'Winner" boat

[brother chris]

Has anyone ever heard of a "Winner" boat. I have a 16'fiberglass and no-one, not even my insurance broker, has heard of it. Anyone know of a web site for this kind of boat or who the original maker of it is? I looked around, but can't find any sites relating to my boat. <br />The plate on the inside says the max is 90hp, but that is all I can read on the plate(it is really faded).<br />Any help would be greatly appreciated.<br />Cheers, bro Chris...

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 'Winner" boat

Ive seen a couple and what I can say about them is they were an entry level bass boat when they came out, but improved through the years! In the Skeeter, Astro, quality! Should be a solid boat if maintained decently, check the transom area for cracks, and hull for softness!<br /><br />Strange that you cannot find anything on these boats as I think they were made up into the 90s!!

 

[brother chris]

Re: 'Winner" boat

Ahhh....the transom. I just replaced it last year. I holed out the transom and wood filled it, and then sandwiched it with 1/4" aluminum. I also reinforced the bow(by adding fiberglass for my not so perfect beach landings). It is a nice boat, and worth keeping.<br />Now, I know last year I posted something about how fast it goes, and I confirmed with 2 of my GP's that the top speed is 33.2 mph w/ a 55hp evinrude. Now that is fast. I'm lovin it!<br /> <br />Just wish I could find out a little more about it.<br />Thanks for your post lubedude.

 

[JB]

Re: 'Winner" boat

Moving to Boats

 

[garycinn]

Re: 'Winner" boat

My father's first runabout was a Winner in about 1968. It had an 4

0 horse Evinrude if I remember right. We loved it.<br /><br />Here is one advertised on this web site.<br /><br /> winner

 

[Ripsnort]

Re: 'Winner" boat

My first boat was a 1972 Winner. Made on the East coast of the U.S. I believe...my dad bought it and then years later I bought it from him. We lived in New Jersy when we purchased this boat. It was 20 years old when I bought it and was in tip top shape. Very solid.

 

[deofc]

Re: 'Winner" boat

I have a 1977 Winner boat. It is a 15 1/2 foot center console and is powered by a 1978 70 HP Johnson. I bought it used about 3 years ago. If you search this site you will find previous posts about Winner boats. Someone has a good post that includes a news release about Winner boats. Here is what I remember from doing my own search. Winner boats was one of the first manufacturers to use fiberglas. they were started in NY or NJ and had a plant in Tennessee and I think in Wisconsin. They built boats for the military in WWII and possibly later. They were in business into the 90's. I remember seeing an add in my local paper (Columbia,SC) a few months ago for a 90 something Winner bass boat. I do not think that they are still in business. Mine is just a basic boat...kind of a tri-hull but sort of skiffy looking. I think the center console was either added later or replaced another one. It has a casting deck on the bow. It is a decent fishing boat for 2 people and can handle 3. I use it in the lake and at the coast for fishing and shrimping. Small enough that I can handle unloading.loading alone. It is a "heavy" boat for its size but that could be because of age and how they were built in the 70's.

 

[brother chris]

Re: 'Winner" boat

Thanks guys. I knew I could count on fellow boaters to help me out. This is the BEST site for boats and info on them. <br />I will do a search on Winner boats on here and see what I come up with.<br />It is just nice to know the history of my boat.<br />Thanks,<br />Bro Chris...

 

[Lark40]

Re: 'Winner" boat

We had a boat dealership in Greenwich, CT from 1958-1968.<br /><br />Used to see Winner boats all the time. We didn't sell them, but remember fitting new Evinrudes on them.<br /><br />Not a classic or premium boat, but some lower-class dealers sold a good volume of them for a while.

 

[dhammann]

Re: 'Winner" boat

They were pretty good boats. My first boat was a '72 Winner Wildcat 18' open bow with an 85hp Evinrude. It was two weeks before vacation and I was desperate to buy a boat so I found this one that had been parked in someone'yard for 5 years...Transom rotted (from abuse), hole in hull, motor dangling from broken mount and no seats. In less than 2 weeks I was headed for the lake and kept her there for 4 years until I was able to afford better. We miss her...she was a dated yellow color and we affectionatly named her O'l Yellar. She never left me stranded and felt really safe for the kids because of her deep hull. I think am going to cry...I actually liked her more than my new boat!!!!

 

[MIKE F]

Re: 'Winner" boat

The only thing I can add, is that back in at least part of the 70's Winner was owned by Thompson boat company. Another name from the past.

 

[steviecops]

Re: 'Winner" boat

I used to work for a company in the 80's, who did watersports holidays in the med, as a waterski instructor. They used to use Winner Wildcats as their ski boats with 115 hp Yamaha engines.<br /><br />I loved those old boats. We used to abuse those things and they just took everything we through at them. In Corsica, we used to get the Mistral winds blowing and they used to produce a huge swell in the bay. Too rough for water skiing, so for fun, we used to head out into the swell with the motor trimmed out to make the boat fly off of the tops of waves! Sometimes we would go up to 4 miles offshore jumping the waves and never once felt unsafe in the old Wildcats.<br /><br />They had a good turn of speed too. We used to get about 35 mph out of them with 2 on board and pulling a slalom skier.<br /><br />I'd love to be able to get hold of one now.

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: 'Winner" boat

My first boat was a 1967 15 1/2 foot Winner tri-hull with a 67 80 HP Evinrude Starflite it had full canvas and dual axel trailer, we use to take the boat out on to Long Island Sound fishing all the time it was a great starter boat.....

 

[ronnyd8719]

Re: 'Winner" boat

Re: 'Winner" boat

Ahhh....the transom. I just replaced it last year. I holed out the transom and wood filled it, and then sandwiched it with 1/4" aluminum. I also reinforced the bow(by adding fiberglass for my not so perfect beach landings). It is a nice boat, and worth keeping.<br />Now, I know last year I posted something about how fast it goes, and I confirmed with 2 of my GP's that the top speed is 33.2 mph w/ a 55hp evinrude. Now that is fast. I'm lovin it!<br /> <br />Just wish I could find out a little more about it.<br />Thanks for your post lubedude.

 

[ronnyd8719]

Re: 'Winner" boat

Re: 'Winner" boat

Has anyone ever heard of a "Winner" boat. I have a 16'fiberglass and no-one, not even my insurance broker, has heard of it. Anyone know of a web site for this kind of boat or who the original maker of it is? I looked around, but can't find any sites relating to my boat. <br />The plate on the inside says the max is 90hp, but that is all I can read on the plate(it is really faded).<br />Any help would be greatly appreciated.<br />Cheers, bro Chris...

I have a Z660 winner. I purchused it in april. The hull is great. My mercury has developed big problems, but after that is fixed all will be ok. I love the pad. It rides over waves well. I have a 115 and with the motor not being up to par I got 55 with a GPS. So the boat will move. The trasom is reinforced with 1/8 on the inside and the outside. I am like all you guys I can't find more that what the original owner had. I would like to put a jack plate do ya'll think the transom can handle it.
Have a good day.