The future of boating isn't too hard to see ' providing you are sitting
in the cockpit of Four Winns' all-new 230 Horizon. This forward-thinking design is the 'momma bear'
in the lineup of three new models that feature Four Winns' cross-stream architecture scheme. In
layman-speak, it's the marriage of the practical layout of a deck boat with the sophisticated
styling of a boat you might find on the Riviera. While the words practical and stylish are
typically mutually exclusive, the 230 Horizon skillfully blends the best of both worlds to deliver
a boat that might change how you will view the Four Winns brand.
Boarding the 230 via the inte-grated swim platform and entering the cockpit without having
to step on the upholstery scores some immediate points, thanks to the walkthrough in the sunpad.
And it is in this area where the 230's innovations are most noticeable. This bowrider has one of
the largest sunpads on a boat this size when you insert the filler cushions between the walkway,
and pull up and out on the stern lounge's seat bottom. This causes all the seat's pads to lie at
the same level, forming a sunning area large enough to stage a high-school wrestling match.
Although you are lying on many segments, the result is a fairly flat pad that is very comfortable.
That's due to Four Winns' exclusive Aquavinyl, which is softer and more flexible than normal marine
vinyls, but is highly resistant to scuffing and tearing.
The 230 Horizon feels like a larger boat, in part due to the wrap-around cockpit seating
that can handle up to at least six adults on its U-shaped settee. This seating arrangement, when
combined with the refreshment center behind the driver's seat ' which features a wet bar with a
seven-gallon tank, Corian countertops and a trash receptacle ' makes this a perfect environment for
cocktail cruising. Although the 230 Horizon gives you many standard features that are usually
options ' like the 40-ounce snap-in carpeting ' the cocktail table is, curiously, a $217 add-on. To
assure your guests have a cold beverage handy, there's a portable 36-gallon cooler, which stores
out of the way beneath the U-lounge where you can find more dry storage. The port console houses
the head compartment that features a corner-opening door for easy entry and has a standard portable
head that can be upgraded to a pump-out model with a holding capacity of 7.5 gallons. The starboard
console gives boaters a voluminous storage area that is perfect for bulky items like a Coast Guard
kit. The standard Bimini top comes with improved bracing to reduce wobbling, and the canvas package
features a quick release frame for ease of use.
After running the blower to vent any accumulated fumes, the key is turned and the 320-hp,
5.7L Volvo Penta GXi starts immediately, causing a lusty basso profundo to emanate from the
stainless-steel through-hull exhaust ports on the side of the boat. Since it's equipped with the
optional Quick and Quiet exhaust system, the captain ' being an old fuddy-duddy ' chooses the
quieter setting to exit the marina, which drops the decibel reading from 68 down to 60.5 dB-A on
the decibel meter at idle. Shoving off from the floating docks at the upscale Renaissance Vinoy
Resort in St. Petersburg, the 24-footer makes its way to open water.
The Gulf of Mexico is just rough enough to give the Stable-Vee hull a good test on a sunny,
but windy day. Like the hull name implies, the Four Winns has excellent side-to-side stability, a
result of the variable deadrise hull that features more width where the hull breaks the water. The
hull is designed to get on plane quickly, and the 320-hp Volvo with its twin propeller Duoprop
outdrive pushes the Four Winns on plane in 4.4 seconds with little bowrise. It accelerates to 30
mph in just 7.5 seconds ' not bad for a rig that has a loaded weight of about 5,000 pounds. The 230
handles rough water well with a variable deadrise hull that measures 20 degrees at the transom.
The 230 is an easy boat to drive ' even at its top speed of 47.5 mph. Hard cornering
involves very little sliding and is very predicable. The one- to two-foot chop is just the right
size to induce some porpoising at moderate speed with the Duoprop outdrive up in running trim, but
you can drive through it with a little extra speed, combined with a little down trim. Using a bit
of trim tab would eliminate the problem, but they aren't even available as an option on the 210 or
230 Horizon (they're offered on the 250 model, though).
The crew sits in style on a pair of high-tech ComfortRide bucket seats that feature inner
springs for a softer ride. A nice feature is the flip-up high-rise bolsters that look like
miniature radar arches that allow the driver and navigator to sit high and look over the windshield
for better visibility or to catch a breeze on hot days. On cold days there is a dam for the
walk-through that cuts down most of the airflow in the cockpit. The helm station is thoughtfully
laid out with Faria no-fog gauges that are high enough on the burl inset dash to be seen over the
optional wood grain Mach 3 steering wheel. Along with the usual instruments you get a compass,
depth sounder, hour meter and stereo remote as standard equipment. Accessory switches are off to
the right of the wheel where they can be accessed easily, but high enough to prevent accidental
deployment with the driver's knee. The dash features a glare-dampening panel to improve visibility
through the curved, tinted safety glass windshield.
You won't find any bad seats up front either, with recliners that have the proper amount of
backrest angle, four cupholders, and plenty of room for someone to sit at the very front facing
backwards. Of course, the seats have plenty of storage underneath, and with an optional filler
cushion, the entire bow section turns into another sunpad. Since the boat draws almost three feet
(34 inches), exiting from the stern platform might be a little on the deep side for those who don't
want to get too wet. But the 230 Horizon has a bow ladder that cleverly folds away in the large
anchor locker that allows the wading-challenged to hop right onto the beach.
All 2004 Four Winns boats ' even its 17-footer ' come standard with Clarion CD stereos and
12 months of Sirius satellite radio, which provides 100 commercial-free channels of music, sports,
news and entertainment, so no matter where you are, you can still get crystal-clear reception.
Right now the monthly fee for this service is $12.95 with a discount offered for longer contracts.
Also included free for the first year is Genmar's FirstMate Program, which offers different levels
of additional 24/7/365 boater assistance, valued at $150 a year. All Four Winns come with a
transferable Winning Edge warranty that offers limited lifetime coverage on the hull, stringers and
transom, and five years against osmotic blistering. In addition, all non-structural component
issues are handled by Four Winns directly for three years, regardless of the manufacturer's
warranty.
Base price for the 230 Horizon with a 270-hp, 5.0L Volvo Penta GXi engine with the SX
outdrive is $43,954, which includes a tandem axle Sure-Load trailer. With the 320-hp, 5.7L Volvo
Penta GXI and Duoprop outdrive, the tariff climbs to $49,408, which places it about mid-pack
price-wise. The 230 Horizon is well suited for many different tasks. Skiers will love the dedicated
storage for skis, stern lockers for jackets and ropes, angled deep-water boarding ladder that stows
neatly away, and standard stern shower. For the hard-core, there is an optional deluxe tower with
wakeboard racks, and Clarion speakers and subwoofer that will give it the look and the sound that
modern enthusiasts demand.
So you don't need a crystal ball to see the future of boating, just check out the 230
Horizon.