Hi,

Buying a new boat. I have a choice of Maxum 1800 vs Four Winns Horizon 190.
Both boats are exactly the same in dimensions, both have same 4.3 L MPI engine.
Maxum has slightly better stereo, more storage and more padding on the inside. Maxum cost $2000 more.

Some say Four Winns has better build quality and possibly bigger maximum capacity weight.

Can anyone comment please?

I'd personally go for the Four Winns

FourWinns may have slightly better build quality but storage is important. Also be sure that is enough boat for you. They get small in a hurry with 5 or 6 people aboard.

Also consider the water you boat on. If you boat where there is alot of other boats or it is often windy so the water is always choppy then you may want a slightly bigger and heavier boat. 20' boats are usually heavier and often have a sharper deeper hull,(more deadrise), so they ride much smoother.

Between the two boats you mentioned I would say it is a toss-up but you might want to check out some other brands as well.

I'd go with the FW as well. But I am prejudiced towards that brand. Also they make their own trailers and they are well suited to the boat.

I am surprised the Maxum is more expensive that the Four Winns. Maxum is a price point brand, Four Winns is not (Chevy fs Buick, if you will), plus the Four Winns is larger (at least going by model number).

However, that aside, you seem to like the Maxum better (based on your more storage and padding comments). All that really matters is which boat you like best.

The 4.3 should work well in either of these boats.

Where will you be boating?

I would agree that a boat gets small really quick.

If this is your final choice go with the Four Winns.

The maxum is not of the same build quality. I was surprised at some of the corner cutting when I crawled around one.

Four Winns 190 is actually 18 ft, so it's exactly the same as Maxum 18000 SR3.

Boating in harbour, saltwater, choppy water.

Can't buy anything more than 19/18ft. because Boat will be kept in the garage with height limitations.

Some things to consider the 190 FW is not just a bigger boat but is also a wider boat than the 1800mx making it more buoyant especially at the bow.Choice of engines you can have the 190 or the220hp in the FW in either volvo or merc Maxum only come with merc. When I sat in the Maxum the line of sight was obscured by the top of the windscreen and the guages were difficult to read through the steering wheel. The build quality between the two seemed to be roughly the same. The ski locker on the maxum was bigger than the four winns. The comparisons I have made were my findings and I am comparing a H180 Four Winns(still a wider boat than the Maxum) and the Maxum1800mx not the sr3 . To sum up I ordered a H180 Four Winns it should arrive next month no regrets with my decision. You mentioned that you had a height restriction I have seen this done, get another set of rims without tires and change them over when storing the boat,it lowers the height by a few inches and may get the bigger boat inside the garage.
Hope this helps
Ardy
South Australia

Get the one you like the best. I see only minor differences in the 2 brands. 19 ft on the ocean or bay, in choppy waters will not go so good. You'll find yourself staying close to the harbor on the windier/choppier days.

There are probably only minor differences in the boats in those sizes -- get the one that has the best options that suit you -- eight cupholders or whatever --

I am not sure if those are from the same dealer -- dealer service and attitude should factor in.

I also agree on the size comments -- boats get small pretty quick with extra people and extra needed STUFF ---

I admit to being biased to Four WInns -- but that is just my preference -- not really factual based between the two boats mentioned.

*my opinion*, but Maxum is 'price point' boat only in the way it's built. Not that they're built BAD, but they're barely above Bayliner in 'appointments'. Yet they're WAY WAY above Bayliner -and a few others- in price. No offense to any Maxum owners, but based solely one comparing boats at the last 5 boat shows, it's hard to find less bang for the buck. Now, to be fair, Four Winns is much better in the "appointments" category. But in overall quality of build, I'd go with Maxum.

Given all that, if this was my choice to make, Four Winns.

I have friends with both of those boats which are only a couple years old on the FW and the Maxxum is a year old.
I have picked both apart anad not much different as tpenfeld said.
That being said, on these two particuclar boats the FW fit and finish was superior in a couple ways. The upholstry, carpet, cupholders etc were just finished better on the FW.
The Maxxum was in the shop from day 1 tryinig to find a leak which came from a transom tie down not sealed properly.

Don't get me wrong this can happen with any boat just my 2 cents with hands on poking around. Go back and REALLY look at the boats open all the hatches....how are the hinges? pay attention to little things that will start to add up.
Is there good access in the engine compartment? Comparable warranty?

Kramer - From their respective websites it looks like the Four Winns is less money.





FourWinns H190 @ $24,580 (190hp 4.3, with trailer, no freight)

vs

Maxum 1800SR3 @ $27,376 (190hp 4.3, with trailer, no freight)

We looked at Maxum as well as Four Winns when we were boat shopping in '05. I'll take the SeaRay. Oh wait, that wasn't an option.

Four Winns.

Just my $.02

Semper Fi 75

I have zero knowledge on Maxum, but I have owned 3 FW BR's. All were bought used, and all have proven to be what I consider a very good VALUE - that is; a great boat for the money.

My current 200H (now the 210H)is a '99 w/ >350 hrs, and still looks and runs as new, with zero problems associated with quality fitments and/or fit/finish. I have added a factory bimini and a factory ESP, both of which I am totally pleased with.

I have had several occasions over the years to avail myself of FW factory support, and it is among the best I have ever encountered.

The Maxum shares the same hull with the Bayliner and the SeaRay, at least in that model. When you really look at them from the rubrail down they are identical. They are all owned by the same conglomorate, I think Brunswick.

I don't know if they share the same stringer and bulkhead schedule so I do not know about interior strength differences between those three, and I do know that the "cap", which is everything above the rubrail including the interior, is different for all three.

Essentially they are the same boat with different levels of trim much the same as when Caddilac made the Cimmaron from the Chevy Cavalier. They put a fancy interior and a new grill on it and charged a bunch more money for the same entry level car.

In this market I would offer 45% off asking price as a start. You might not have to go up much from there. You can always negotiate a higher price but never lower than the first offer.

I had a 19' Sea Ray, and now have a Four Winns cuddy. Go with the FW, it's a nicer class of boat. Maxum is a dressed up Bayliner.

Thanks everyone for replies. It's Four Winns for us definitely!
Now... should it be H190 or H200?

Bigger is better.

Go bigger. My Sea Ray was a 185, and we quickly outgrew that. Go H200, if not bigger. Maybe look for a new leftover boat that can be had for a steal.

So your options expanded to the 200?

Yes, considering H200.
It's the only 20ft boat on the market that is selling with single-axle trailer so we can turn it into garage manually.

Ability to rotate trailer manually and max height of 2m is our condition because of garage storage.

No other 20ft boats that fit this criteria.

2m = 6'6-3/4", you probably have a 7' high door??

Does the trailer come with a break-a-way tongue?

Double check the width of your garage door, should be 9' wide but you never know.

Another trick is to lower your outdrive as much as possible thus reducing the total length of your boat and trailer. Just remember to raise it before you head down the road.

No brainer (for the 200) if it'll fit.

You'd better be careful -- it sounds a tight fit. Will the dealer let you "garage test" it? There have been folks buy a boat that does not fit their garage even after careful measurements. I assume the trailer has a folding tongue? Do you know the outside wheel-to-wheel dimension? Mine was a very tight fit, width-wise, due to some door trim.

Have you driven this size boat with passengers and the 4.3? I would certainly suggest you do. You haven't said much about your use and expectations.

My boat is very similar in size/weight and I have the carbed 5.7L which I think is 260 hp. I can tell you that I would not even consider an H200 with less than a 5.0 EFI. Get a test drive with the passenger AND FUEL load as you're likely to use it.

Regardless of being rated for 8, over 6 adults becomes crowded IMO. The bow is not comfortable in rough water as this is "only" a 3000# boat, and the weight bias is rearward. Only the younger will want to sit up there in rougher water.

My precautions aside, I will repeat that I like this boat, and it has been beddy, beddy good to me.

The H200 comes here with 5.0 MPI engine. Should be fine I guess.

You don't say where you live, but this may interest you.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260297586105&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:MOTORS:1123

Many on this board, including me, are strong proponents of buying used.

** Here's another:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AWNA%3AUS%3A1123&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D8&viewitem=&item=230300153534&_trksid=e11010.m204

Is there any chance of keeping the boat somewhere other than your garage? Like a dry stack or storage lot near where you boat?

Faced with a similar situation, we chose to purchase a larger, used boat and keep it in a storage lot. Not the most convenient, especially since I work on the boat myself, but the best choice for us.

We boat on a river that is often choppy, so did not want anything less that 23'. With our 25' boat (that has a great hull design), we still have days that my family does not want to go out with me. Oh yeah -- with the larger boat, we got a head that has kept us on the water instead of looking for a restroom.

Also, have you given any thought to buying a used boat? They are selling at quite low prices these days. As a reference point, we paid less that $16K for our boat and a new trailer a few years ago. After three full years of use, there have been no major expenses, and I doubt a new boat would have been any less expensive to operate and maintain. And to top that off, there has been little depreciation of our investment.

Jusst some food for thought...