Four Winns HD 240 OB (2016-)

Brief Summary

Four Winns’ new HD 240 OB Signature Series is the latest example of the new breed of outboard-powered deckboats designed for hosting a crowd during a day on the water. She has a USCG-rated capacity of 11 passengers. We like her aft-facing lounge seat on the stern and two high-backed captains’ chairs. An enclosed head provides an important amenity. Accessories include a built-in cooler, a stereo with Bluetooth capability and four speakers, and fore and aft boarding ladders. She also comes packaged with a tandem-axle trailer.

Overall, she is a very large deckboat with high freeboard, outboard power, and a stern designed to launch watersports.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	24'4" / 7.41 m
Beam	8'5" 2.55 m
Dry Weight	4,600 lbs 2,086 kg
Tested Weight	5,320 lbs. 2,413 kg
Draft Up	18" 46 cm
Draft Down	35" 89 cm
Deadrise/Transom	20-deg.
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	N/A
Weight Capacity	2,800 lbs. 1,270 kg
Person Capacity	11
Fuel Capacity	54 gal 205 L
Water Capacity	12 gal. 45 L
Trailer Weight	1,505 lbs. 683 kg
Total Weight	5,320 lbs. 2,413 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	4.9 sec.
0 to 30	10.7 sec.
Ratio	1.85:1
Props	Mirage Plus 17P
Load	3 persons, 1/4 fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	66 deg.; no wind; seas: calm

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 250-hp Mercury Verado
Std. Power	Not Available
Opt. Power	3 Evinrude engines from 200-hp to 300-hp 4 Mercury engines from 200-hp to 300-hp 5 Yamaha engines from 200-hp to 300-hp

Learn More
Watch Our Video

Features Inspection

The Bow.

Let’s start in the HD 240 OB Signature Series’ bow, where the foredeck locker contains a beach boarding ladder as well as the ground tackle. The walking surfaces on the foredeck are covered in a soft mat, and outboard on each side, the navigation lights and bow cleats are in small recessed areas that are out of the way. The bow has wraparound seating with full height backrests and cutouts that have speakers and cupholders in them. Optional cushions fill in the backrest and center of the seating area to create a fully enclosed playpen with padding all around. Grab rails also run the length of the bow to provide additional security.

Bow Storage.

The bottom cushions on each side have two-position hinges and open up storage lockers underneath. Beneath the forward bottom cushion is an insulated cooler that drains overboard, so fill it with ice and forget it. Additionally, the starboard side backrest is hinged and opens to access more storage plus the helm rigging.

The Cockpit.

Moving aft into the HD 240 OB Signature Series’ cockpit is easy, thanks to the opening center section of the walkthrough windshield that has a full aluminum frame and stainless-steel header. The driver and a companion travel in ComfortRide bucket seats with flip-up bolsters and armrests. Additionally, the lower center section of the backrest is open to let air circulate better.
An L-shaped lounge wraps around to port, and there’s another seat abaft the helm position. Two steps up lead to the starboard passageway to the stern that closes off with a stainless steel gate. With the exception of the bow and stern platforms all the walking surfaces on our test boat were covered in the optional Cockpit Mat. The private head compartment in the port console has a mirror, opening port window, portable toilet, and a sink. We measured the opening for the compartment at 4’1” (1.2m) high and 2’4” (.76 m) across.

The Helm.

To starboard, the helm looks like the dash found in a luxury automobile or SUV with two multi-function engine-monitoring instruments set in an upholstered panel finished in dark colors to reduce glare. There is also a depth sounder and the steering wheel tilts. Accessory switches are on each side of the wheel, and the stereo is all the way to port.

Cockpit Storage.

In addition to the built-in cooler in the bow, there’s space for two more carry-on models beneath the bottom cushions for the port and and bench seats in the cockpit. Additionally, there’s a wastebasket beneath the aft port corner cushion. The ski locker hatch is between the driver’s and companion’s seats, and the compartment measures 5’3” (1.6m) long by 2’ (.6m) deep by 2’ (.6m) wide. The sole of the locker has a rubber mat on the bottom to cushion the ride for expensive toys.

The Stern.

The HD 240 OB Signature Series’ stern has an aft-facing lounge where two people can sit facing aft to watch the action on the end of a towrope or keep an eye on the kids when they’re swimming. There’s good space to move around on the swim platform, which spans the boat’s full beam and is plenty deep for someone to stand on and strap on a board. The soft gray mat on the walking surface at the bow and stern are part of the Signature Series package. There’s a four-step ladder in its own locker to starboard.

The list of available options for the stern area include a shower and a pair of JL audio speakers. To make it easy to store gear when boarding from the platform, a bottom cushion for the lounge lifts up on a gas strut to reveal a locker that Four Winns calls the “Basement Compartment.” It’s where the engine would be located on a stern drive model. The compartment measures 4’8” (1.4m) wide by 3’6” (1.07m) fore to aft and 2’4” (.7m) deep. Inside we found a 72-quart (68.1-liter) removable cooler and a dedicated spot for a 5-gallon (18.9-liter) bucket.

Bottom Design.

The HD 240 OB Signature Series rides on Four Winns’ Stable Vee bottom that features the manufacturer’s split-chine design. The bow has a sharp entry and the beam is carried as far forward as possible to create more spacious seating. The chines are turned down and provide lift when planing and better grip in turns. Aft, the boat has a 10” wide pad that tapers into the keel as it runs forward. The underside of the swim platform/outboard bracket angles up and aft, which lets it act like a large trim tab when the boat is planing, limiting bow rise.

Power and Performance

Engine Options.

Four Winns offers the HD 240 OB Signature Series with a choice of outboard motors from Yamaha, Evinrude and Mercury ranging from 200 to 300 hp.

The Numbers.

We tested the HD 240 OB Signature Series with a 250-hp Mercury Verado supercharged four-stroke outboard turning a Mirage stainless-steel propeller. With boat weight estimated at 6,030 lbs. (2,735 kg), we hit a top speed of 49.1 mph (42.7 knots) at 6950 rpm. Best cruise came at 4000 rpm where we ran 30 mph (26.0 knots) and burned 9.5 gph, giving the boat a range of 153 statute miles with 10% of her 54-gallon (205 L) fuel capacity in reserve. In acceleration tests, we planed in 4.9 seconds and ran to 20 mph (17.4 knots) in 7.2 seconds and to 30 mph (26.1 knots) in 10.7 seconds.

Ride and Handling.

The only way we could challenge our test boat’s ability to handle waves was to run her through the photo boat wakes and she carved through them with ease. In turns, the boat belied her size, showing nimble handling as we whipper her through slalom maneuvers and carved circles in each direction.

Perhaps more important,

when accelerating, there is very little bow rise.

Package Features

Signature Series.

The Signature Series has a more refined look and is available in Jet Black and Crimson Red or Jet Black and White color schemes. Standard equipment includes a bow scuff plate, pull-up cleats, gray swim platform and bow mats, low-profile tinted windshield with a stainless-steel frame. The driver’s and companion’s Comfort Ride bucket seats w/flip-up bolsters cockpit carpet, JL Audio stereo w/Bluetooth and MP3 and dual batteries with switch are also part of the package, as is the tandem-axle trailer with aluminum wheels.

RS Series.

The RS Series is a more “sporty” model with bolder graphics in Passion Red and White Atomic and Phantom Grey, Atomic and White, and Passion Red and Phantom Grey vinyl rubrail. Like the SS series, the RS features the bow scuff plate, pull-up stainless steel cleats and swim platform mat. The low-profile windshield is painted to match the graphics instead of the stainless-steel version on the SS. Also, the RS comes with cockpit carpet and a depth sounder and water- and air-temperature monitors. The RS trailer has aluminum wheels.

HD Series.

The HD Series is the base model of the boat and comes standard with the port-side lounge, an AM/FM Bluetooth stereo with four speakers and a built-in cooler. The trailer is also standard.

Base Price of HD 240 Signature Series

Individual Options and Prices

Observations

One of the most appealing things about this new breed of outboard-powered deckboat from Four Winns is that the manufacturers make no bones about their intended purpose. The HD 240 OB Signature Series is all about spending the day on the water with a lot of friends who like to do a lot of things. She’s rated for 11 passengers, and she has the storage space for all their gear. She is designed to be used much like a pontoon boat for entertaining and a sportboat for watersports.
The boat comes packaged with a high-quality, tandem-axle trailer, so owners can check out the local hot spots and not be limited to one body of water. The boat without motor has an estimated weight of 3,820 lbs. (1,730 kg), so a trailer with a 5,000-lb. (2,268 kg) capacity should be suitable. That means a vehicle rated for a half ton can tow the HD 240 OB Signature Series.