Need Advice on Boat Offer - Four Winns U17
 

Hello,

First post! I am looking at a 1996 FourWinns U-17 with a 5.0. Seller states boat is in great condition, etc. They are asking around 10,500. However, NADA has the boat around 4,300. I know I have optioned the boat out correctly, but NADA seems to "undervalue" boats most times I look. Is this normally the case or should I offer closer to NADA?

I believe those hulls were known to be really dangerous/ill-handling if memory serves correctly
search that hull has been discussed here before over the years

Yes they were. Very poor handling manners. Not worth a nickle, never mind 10 grand

Aren't these hulls the 18 Donzi copy?

Duoprop or single?

Yes, 18 Classic hull. The tales of poor handling were greatly exaggerated...

Didnt the U-17s have a rounded keel though?

So do the 18 classics..

Ask over at the Donzi registry, there are a couple people over there with them. From what I understand Four Winns owned Donzi, or part of Donzi during the time the U17/U19 boats were produced

I think it was the U-19 that powerboat panned HARD as one of the worst hulls ever tested at least with the power in the test boat
I'm pretty sure I have the issue upstairs in the barn
maybe PB didn't know what they were talking about?

I'm actually the seller....decided to do a search on my "for sale competition" and this thread popped up :)

Here's a quote directly from another thread on this site:

"I have a ton of time in both the U17 and U19. I rode in a U17 prototype back in 1995 and that was the boat that got me hooked. As you already know they are bad-azz little boats, especially in the rough. Built like a brick chithouse.

They were only made for 2 years, 1996 and 1997. The 1996s came with higher hp motors and the 1997s came with slightly less hp. They got a bad rap from a boating magazine(I can't remember which one) and I think that really hurt sales. What the magazine didn't mention is they were testing a boat with no trim limit switches and they went into a turn with the drive tucked under and put the boat on it's side.

The 1997s also lost the classic looks. The combo of lower hp, loss of the classic look and the boat test review ended the life of the Unlimiteds. Too bad but makes owning one now much better!"

OP, it's a great boat and ready to hit the lake. Throw me an offer if you'd like......

Seems like a well kept boat from the pictures and description of the seller.

Having a hard time trying to decide whether to go Four Winns or Sweet 16...

Had not even considered the Four Winns until the seller's ad popped up on craigslist the other day.

I think both may be priced outside my budget at this time anyway.

I went for a ride in a U-17 once. Never AGAIN!

"bad azz little boats especially in the rough" Say what? Are we all talking about the same boat here?

wanted
 

Does anybody know of a U-17, U-19 or Donzi 18 classic for sale?

Did the guy driving the boat know how to handle it?

They do really well in the rough since they have the 24 degree deadrise hull. Very similar to the Donzi Sweet 16/Classic 18.

Either your guy didn't know how to drive the boat, it had a problem or you were in EXTREMELY rough seas which a 17 foot boat is not intended for.

They ride great.

I don't care what the deadrise is. A 17 foot boat (or 19) that sits just inches higer than the waterline itself is NOT a rough water boat. PERIOD.

Just curious what do you cosider rough water?

I guess that's where our disconnect is. They do well in 3-4 foot chop and I consider that fairly rough water. It is relative to the size of the boat.

It's common sense not to expect a 17 foot boat to handle 6 foot seas but maybe that was your expectation or something...

I agree. I considered buying a 22' Donzi, but I couldn't see running on the Great Lakes, so I figured what's the point? IMO you need something with more freeboard if you want to run it in rough water.

No the U-17 is NOT good in a 3-4 foot chop. I doubt you have been in a U-17 in a 3' foot chop. A 1-2' chop probably feels like 3-4 but no way a U-17 handles a 3-4' chop good. So what you are saying, the u-17 handles a chop that is 2-3 times the freeboard of the boat well??? Think about that again. Can it handle a 3' wake from a passing cruiser? Sure it can, power through it, get a bit of air and continue on. But there just simply is not enough of that boat in the water to handle a sustained 3-4' chop.

I thought Bob Teague got tossed from 1 when PB tested it..

I have a U-17, I have driven it in 3 foot chop and it does fine. It's not like you're in an Apache 41. I'm not saying that at all. I'm simply saying you make it sound like the boat will capsize in 1 foot waves which couldn't be further from the truth.

Here's a vid (Not mine) of a U-17 running in moderate chop. It's always hard to tell how big seas are in videos so I won't speculate but it gives you an idea of how the boat handles in moderately rough seas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzOUGTFxF0Q

We'll agree to disagree on the subject. It is certainly not a boat to be afraid of and handles as well or better than most in it's class/size.

Like you said it's hard to tell how big seas are in a video, so based on the amount that horizon is moving I'll speculate those were at least 6-8' seas.

Be right back I'm gonna need a Dramamine just from watching that video.... j/k. :party-smiley-004:

I owned a 18 donzi for yrs , and there's no way and I mean no way they will handle 3 ft water..going over a boat wake is 1 thing but you are not going to want to be out in sustained 3 ft plus water for any extended period of time..

Ken who owns PropGods has a U-17 that runs about 70 with a 302. Boat runs great in the rough for a 17' boat. I would put it against any 17' boat in rough water.
Bunch of video on his youtube page, some taken from my little cat. You do have to drive it. Scroll through his videos for more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en1Kf..._order&list=UL

Just noticed the vid posted in the above post is also Kens boat.

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone know how to get in touch with Ken, who owns PropGods ?
I own one of these sweet boats, and would love to get the best prop for bow lift and more speed.

I'd start here. Your boat have a single or duoprop? I have a lot of hours in a U17 and even more in a 19.

http://www.propgods.com/Content2/Default.aspx

I googled propgods, and got to email Ken. Very helpful guy, that gave me some excellent advice on the best bow lifting prop to get for my Four Winns U17 equipped with the 302 Ford V8 and the Volvo Penta outdrive with the single prop.
The new 21 pitch Quicksilver Torrent prop should be here mid-week. Looking forward to testing it out in the mighty St. Lawrence River.
Thanks for the lead on getting a hold of Ken.

No problem. I owned a U19 and tried a few props. I actually came full circle back to the Viper. These boats definitely need some bow lift.

Rippem, I sent you a pm.

I own a 1996 Four Winns U-17, with the 5.0 Ford V8, and run it on The St. Lawrence River. Last summer, running beside a friends 25 footer in a couple of feet of chop, he couldn,t believe I could run faster and smoother than they could in their boat. This thing handles a couple of feet of river chop fine. If it gets much higher, I don,t really want to be out in it anyways.
I,m looking for a copy of the 1995 boaters that did the review on these boats. If by some slim chance anyone has a copy laying around, I would love to purchase it from you.

I think I have it. I'll look and let you know. They are good boats, you just need to know what you are doing to drive properly.

That,s very nice of you. Cheers

A question for the OP, did you ever go look at the boat you mentioned ?
Any update ?

Yep, my buddy surprised a LOT of boats on Lake Michigan with his U19!

Not trying to rush you, just wondering if you had a chance to check on that 1995 magazine that did the review on the FOUR WINNS UNLIMITED 17 or 19 ?
Cheers

I have a u-19 for sale if your still looking

Where are you located ? Do you have any pics of the engine bay and the boat you can post ?

In Iowa

I too own a 1996 U17. I love the boat! Anyone that says they don't handle well or can't handle rough water never drove one or don't know how to drive a boat like this. Did you ever find a better prop than the 23 pitch viper?

Thanks for chiming in. Good to freshen up a thread every few years.