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The Four Winns H1 is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Four Winns of United States, a builder trading since 1962. On our measurements it works out at roughly 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) of hull with a beam near 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. Wide-beam bowriders with big cockpits and strong watersports credentials.
Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 10 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.
Underway the H1 behaves the way a well-sorted mid-size bowrider should. It comes onto the plane early, holds a low tow speed without wallowing and tracks flat through a hard turn instead of skating out. In short chop you slow down and let the hull do the work, and it stays surprisingly dry for the size.
Power is a 150-225 hp petrol stern drive package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. A stern drive keeps the transom clean and the engine low in the hull, which lowers the centre of gravity and gives that quiet, torquey feel off the mark that skiers appreciate.
Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Four Winns owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy stern drive package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.
Fishing is the quiet strength of this hull. Pull the bow cushions and the forward lounge becomes an open casting platform with clear access all the way around the bow, and the rear lounge lifts out to open up the transom and side gunwales. Ten minutes of work turns the family boat into a genuinely capable fishing boat, and ten minutes the other way turns it back again before anyone gets home.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a mid range boat from United States. Four Winns has always chased interior volume, and the H-series (H1, H2, H4, H6) shows it: beam is carried well forward so the bow lounge is unusually roomy, freeboard is high enough to feel secure with kids aboard, and the cockpit swallows an esky, a tower and a full set of watersports gear without anyone tripping over it. The hulls are competent all-rounders — not the softest ride in the class, but stable at rest and predictable in a following sea, which is exactly what families notice. Optional tow pylons, ballast, surf systems and towers mean a Four Winns can be specified as a genuine watersports boat rather than a cruiser with a rope hook. Pricing sits mid-market, undercutting Cobalt and Regal while offering more standard equipment than the entry brands, and the outboard HD models have broadened the appeal in markets that prefer no engine box in the cockpit. Used examples are plentiful in North America and increasingly common in Europe.
Options worth having on the H1 are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.
As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.
Our price guide for the H1 is US$50,000 - US$66,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Four Winns has been refining that formula since 1962, and the H1 is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.
The world's best selling bowrider size, Light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
A premium 25-foot bowrider renowned for its deep seating, convertible lounges, refined ride and exceptional finish.
US$155,000 - US$210,000 new
Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
Ownership
The purchase price is the headline; the running cost is what decides whether you keep the boat. Fortunately bowriders are among the cheapest powerboats to own, and the numbers are predictable enough to budget properly before you buy. A 5.5-6.0 m bowrider with a 115-150 hp four-stroke uses roughly 15-25 litres per hour at cruise. At fifty hours a year — a typical family season — that is 750-1,250 litres. A 7 m boat with 250-300 hp can double it. Cruise speed matters more than engine size. Running at an efficient 3,500-4,000 rpm instead of wide-open throttle routinely halves consumption, and a correctly pitched propeller can improve economy by ten per cent on its own. Budget an annual service of roughly 400-900 in local currency for a single modern outboard, more if the engine is large or the labour rate is high. Sterndrives typically run higher because the drive leg needs its own attention, and bellows replacement every few years is a scheduled cost rather than a surprise. Add anodes, filters, gear oil, propeller repairs, batteries every three to five years, trailer bearings and tyres, plus antifoul if the boat lives in the water. Boats kept on a trailer and flushed after use avoid most…
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