2011 Four Winns H180 Outboard

Boat Reviews

Reviewed by Richard Crowder

Imagine this, an outboard boat with an integrated full-width swim platform! Never heard of one? Well look no further. This is exactly what Four Winns has built into its new eighteen-foot outboard-powered bowrider runabout, the only outboard in its full line-up for 2011, a line-up which extends right up to its luxurious fifty-foot model V475 sport yacht.

It’s almost ingenious. By specifying motors with an XL (Extra Long) 25-inch shaft length (instead of the more standard 20-inch long shaft), and with the 21-degree deep-vee hull design of the H180, Four Winns was left with lots of transom height and was able to eliminate the normal “well” found at the stern of almost all outboard powered boats. This “well” area is “capped” with a full-width platform that is indented in its middle section to allow full trim and tilt capabilities of the motor, while allowing full walking access across the stern of the boat ahead of the motor yet behind the full-width stern seat.

This platform is complete with a skid-resistant surface and Four Winns’ angled, deep-reach ladder with wide-step pads. As found in many sterndrive powered boats, Four Winns has neatly provided a removable back on the starboard side rear seat cushion to allow easy access to and from the cockpit to this platform.

And this is not a stripped down outboard but loaded with lots of standard features and some neat options too. In Four Winns’ tradition, the H180 is all composite construction with a fibreglass stringer system, fibreglass inner liner and molded fibreglass engine compartment liner all built on Four Winns’ exclusive Stable-Vee® hull design which provides a stepped running surface to reduce drag and “after pods” to help the boat get quicker onto plane.

The cockpit is a fairly standard layout with the full-width rear bench seating and two forward adjustable bucket-type seats. Optional seating arrangements are available. Snap-in cockpit carpeting is standard along with an in-floor ski locker and extra storage lengthwise along both sides of the cockpit. Up front through the walk-thru windshield, there is ample bow seating along both sides with padded backrests and storage below the hinged cushions. Filler cushions are available.

Both port and starboard helms have a very modern design look with carbon fibre look trim. Fancy hand-stitched look to these helms are available. A glove box is in the passenger helm and the driver’s side helm features normal outboard gauges, lighted switches, a deluxe tilt steering wheel, emergency engine shut-off, depth sounder with alarm plus water and air temperature readouts and an engine warning horn. A Sony® AM/FM/CD stereo with subwoofer is standard.

Several different single options and option packages are available from Four Winns to transform your H180 OB either for more specialized use or for more generalized activities on the water. For example, the LS Package includes a neat “twist & insert” ski pylon plus other on board comfort items. The Fish & Ski Package includes that same ski pylon plus a livewell, trolling motor, fishfinder, and rod holders. The SS Package provides more upscale dress-up items such as the hand-stitched, colour coordinated helm consoles, special graphic and colour schemes, SunSport seating, etc. A wakeboard tower is available as a stand-alone option.

However you outfit your H180, it will come standard with a colour-matched Sure-Load™ custom matched swing-away tongue, single axle bunk trailer which you can choose to have deleted from your order should you not need a trailer. A total of ten outboard motor options are available with your H180 from 90 to 150 horsepower from Evinrude, Mercury, or Yamaha. A mid-range 115 would most probably be sufficient and relatively efficient for most purposes. It’s refreshing to see such a wide choice in both horsepower and brands being made available.

This is an exciting boat that introduces both a practical and a good looking design upgrade that could well become the norm for future deep-vee, high freeboard outboard powered boats – an integrated, molded swim platform ahead of the motor. Yes you can have your cake and eat it too – but only with Four Winns at the moment.

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