Four Winns Horizon 180SS

One of the best known is Four Winns. This Michigan-based manufacturer is something of specialist in bowriders as it has several model lines with bowrider craft ranging from 5.4m through to a 9.5m deluxe bowrider cruiser called the Horizon 310. The subject of this test report though is one of the smaller deluxe models, the Horizon 180SS Outboard.

A range of outboard power options are available for the H180SS. Brisbane’s Springwood Marine package the boat with a selection of Mercury outboards from 90hp through to 150hp. The test rig was fitted Mercury’s wonderfully smooth and lightweight 3.0 litre, 150hp four cylinder four-stroke.

The Mercury 150hp is a ripper engine; easy to start, ultra-smooth, light in weight and surprisingly powerful. It certainly had no problem pushing the test rig to a 40-knot-plus top speed. The compact Mercury also had ample low-down power and torque for skiing, wake-boarding, tubing, etc.

Compared with many local and overseas bowriders, the Four Winns H180SS comes with a lot of good standard gear. There’s a wide choice of hull colours and graphics to individualise each boat, and the level and standard of interior appointments is high.

There’s plenty of standard seating, upholstered in a tough vinyl material (with various colour options to match the hull) along with cup holders, and storage lockers for safety gear and water skis.

It doesn’t have cockpit side storage pockets like most Aussie-made craft, but it does have a big, lockable glove box in front of the co-pilot, along with storage under the rear bench seat and under the seats in the bowrider compartment.

There are too many standard features to list individually, but key items include the curved, walk-through tinted windscreen, deluxe bucket helm chairs with flip-up bolsters, tilt-adjustable sports steering wheel, hydraulic steering, bilge pump, horn, Sony AM/FM/CD player with speakers, Ipod/MP3 port, cooler/icebox under the bench seat, fibreglass underfloor stringer system (no rot), cockpit lighting and courtesy lights, clip-in cockpit carpet, seven pull-up cleats, angled, recessed and folding boarding ladder, along with rear swim/boarding platforms with a non-slip matt covering.

About the only thing missing from the interior is an anchor locker. The boat can be rigged to take an anchor mounted on a bow-roller (with anchor rope stowed under the bow seating area) but this kind of set-up is not really good enough in a craft that is otherwise very well equipped.

The H180SS comes standard with a Four Winns single-axle galvanised steel braked trailer with LED submersible lights and a spare wheel.

The pricing for the H180SS is competitive. With an entry-level 90hp Mercury four-stroke outboard and Four Winns trailer, Brisbane’s Springwood Marine has the standard boat available for $41,500.

The test rig was fitted with a number of options. They included the 150hp engine upgrade, a bimini top, bow and cockpit covers, ski pole, bow roller, stainless-steel propeller, hour meter and a depth gauge.

The above options lift the price a bit, but the package still represents good value at $48,600. 

The H180SS is quite a compact boat with a length of 5.46m and relatively narrow beam of 2.31m. As consequence the bowrider compartment is quite small -- but can still seat two adults, and possibly a small child.

The bowrider seat back-rests are firm but comfortable and well placed grab handles will be useful when underway at speed.

Storage lockers are situated under the bow seats on each side and pop-up cleats surround the bow.

There is no bulkhead separating the bow compartment from the centre cockpit area so you simply open-up the centre pane of the curved windscreen to move back and forth.

At the dash there are separate fibreglass modules for the skipper and co-pilot. Colour matched in red to suit the hull graphics and upholstery, these modules certainly attract the eye -- though were perhaps a bit too bright.

The starboard side helm module houses the excellent tilt adjustable steering wheel, Faria engine gauges, switch panel, lighting and cup holder.

The co-pilot module opposite has a lockable glove box, key/phone shelf and cup holder.

We would have liked to see side storage pockets in the cockpit area, but you had to make do with the glove box and storage bins under the rear bench seat.

With regard to seating, the test rig had bucket chairs with flip-up bolsters. These work well when manoeuvring in close quarters as you can sit on the bolster for more height over the windscreen and better vision.

Underway, the driving position is best with the bolsters folded back down and the seat moved in closer to the dash and within an easy reach of the steering wheel and flush, side-mounted throttle.

My only gripe with the helm position concerns the heavy tint on the windscreen. I found it difficult to see through the dark tint and tended to peer over the top of the screen for a clearer view.

A ski storage locker is situated under the floor between the helm chairs.

Additional storage is found under the moulded, full-width rear bench seat. There’s also a cooler/ice box and somewhat difficult access to the bilge area.

Other features in this area include cup holders, padded upholstered side panels to match the seating, clip-in carpet, ski-pole, and several handy cockpit grab rails.

At the stern, flanking the traditional single-engine width outboard well, are swim platforms with a well designed telescopic boarding ladder which unfolds from the starboard side platform.

With 150hp behind it, the H180SS lifts quickly up onto the plane and is stable and well balanced underway at cruising speeds. The H180SS is great fun to drive and the standard hydraulic steering is smooth and direct.

The hull is quiet and serves up a comfortable ride in moderate chop, but will firm up a bit when pushed.

Through slalom turns, the hull hangs in tightly with minimum slip and no cavitation from the well-propped four-stroke Mercury 150hp.

The H180SS is quick with the 150hp on the transom, achieving a top speed of 43.5 knots. At this pace however, the hull does get a little nervous and requires a skilled hand at the wheel to keep it tracking straight. Not a big deal for an experienced skipper, but I would recommend a smaller outboard on this boat for first-time boaters.

The H180SS has lots of good gear and equipment, a practical layout, easy handling, and all the performance you could wish for in a family day boat.