Four Winns H9

By Andy Adams

Stunning new flagship in Four Winns’ bow rider line

Next Wednesday, October 30, at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the public will get its first in-person look at Four Winns’ stunning new H9 model, the flagship of their bowrider series. But we were invited to the dealer unveiling in Charlevoix, Michigan earlier this past summer to run Hull # 2.

It was impressive that the boat was so beautifully finished for one of the very first out of the shop and in fact, there were a couple of details that will probably change on final production models, but from our point of view, everything was great!

Day boating features

The H9 joins a growing number of luxurious day boats that have been taking a bigger and bigger share of the market in recent years. It seems that people want a ton of passenger space but in our time-short lives, spending the night on the boat is less appealing for some than having a memorable party on board the boat for a few hours. The Four Winns H9 Is 29’11” inches on a 9’2” beam and it’s yacht-rated, so there isn’t a specific maximum number of passengers you can carry, but the spec sheet says it accommodates 12. There was room for four in the bow area, the driver and companion, then room for six more in the cockpit so 12 seems realistic.

One of the critical things is that there is a comfortably large head compartment on board. It’s even big enough for people to change in privacy. The head compartment includes an MSD, sink with running water, a door that can be latched closed and opened from the inside and there is an exhaust fan too although not a port hole.

Another desirable feature in dayboats is a galley unit. The H9 has a flip-up counter extension for food preparation and you can order the boat with a refrigerator, or just go with the two coolers which stow underneath the helm binnacle on a handy pull-out track. It’s a very neat arrangement and there would be loads of space for ice and beverages. I’m sure you could fit a barbeque on the aft deck, but that was not an option that we saw on the test boat.

A special feature that really adds to the dayboat comfort is the available electric folding tower with a ski tow point. This is a really good-looking electrically activated rig that has standing headroom throughout, but in the event of unexpected inclement weather, you can drop it down so that the leading edge is only 4 inches above the windshield header. That would do a great job of blocking almost all of the rain as you were running and canvas can fully enclose it. You can also lower the top for storage or shipping.

As I’m sure you can see from the photographs, Four Winns’ new H9 is a really great-looking boat with timelessly, elegant lines and distinctive features like the almost vertical bow and the custom windshield. The windshield is a Taylor Made high-end model called a Cross Curve. It really adds a lot to the handsome styling with its automotive-type design, raked-back glass, greyed-out A-pillars and side wings that extend back to the electric hardtop mount.

Exterior features

Starting at the bow, one of the unusual features is the polished stainless steel scuff plate and anchor that passes through the stem. This keeps the deck area clear and the electric windlass allows the anchor to be deployed or retrieved very conveniently. The exterior cleats are pull-up type, so they are out of the way until you need them, giving the boat a clean and uncluttered look and at the same time, eliminating toe-stubbing risks. Speaking of cleats and tying up, there are large storage areas in the stern where you can easily put all of the fenders, lines and a lot more.

The idea with a dayboat is that you have a lot of comfortable seating in the cockpit and in the transom area where it’s convenient to sit out and tan. There are other boats in this size range that the H9 competes against but at the moment, none of them are designed with electrically operated fold-out side terraces. The H9 has the ultimate swim platform! When you’ve stopped and dropped anchor, with a touch of a button, a large section of the hull side swings out level extending the floor space and visually increasing the floor area substantially. It makes the boat seem much more comfortable and accommodating when the sides are down and you can deploy them individually. When it’s time to head home, bring everybody on board press the button and in seconds, they are up and locked in place. Another great feature is that the floor is one continuous level from bow to stern – no steps at all.

The clever and versatile aft seating area is a highlight too. Concealing a vast storage locker, the seat can be a big sun lounge, forward or aft-facing seat and with the side terraces open, there are side-facing seats with flip-up backrests. At the stern, there is a swim ladder under a cover on the starboard side and if you want to have some fun with water sports, there is a tow point so you can pull a tube or wake surfers. That is often the best part of the day on your day boat! 

Performance

Another aspect that we think really defines a dayboat is that it has the speed and seakeeping qualities that allow you to get out to your favourite anchorage in a short time. As a TV advertisement says, you spend less time getting there and more time being there!

The Four Winns H9 will be offered with a range of power options but for now, the choices were twin 250 horsepower Mercury Verado 250XL JPO outboards or twin 300 horsepower Verado 300XL JPO V8 outboards. The JPO designation is Joystick Docking. We had the twin 300s and they start easily, idle in near-silence and perform to perfection at all speeds. They planed off a load of passengers and gear with ease and the test boat hit 53 mph.

Driving this boat is easy. The control for the joystick docking is located on the dashboard near the centreline of the boat. This makes it easier to see and judge the extremities when in close quarters. There’s a bow thruster as well for added maneuverability. The control box has two throttle levers but you can easily choose to run both engines from a single lever and can synchronize the engine speeds automatically. Even better, select the auto-trim feature and the engines trim themselves to the ideal setting. Power steering makes the boat easy and accurate to helm.

The control box falls easily to hand and the seating position is fully adjustable and has a bolster as well. Position yourself where you want. The twin 12-inch Simrad MFD screens are easily read and impressive. Most competitors offer 10” screens or smaller. You also get wireless charging for your cell phone.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a party without tunes and Four Winns includes a JL Audio system with several speakers including two overhead on the electric hardtop. To put the cherry on top, we are told that with all the luxurious upholstery, great features and strong performance, the H9 will offer better value than the other boats in this admittedly luxurious category.

Very impressive!

Specifications

Length overall: 29’11” / 9.11 m
Beam: 9’2” / 2.87 m
Fuel capacity: 120 gal / 454 L
Passenger capacity: 12
Approx. weight boat and engine: 8,800 lbs / 3.992 kg
Freshwater: 20 gal / 76 L
Holding tank (optional): 13 gal / 49 L
Engine as tested: twin Mercury 300 XL Verado JPL optional

RPM MPH
1500 8
2000 10
2500 11
3000 15
3500 23
4000 33
4500 41
5000 47
5500 51
Max  53

Boat and pricing supplied by: Four Winns, www.fourwinns.com