A Versatile Bowrider for Family Fun

Tested by Capt. Tom Shackelford

Have you outgrown that little bowrider runabout? Looking for the same configuration in a mid-sized trailerable boat? Well…you may not have to look any further than Four Winns and their 260. This model is roomy, stylish, and has the get up and go which makes this vessel a unique selection in its class. Its performance and economy will impress you under way as well.

Since it’s a bowrider, let’s start up front for the grand tour. The bow has an anchor locker which houses a stainless steel telescoping swim ladder – a neat feature when you’re pulled up on a beach. A Danforth anchor can rest in recessed indentations for deployment. The smallish locker lid opens up and aft.

At the Bow

The seating up here follows the contour of the hull with thick and full vinyl covered padding, with cushioned backrest. Gunwales on both sides have drink holders and are recessed creating cubbyholes for lotion and other small items. On the starboard side is a concealed 36-quart Igloo cooler for your beverages and snacks. A bit of design and engineering ingenuity waits proudly behind the starboard backrest, which lifts up to reveal storage space in that area between the helm and bow. But that’s not all. The bottom of this sizeable nook lifts to reveal even MORE space for seldom used items.

Cockpit

The walk-through windshield has an acrylic accordion doorway below it to separate bow and cockpit. The portable head is housed in front of the port side passenger seat. There’s a small dry storage shelf above the head with sliding doors, and a porthole for ventilation.

The 260 has comfortable seating all around, both passenger and helm seats have bolsters for added comfort. The forward passenger seat on the port side has a stainless steel handrail, a cup holder and a small document holder. Above is a Clarion AM/FM/CD marine stereo.

Features at the helm include Faria gauges, a four-in-one combo shows fuel, voltage, oil pressure and engine temperature. To the left of the wheel is a small compass, and a remote tuner for the stereo is located here. To the right of the wheel is a panel of rocker switches and a 12-volt adapter. A lanyard attaches to the kill switch at the base of the throttle/gear selector lever.

Aft of the helm seat is a small sink with a stopper set in a Corian counter top. Activation of the fresh water supply comes from a rocker switch below the counter surface.

The sink gives way to the rest of the passenger seating. Semi-circular in design, the padding is thick and firm on the bench and the back, which follows the gunwales contour. Both starboard cushions remove to reach the stowage underneath. Once again, the larger of the two houses a 36-quart Igloo cooler. Recessions on either side create cubbies for knick knacks and drink holders, and stainless steel handrails are located here for bumpy seaways. What appears to be fixed cushioned seating on the transom actually converts to a full sun pad.

Stern lockers on both starboard and port side are wide and reasonably deep, opening upward on hydraulic supports. A freshwater rinse shower, oversized tow ring and stereo remote round out the usable gadgets here. The swim ladder is the standard Four Winns model: powder coated, tri-fold with stainless steel nuts and bolts. It is housed in a flush mount locker with a handhold cut out of its center. The entire swim platform is coated in non-skid.

Specs and Test Numbers

At 26 feet in length overall, and with a beam of 8’6” this 4,500 pound boat has 75 gallons of fuel available to its 280 HP Volvo Penta 5.7 L engine.

Idling at 600 rpm we achieved 5.8 mph while sipping .8 of a gallon. The first significant change in speed and fuel consumption comes at 2500 RPMs where the 260 clocked 20.5 mph using an average 6.6 gph. With the throttle wide open she ran at 41.6 mph at 4600 rpm, burning 23 gph. That F4 stainless steel duo prop set up (1.95:1 reduction ratio) pushes the 260 up on plane in 4.3 seconds.

The 260 was a fun mid-sized bowrider to operate! The folks at Four Winns knew what they were up to when they put this boat on the market.

Performance

Up on a plane, the 260 could easily be steered as if through a maze of cones hugging the water like it was on a track. Trim tabs helped out here. It achieved the plane smoothly with little deviation from the intended course. This is important to note when you consider that tow/ski ring on the stern. Families and tubing go hand in hand.

Since this boat is designed to carry passengers anywhere on board, the quiet yet powerful engine will be a hit. Conversations need not be shouting affairs.

It is only fair to report that testing was not done with passengers at the bow but that will likely not affect handling or performances with weight being disbursed properly. Seriously, power delivery on this craft is smooth and even, leaving this test captain no indication to the contrary.

As is the case with the 260’s cousin, the 245 Sundowner, docking will be an idle speed action unless weather or currents call for more juice. This is a good thing and is the product of the duo-prop set up at the lower unit. The 260 not only steered with confidence and ease but steerage while in astern propulsion was equally impressive.

• Top speed for the Four Winns H260 is 41.5 MPH (66.8 KPH), burning 23.2 gallons per hour (GPH) or 87.81 liters per hour (LPH).


• Best cruise for the Four Winns H260 is 31.4 MPH (50.5 KPH), and the boat gets 2.95 miles per gallon (MPG) or 1.25 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 199 miles (320.26 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 280-hp Volvo Penta 5.7GXi.

Four Winns H260 Standard and Optional Equipment

Systems
CD Stereo	Sirius Satellite Radio
Head: Fixed
Power Steering
Trailer
Trim Tabs
Exterior Features
Carpet: Cockpit
Ice Chest
Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
Swim Ladder
Swim Platform
Transom Shower
Wet bar
Canvas
Bimini Top
Camper Back
Cockpit Cover

= Standard = Optional