The V258 Cruiser Takes Weekend Fun to a New Level of Enjoyment

By Captain Tom Shackleford

The Four Winns V258 cruiser may be the best example of input from both dealers and previous customers as a result of bringing both by invitation to the company’s test facility in Cadillac, Michigan.

Starting at the Bow

Take for instance the unit I tested, which came equipped with optional anchor sprit and power windlass operated by foot switches. Nice touches for a vessel of this size and use. As an attention to detail involving options, the anchor rode locker has been made smaller and is adjacent to the windlass to feed directly into it. After all, there really is no need to have the entire forepeak consumed by an anchor locker if that anchor is going to be cradled on the sprit.

That wireless controlled spotlight attached to the bow rail swivels and pivots from its forward perch. And how about the ribbed sun pad that easily folds away for stowing? It snaps to the deck for sun bathing and while under way keeping it in its place. On the forward deck there is also an opaque circular Bomar hatch to the salon below.

The bow area is accessed by the walkthrough windshield tall enough offer protection from elements and raked back enough to enhance drag reduction. Two fixed position struts of stainless steel construction support the glass. There is non skid across the dash from the walk through to the two molded steps along the bulkhead down to the sole of the helm station.

The Helm Station

Atop the dash, clearly in line of sight for the operator is a Danforth liquid compass. Four Winns has incorporated a Raymarine RC 135 chartplotter at the center of the dash panel. To left of the chartplotter can be found the engine temp gauge along with the tach, oil pressure and voltmeter. To the right of it is the speedo, fuel gauge, depth sounder, trim indicator and the key pad for the wireless spotlight. Panel switches on the V258 are of the rocker variety and include blower, bilge, horn, wiper as well as windlass, not to mention the engine hatch and courtesy lights.

Sony manufactures the stereo that is offered with Sirius Satellite Radio with purchase and has a port for mP3 and/or iPod players. Of particular note at the helm is the Fireboy gas fume detector (there is a v-berth below) and the Raymarine VHF radio.

The helm seats are kind of a love seat configuration in that the vessel’s operator and forward passenger share the layout. Both are bolster seats, but the captain’s can be adjusted to slide back and forth with a bar at its base. The operator has an open cubby below. The other seat’s cubby has a hatch. The back of these seats have what are likely intended as magazine racks, but I took note that paper charts would be readily available from this perch also. Curious that no drains were noted at their base.

Cockpit and Seating Features

Below those magazine/chart racks is a “J” shaped seating area. Extra plush backrest padding across the gunwale and the stern seating gives way to a cubby on the starboard side that houses a Sony stereo speaker and drinkholders, but not much else. Lifting the stern bench seat gives access to a roomful of storage. One item typically stowed here is the cockpit table and its pedestal. With additional shorter pedestals and three pre cut inserts, an incredible sun pad is created.

The cockpit is furnished with a sink and has a tall chromed, goose necked faucet. Below the sink is a 36-quart Igloo cooler with room enough to open the lid and get to the contents. Forward of the sink on the port side gunwale is an acrylic panel that pulls out at a 45 degree angle revealing an office sized waste bin.

Maintaining a sentry-like stature above all of this is a fixed ski rack that could be removed if need be to transport via trailer over a distance.

Stern Features

An acrylic gate trimmed in stainless tubing isolates the swim platform from the cockpit. Forward of the gate is a duplex A/C outlet and the battery switch. Astern of the gate is shower nozzle with both hot and cold running water, which is handy for a quick rinse before trampling across the boat out of the water. The first thing you’ll notice back here on the swim platform is the stainless steel handrail that runs the length of the stern storage locker. There’s plenty of room for more than one pair of hands. This locker is actually the same one that was found in the cockpit, it is just as easily accessed through the aft.

Swim Platform

At swim platform level on the starboard side can be found a remote for the Sony stereo. You’ve gotta have tunes while chillin’ in the water! The swim ladder is pretty much a Four Winns standard: tri fold, four steps and folds flush to the deck when not in use.

Cabin Features

Well, the Four Winns V258 is listed as a cruiser and as such has a salon and v-berth below. The companionway door(s) is a two-fold acrylic deal with a solid outer shell and an inner door that is screened. Entering the salon down two carpeted steps, the 110-volt service panel is immediately to the left. Another small wastebasket folds out from underneath it.

The galley is finished in Burlwood and is nicely appointed with a Tappan microwave oven with a cabinet to the right of it for dishes. The counter top is constructed of Corian and the sink cover doubles as a cutting board, complete with its own rack to stow it out of the way when cooking. Again a gooseneck faucet is used down below. The single 110-volt burner is made by Kenyon and has a ceramic top. A dorm-sized fridge is incorporated into the galley, housed below the stove fixtures.

The V- berth seating uses a varnished hardwood table atop a single aluminum pedestal. Remove the table, insert three precut boards, and two of the Velcro seating backrests and an oversized V-berth is quickly created.

Interior sides of the hull are covered in rich patterned upholstery. Opening ports in the salon are curtained for privacy, and there are six high intensity lights recessed into the headliner and an additional two goose necked reading lamps. A Blackmore DVD Player and Jensen Flat screen monitor supply entertainment below along with another stereo base station. Also noted down below a second Fireboy fume detector.

Step over a dashboard through the Burlwood doorway into the head. Jabsco makes the head, a 12-volt or manual operation unit. The sink has an extendable faucet to double as a shower in concert with the wrap around inner shower liner. There are two 110-volt outlets, covered shelves, an opening port and believe it or not, a remarkably large oval mirror.

There is a queen sized aft sleeper featuring two 12-volt dome lights an opening port and another Fireboy sensor. The hanging locker is cedar lined and deep.

Specifications

At 26” long the V258 has a beam of 8’6” and carries 70 gallons of fuel. Deadrise is measured at 17 degrees and approximate boat and engine weight falls between 6,220 – 6,270 pounds. Draft is a thin 36 inches with the outdrive down.

Test Results

The Four Winns V258 I tested was equipped with a 270 HP Volvo Penta 5 liter GXi engine. On a day that held flat seas at 72 degrees, the DuoProp transmission with its F3 prop and a gear reduction of 1.95 :1 took 4.86 seconds to plane. 0 to 30 MPH time was recorded at 10.3 seconds with a load of two people and ½ a tank of gas. Fuel efficiency peaked at 4000 RPM providing 27.3 MPH (23.7 knots) and the best cruise was at 4500 RPMs getting 34.8 MPH burning 15.1 GPH or 2.3 MPG, with a range of 145 nautical miles.

• Top speed for the Four Winns V258 (2008-) is 37.5 MPH (60.4 KPH), burning 20.1 gallons per hour (GPH) or 76.08 liters per hour (LPH).


• Best cruise for the Four Winns V258 (2008-) is 27.3 MPH (43.9 KPH), and the boat gets 2.18 miles per gallon (MPG) or 0.93 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 137 miles (220.48 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 270-hp Volvo Penta 5.0GXi.

Four Winns V258 (2008-) Standard and Optional Equipment

Marine Electronics
GPS/Chart
VHF Radio
Systems
Air Cond./Heat
CD Stereo
Head: Fixed
Shore Power
Trailer
Trim Tabs
TV/DVD
Water Heater
Windlass
Galley
Microwave
Refrigerator
Stove
Exterior Features
Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
Swim Ladder
Swim Platform
Tower: Watersports
Transom Door
Transom Shower
Canvas
Cockpit Cover
Boats More Than 30 Feet
Generator

= Standard = Optional