Four Winns new F244 was designed to compete in the fast growing deck boat market by combining a deck boat style top with a sport boat hull on the bottom.
The Four Winns F244 showed some very impressive numbers out on the water and she handled very well. She came out of the hole and on to plane in a quick 3.5 seconds. At top speed she peaked out at 44.6 mph at 4550 rpm, and she was able to create a comfortable cruising speed of 25.5 mph at 2800 rpm. At three-quarter throttle the Four Winns F244 handled the tight turns just like you would expect a sportboat to handle without breeching the integrity of the deckboat topside design.
This boat was not designed for open ocean travel, bit she makes a great day boat for a family. Whether you’re coming in for lunch or just short term docking in general, the Four Winns F244 has the handling and maneuvering capabilities of the family car. This boat can easily be put to the dock and the captain will look good every time doing so.
The helm station on the Four Winns F244 has 360 degrees of visibility, which provides safety, and ease of handling for the skipper. The swivel seats allow everyone to join in on the conversation and have a snack at the cockpit table, which is also removable. The comfort level is way up there on this boat! The helm controls are nicely placed for smooth action. From the single binnacle shift throttle to the instrument cluster that includes a speedometer, oil gauge, fuel gauges and water temperature gauge, this helm is very comfortable as well as easy to handle.
The layout on the Four Winns F244 is well thought out. The forward deck area hosts an ample seating arrangement, which includes extra cushions for creating a full size sun pad. Just insert the folding star-board panels through the extra cushions and you’re sunning yourself in style! There’s lots of storage room under the seats in the bow and a nice bar style sink and prep board. There are handrails on either side of the boat and a large walk-through windshield for easy passage into the helm/aft deck area. There you will find more ample seating and another table with a swivel seat adjacent to the captain’s. You will find plenty of storage under all the seating and, surprisingly, a very large storage compartment just below the deck between the two swivel seats. There is snap-on carpet throughout the boat and a nice large walk-through which leads to a well designed integral swim platform. The swim platform is host to a folding collapsible swim ladder making boarding a breeze for adults and children alike.
Engine access is very easy, with a push of a button the motorized hatch lifts up giving you plenty of engine room access. Thus making basic maintenance such as fuel filters, water/fuel separators and oil changes relatively painless. The engine room also has some storage capabilities.
All in all, the Four Winns F244 powered with 1 X 280 horse power 5.7 liter G I /dual prop system is a well thought out deck boat, combination sport boat design making her an ideal platform for a family.
By Capt. Dan Maxwell
Test Captain
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