[Sprig]

I personally would generally go for a newer lower hour boat. They are both older boats so you can expect some problems now and in the future. Salt water trips is better than all or mostly in salt water. If you lean toward one then spend the $$$ and have a mechanic check it out. Do not buy either without a test cruise and spend 60 minutes or so driving it.

 

[alldodge]

Four Winns has a VP 270HP V8 with a Duoprop

Are both EFI, MPI, or maybe the 02 is a carb?

 

[Msp079]

Are both EFI, MPI, or maybe the 02 is a carb?

Crownline is EFI id have to ask on the other.

 

[Msp079]

I personally would generally go for a newer lower hour boat. They are both older boats so you can expect some problems now and in the future. Salt water trips is better than all or mostly in salt water. If you lean toward one then spend the $$$ and have a mechanic check it out. Do not buy either without a test cruise and spend 60 minutes or so driving it.

Problem I have is my budget is $15k so there's not a huge option base for me to pick. Once spring hits my budget is blown...Both are winterized away at each marina (different locations and states)....

 

[Texasmark]

You can never get salt out of your equipment. When a teen and fished both, I had 2 tackle rigs....one tackle box and rods and reels of salt and another set for fresh. I grew up on the Texas cost and fished both environments. Boat equipment is the same senario. I would take the Four Winns in a heart beat. Besides they build a good boat and you don't need to feel ashamed to own one.....local FW dealer sold a ton of them and I never heard anybody gripe.

 

[alldodge]

As Sprig mentioned need to test drive both and sounds like you don't know boats, so highly recommend hiring someone that does.

Problem I have is my budget is $15k so there's not a huge option base for me to pick. Once spring hits my budget is blown...Both are winterized away at each marina (different locations and states)....

A boat will be the most costly item you own. The purchase price just gets it home. Fuel and maintenance will cost each year will get your attention, and sounding like your going to pay others to do the maintenance. Could save a bunch doing it your self but paying others will be costly. Only thing that cost more per year is aircraft

Another thought, is VP makes some real good stuff, but parts cost more then Merc. Another thing is you can find places to repair Merc but VP is another story. Unless VP repair is simple stuff you may have to take it a distance to get fixed

Under 600 hours is nothing on a boat. Both having a 5.0, if both checked out the same, I would take the Merc

 

[mr 88]

2nd the Four Winn , outdrive in fresh water all its life is the way go . Closed cooling system in each setup I take it ?

 

[Msp079]

As Sprig mentioned need to test drive both and sounds like you don't know boats, so highly recommend hiring someone that does.



A boat will be the most costly item you own. The purchase price just gets it home. Fuel and maintenance will cost each year will get your attention, and sounding like your going to pay others to do the maintenance. Could save a bunch doing it your self but paying others will be costly. Only thing that cost more per year is aircraft

Another thought, is VP makes some real good stuff, but parts cost more then Merc. Another thing is you can find places to repair Merc but VP is another story. Unless VP repair is simple stuff you may have to take it a distance to get fixed

Under 600 hours is nothing on a boat. Both having a 5.0, if both checked out the same, I would take the Merc

Ive owned Rinkers, Liberators, Hurricane 232 and an old BlueFin Spectrum in my lifetime...Boats are money pits....I do have a boat mechanic that I have known for 10 years and he would be the one doing the work as I dont have the knowledge or tools to dive into it.

Just doing my best to read and get educated on the model and motors...

The only other one im looking at is a 2004 Monterey Explorer 263 w/ Merc 320 6.2L with MPI & B3 outdrive with low hours.

 

[Msp079]

2nd the Four Winn , outdrive in fresh water all its life is the way go . Closed cooling system in each setup I take it ?

Ya closed cooling system

 

[tpenfield]

Got any pictures of the engine bays on each boat to share?

I would check both boats for structural rot. Volvo Penta are generally more expensive to fix (parts are crazy money).

In 2004 and newer Mercruiser fixed the corrosion issues with added anodes on the ventilation plate and the prop nut.

Has the Crownline actually been in salt water? I have run Mercruiser/Bravo in salt water for 20 years . . . I've actually had more issue with outdrives run in fresh water because previous owners think they don't need to maintain them for corrosion (not true).

I would make any purchase contingent on a marine survey and mechanical inspection and as well as a sea trial (pretty normal thing).

I bought one boat over the winter, Put an offer in December . . . Survey and sea trial was not until the weather broke in March. If you are in an area where it is not too cold, you can sometimes get the sea trial in over the winter, but you will have to pay for re-winterizing.

 

[Scott Danforth]

isnt the crownline a bow rider and the four winns a pocket cruiser? for having kids, etc, I would go for a bow rider. for weekends with the wife, I would go with the pocket cruiser.

a 5.0 anything is a bit small pushing a 24 ft boat

 

[Msp079]

Got any pictures of the engine bays on each boat to share?

I would check both boats for structural rot. Volvo Penta are generally more expensive to fix (parts are crazy money).

In 2004 and newer Mercruiser fixed the corrosion issues with added anodes on the ventilation plate and the prop nut.

Has the Crownline actually been in salt water? I have run Mercruiser/Bravo in salt water for 20 years . . . I've actually had more issue with outdrives run in fresh water because previous owners think they don't need to maintain them for corrosion (not true).

I would make any purchase contingent on a marine survey and mechanical inspection and as well as a sea trial (pretty normal thing).

I bought one boat over the winter, Put an offer in December . . . Survey and sea trial was not until the weather broke in March. If you are in an area where it is not too cold, you can sometimes get the sea trial in over the winter, but you will have to pay for re-winterizing.

1st three photos are of the Four Winns with the VP and the last two are of the Crownline 240

 

[Msp079]

Got any pictures of the engine bays on each boat to share?

I would check both boats for structural rot. Volvo Penta are generally more expensive to fix (parts are crazy money).

In 2004 and newer Mercruiser fixed the corrosion issues with added anodes on the ventilation plate and the prop nut.

Has the Crownline actually been in salt water? I have run Mercruiser/Bravo in salt water for 20 years . . . I've actually had more issue with outdrives run in fresh water because previous owners think they don't need to maintain them for corrosion (not true).

I would make any purchase contingent on a marine survey and mechanical inspection and as well as a sea trial (pretty normal thing).

I bought one boat over the winter, Put an offer in December . . . Survey and sea trial was not until the weather broke in March. If you are in an area where it is not too cold, you can sometimes get the sea trial in over the winter, but you will have to pay for re-winterizing.

I posted photos of the motors…unfortunately I’m in the northeast so we’re cold this time a year and sea trial wouldn’t happen until probably April …Everything is a risk I get it but I know from owning boats the more you get into or close to spring , boat prices skyrocket…I sold a 1998 Hurricane 232 3 years ago in Feb ..Guy didn’t blink an eye ..I had all the paperwork and photos …It’s all a gamble.

I do appreciate all the insight and help from those willing to give there opinion

 

[alldodge]

Interiors are great but the motors appear to just have regular maintenance done. Your comment

Crownline has seen salt water trips

Looks like the Crown has seen more then a few, might have even lived in it, and in that case I'm leaning to pass

 

[Scott Danforth]

based on the motor photos, I would go with the VP in the four winns

 

[Texasmark]

1st three photos are of the Four Winns with the VP and the last two are of the Crownline 240

FW my bid.

 

[tpenfield]

Looks like the 4Winns with the V-P engine is your winner. The Mercruiser looks like it has not seen any preventative maintenance in a while.

It's all about condition and the 4Winns looks to be the better of the 2.