Four Winns HD 270 Outboard: Review

The mighty Four Winns Horizon HD 270 OB is based on the sterndrive-powered deckboat that’s well established in the range. But in keeping with global trends to outboard engines — hence the OB in the model name — it has its motor hanging off the back rather than under the boot. What are the advantages? Here's our take...

OVERVIEW
- The advantages of this outboard variant
With a 250-350hp outboard instead of V8 inboard engine with sterndrive, the Four Winns Horizon HD 270 OB morphs into a people mover rather than a sports wagon. It hasn’t the hole shot and top end of a V8 — be it the 300-350hp 6.2L or the upgraded big-block 380hp 8.2L you can get with this boat — but what it does offer is a wide deckboat platform ready to pack a crowd. The boat is akin to a family wagon with a third row of seats, the dog and the toys in the back, and a Sunday picnic prepped for the beach in the carry on/off esky.

On the water, the predictable performance — not subdued by any means — from the  V6 Yamaha F300 four-stroke outboard opens up new frontiers. One big advantage of an outboard over a sterndrive is shallow-water beach access. This is a key point when you have family itching to dive overboard and run on the sand. You can get within stepping off distance and, at worst, wade through knee-deep water to set up camp under a tree.

The other big advantage of outboard power is lower maintenance and, ergo, improved reliability. Since the outboard leg and prop can be tilted clear of the water when the boat is moored, there's less corrosion. And by connecting a hose, or rigging up a connection to the boat’s freshwater supply and 12V pump, you can flush the outboard cooling system clear of salt so very easily.

For the owner of our test boat, this latter point was the clincher. Two families with young kids shared the ownership of this Four Winns HD 270 OB, which was kept on a mooring on Sydney Harbour to help allay costs. Their previous boat was a sterndrive and, perhaps without realising it, it suffered from corrosion and, eventually, high repair costs. If you want a sterndrive boat, the boat way to keep it is out of the water in a rack or on a floating dock.

Additionally, by removing the inboard V8 from the hull, the engine bay is freed-up to become one huge cavernous storage area for watertoys. This certainly a big part of this 26ft 6in (8.10m) boat’s intent. With the optional tow arch, you can keep the kids entertained on tubes and, when they're old enough, wakeboards. You can also pack the fishing and dive gear, inflatable SUPs, cricket set, portable barbecue, wakeboards and so on. All set to go for summer.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Honest pricing for a maxi bowrider with tower
With the standard factory specification and a Mercury 250XL Verado outboard, the base price of this big American-made bowrider is around $140k landed sans trailer. The test boat with upgraded 300hp Yamaha F300 and options was priced at $169,000 when displayed at the 50th Sydney International Boat Show. You get a fair whack of bowrider for that money.

The big-ticket options included the wakeboard tower and electric windlass with integrated plough for push-button anchoring. There were bow filler cushions to create a forward sunpad, an upgraded Corian counter on the vanity in the step-down head, docking lights for night boating, a swim platform rubber mat to make sitting in your togs more comfortable, and some other small items, along with delivery, safety gear and on-water costs.

DECKS AND LAYOUT
- A big people mover with room to stow all their gear
With oodles of seating from bow to stern and a huge 12-person (CE rating) up to 14-person (US rating) passenger capacity, this is certainly a social dayboat. You can seat four in bow, two at the helm, and six to eight in the big cockpit on the U-shaped surround seating. We like the way the helm and co-pilot seats swivel and abut the seating to create chaise lounges. You can get comfortable in no time.

At the same time, the optional tow tower fitted to this boat — and groovy graphics packages in the RS and SS variants if you want to look even cooler — let you entertain the crowd with some tubing or wakeboarding. The aft-facing transom seat helps with gearing up and observer rolls when towing. A Kicker Marine stereo with fore and aft speakers will get the party rocking. All you need is a GoPro and an Instagram account.

As we drove it, the Four Winns Horizon HD 270 OB was set-up as a fun family boat foremost. Integral and carry-on coolers ensure lunch and drinks are right at hand, there’s a step-down head with PortaPotti under the co-pilot console, and just so much storage underfloor for your gear that you’re guaranteed a clutter-free cockpit for getting around.

If you want to kick back, the aforesaid hinged aft lounge converts into a reclining sun lounger, while th eow seating is also full-length and, with the infill, you get a second sunpad. Moulded tables create fore and/or aft lunch stations and drinkholders abound. Yet space is as much a highlight.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Composite build and added weight savings with outboard
The hull, which uses foam-filled stringers and moulded liners, is a patented Stable-Vee design with 20 degrees of deadrise for surefooted performance and predictable handling. Factory rigging exists for Evinrude, Mercury and Yamaha outboards.

The boat we drove was fitted with a Yamaha F300 V6 four-stroke outboard drawing from a 265lt fuel supply that will see you through a typical long hot summer’s day of running, cruising, towing and lunching. The 45lt of freshwater is sufficient for a quick deck shower before you head home.

Without the inboard V8 and separate sterndrive, and using a V6 outboard instead, the 270 tips the scales to 2291kg, which is a 136kg weight saving. As such, this will be a considerably more economical boat to run, especially in a lightly laden state. It won’t be quite as good for tow sports with a full house as the V8 inboard. But that's the main trade-off.

Either way, the upmarket stitched dash with custom bezel toggle switches and premium vinyl upholstery add to the luxury, while the rakish custom windscreen wraps well aft for protection at the helm and some cool sports styling. This is a nice looking and well-finished boat that exudes some high production-boat values.

All the deck gear is saltwater grade stainless steel, there’s a windlass to make anchoring a snap, and all kinds of lighting, entertainment and tow sports options to trick-up your Four Winns Horizon HD 270 OB. As we had it, with a blue hull, the boat looked smart rather than glitzy.

ON THE WATER
- A smooth cruise with easy handling
With the Yamaha F300, top speed was a pleasant 41-42 knots (around 77kmh), with smooth cruising clocked at 25 knots (47kmh) at 4000rpm on Sydney Harbour. The 4.2L V6 four-stroke outboard is a smooth operator with variable camshaft timing to increase power in the low- to mid-ranges and boost acceleration.

The power is measured and you need to get up to 4000rpm for the boat to really settle into its cruising groove. Without any weight in the bow, we noticed a slight transition over the hump. But most times you are going to have a few people riding up front and, with that, you should level out quicker. As the seating layout lets you spread your crew evenly, you can ensure this boat runs on an even keel simply by assigning seats.

Performance and handling was safe and assured as we whizzed around the upper reaches of Middle Harbour. Vision and helm ergonomics were excellent, adding to an enjoyable drive.

The Yamaha gauges simplify the dash, although it would be nice to have a multifunction display with GPS in the centre panel built for as much. But full marks for the 12V charging sockets and drink holders that double for storing personal effects like phones. Bottom line: it's a nice ride and drive.

VERDICT
- Four Winns following the outboard dayboat trends
Four Winns has a long history in Australia and has been building boats for 55 years. Since the business was acquired by the Beneteau Group, the
world’s biggest boatbuilder, the brand has started reigniting its designs.

This HD 270 OB is one of the latest offerings from the Michigan yard and, with outboard power, a boat very much on trend. With abundant seating and a large passenger capacity, it's a social chariot ideal for a couple of families to enjoy the waterways together.

After cruising and towsports, fore-and-aft anchor in knee-deep water, carry the picnic hamper and beach-cricket set ashore, and set up camp under the shade of a tree. Sated, pack the tribe aboard and zoom home late Sunday.

You'll sleep well knowing your outboard engine is living clear of the water, free of marine growth and rampant corrosion, ready to start first turn of the key next weekend.

LIKES
>> The advantages of an outboard from beach access to lower maintenance
>> Big gains in storage with oodles of room for all your gear
>> All that stadium-style surround seating for 12-14
>> Excellent helm ergonomics and driving station
>> Smooth performance from the 300hp V6 Yamaha F300 outboard

NOT SO MUCH
>> It’s not a V8 rocket ship, nor does it have the bottom-end grunt
>> It would be nice to have a 9in MFD screen in that dash
>> Not the finest entry for slicing the rough stuff on this beam-forward deckboat

RATINGS
Overall rating: 84/100
Mechanical/equipment: 4.5/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.5/5.0
On-the-water performance: 4.5/5.0
Value for money: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

SPEED AND FUEL FLOW
Running 1 x Yamaha F300XA, data as supplied by Four Winns
RPM   SPEED  LPH
2000        13        11
2500        14        19
3000        16        26
3500        23        34
4000        47        42
4500        58        53
5000        68        60
5500        72        68
WOT       77        91

Specifications: Four Winns Horizon HD 270 OB
LOA: 8.10m
Beam: 2.60m
Fuel: 265lt
Water: 45lt
Draft: 0.81m
Weight: 2292kg
Persons: 14 US (12 CE)
Deadrise 20 degrees
Engine Rating: 250-350hp
Engine on Test: Yamaha F300 V6 outboard

Supplied by:
Sydney Powerboat Centre
Spit Bridge, Mosman
d’Albora Marinas – The Spit
The Spit
Mosman, NSW 2088
Phone: 02 9997 7797
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Sydney Powerboat Centre.