Four winns 278 VISTA User manual

258/278 VISTA OWNERS MANUAL
090-2823
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Dear Four Winns Owner,
On behalf of everyone at Four Winns, congratulations – and thank you for choosing
a Four Winns boat.
Four Winns is committed to customer satisfaction. If you are not completely satised with
any aspect of your boat’s condition upon delivery – or if it does not meet your expectations
at any time during your ownership experience – please contact your Four Winns Dealer or our
customer service department. In the event they are unable to assist you, or if you do not receive
the response you expect, I invite you to contact me directly. Your feedback is invaluable to us
as we strive to become the world’s most customer-focused recreational boat brand.
A thorough review of this Owner’s Manual will help you make the most of your boating
experience. It not only includes information specic to the model you have purchased, but
guidelines for better boating as well. Please take time to familiarize yourself with its contents,
and to read – and reread often – important sections.
Once again, thank you and welcome to the Four Winns family.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Olson
President
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

Table of Contents Owner’s Manual Page 1
PREFACE.........................................................................................................................................................10
SAFETY MESSAGES ......................................................................................................................................11
OPERATION ....................................................................................................................................................18
A - 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................... 18
A - 2 COMPONENT SYSTEMS ........................................................................................................... 18
A - 3 SAFETY EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................................ 18
A - 4 PASSENGER SAFETY ............................................................................................................... 18
A - 5 RULES OF THE ROAD ............................................................................................................... 18
A - 6 LIGHTNING................................................................................................................................. 18
A - 7 DRUGS AND ALCOHOL............................................................................................................. 19
A - 8 PRE-CRUISE SYSTEM CHECK ................................................................................................. 19
A. Before Starting the Engines................................................................................................... 19
B. After Starting the Engine ....................................................................................................... 19
A - 9 ENGINE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES .................................................................................. 20
A. Before Starting ...................................................................................................................... 20
B. Cold/Warm Engine Start (EFI)............................................................................................... 20
C. Shifting and Control Speed.................................................................................................... 20
D. Stopping Engine.................................................................................................................... 21
A - 10 GROUNDING AND TOWING ...................................................................................................... 21
A - 11 BOATING EDUCATION .............................................................................................................. 22
A. Boating Courses.................................................................................................................... 22
B. Boating Manuals or Literature .................................................................................................22
C. Charts and Maps.....................................................................................................................22
D. Laws and Regulations.............................................................................................................22
A - 12 BOAT OWNER REGISTRATION ..................................................................................................23
A - 13 ACCIDENT REPORTING............................................................................................................ 23
A - 14 DISCHARGE OF OIL .................................................................................................................. 23
A - 15 DISPOSAL OF PLASTICS & OTHER GARBAGE ....................................................................... 23
A - 16 MARPOL TREATY ...................................................................................................................... 24
BOATING SAFETY ........................................................................................................................................ 25
B - 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................... 25
A. Required Safety Equipment .................................................................................................. 25
B. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s)....................................................................................... 25
C. PFD Types............................................................................................................................ 25
D. PFD Pointers ........................................................................................................................ 26
E. Fire Extinguisher ................................................................................................................... 26
F. Fire Extinguisher System ...................................................................................................... 27
G. Visual Distress Signal Devices .............................................................................................. 27
H. Sound Signaling Devices ...................................................................................................... 27
I. Navigation Lights................................................................................................................... 28
J. Additional Recommended Equipment ................................................................................... 28
B - 2 CARBON MONOXIDE................................................................................................................. 28
A. Properties and Characteristics of Carbon Monoxide.............................................................. 29
B. What Makes Carbon Monoxide ............................................................................................. 29
C. How a Person is Affected by Carbon Monoxide..................................................................... 29
D. Effects of Carbon Monoxide .................................................................................................. 29
E. Symptoms............................................................................................................................. 29
F. Treatment (Evaluate, Ventilate, Evacuate, Investigate, Take Corrective Action).................... 29
G. Inspection.............................................................................................................................. 30
Table of Contents

Owner’s Manual Page 2Table of Contents
H. Operation .............................................................................................................................. 30
I. Boathouses, Sea Walls and Conned Spaces ...................................................................... 30
J. The Effect of Boats Moored Along Side...................................................................................31
K. Backdrafting (Station Wagon Effect)........................................................................................31
L. Accumulation of Exhaust Gases-Swim Platform......................................................................32
M. Dangerous Activity - “Teak Surng”/“Dragging” .......................................................................32
N. Cabin Appliances ....................................................................................................................32
O. Air Conditioning (Applicable Models Only)...............................................................................32
P. Ventilation of Accommodation (Occupied) Spaces..................................................................32
Q. Running of Engines in Idle.......................................................................................................32
R. Altitude and Sea Conditions ....................................................................................................32
S. Portable Generator Sets..........................................................................................................33
T. Maintenance - Engine Performance ........................................................................................33
U. Maintenance - External Conditions..........................................................................................33
V. Maintenance - Exhaust System Integrity .................................................................................33
W. Maintenance - Ventilation Systems ........................................................................................34
X. Maintenance - Bulkhead and Deck Integrity ............................................................................34
Y. Maintenance - Air Conditioning Systems (If Applicable)...........................................................34
Z. Maintenance - Liquid Drains....................................................................................................34
AA. Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems ....................................................................................34
B - 3 SAFE BOATING PRACTICES.......................................................................................................35
A. Drugs and Alcohol...................................................................................................................35
B. Safe Operation........................................................................................................................35
C. Passenger Safety....................................................................................................................35
D. Propeller..................................................................................................................................36
E. First Aid...................................................................................................................................36
F. Operation By Minors ...............................................................................................................36
G. “Rules of the Road” .................................................................................................................36
H. Voluntary Inspections..............................................................................................................36
I. Safe Boating Courses .............................................................................................................36
B - 4 WATER SPORTS..........................................................................................................................37
A. Water Sport Guidelines ...........................................................................................................37
B. Water Skiing/Wakeboarding/Kneeboarding.............................................................................37
BASIC SEAMANSHIP......................................................................................................................................39
C - 1 GENERAL .....................................................................................................................................39
A. Boating Regulations ..................................................................................................................39
B. Rules of Seamanship ................................................................................................................39
C - 2 NAVIGATIONAL AIDS...................................................................................................................41
A. International Association of Lighthouse Authorities System B (IALA-B) .....................................41
B. Lateral Markers .........................................................................................................................41
C. Safe Water Markers ..................................................................................................................41
D. The Uniform State Waterway Marking System ..........................................................................42
E. A Special Sign...........................................................................................................................42
F. Noise.........................................................................................................................................42
G. Anchoring..................................................................................................................................42
C - 3 RECOMMENDED READING ........................................................................................................43
C - 4 CONTACTS...................................................................................................................................43
C - 5 OWNER’S LOGS AND RECORDS ...............................................................................................44
C - 6 NAVIGATIONAL AIDS CHART......................................................................................................44

Table of Contents Owner’s Manual Page 3
WARRANTY AND SERVICE.......................................................................................................................... 45
D - 1 FOUR WINNS WARRANTY POLICY .......................................................................................... 45
D - 2 DECK/HULL STRUCTURE WARRANTY .................................................................................... 45
D - 3 WARRANTY REGISTRATION .................................................................................................... 45
D - 4 TRANSFER OF WARRANTY ..................................................................................................... 45
D - 5 PRE-OWNED UNIT REGISTRATION ......................................................................................... 45
D - 6 INSURANCE COVERAGE .......................................................................................................... 46
D - 7 SERIAL NUMBER RECORD....................................................................................................... 46
D - 8 PRE-DELIVERY SERVICE.......................................................................................................... 46
D - 9 REPLACEMENT PARTS............................................................................................................. 46
D - 10 OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITIES.................................................................................................. 46
D - 11 CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS................................................................................................. 47
D - 12 WINNGEAR................................................................................................................................. 47
NAME/ADDRESS CHANGE FORM ............................................................................................ 49
WARRANTY REGISTRATION TRANSFER REQUEST .............................................................. 51
ENGINES AND INSTRUMENTATION............................................................................................................ 53
E - 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................... 53
E - 2 ENGINE EXHAUST..................................................................................................................... 53
A Carbon Monoxide.................................................................................................................. 53
B Carbon Monoxide Monitor..................................................................................................... 54
E - 3 ENGINES & Drive System .......................................................................................................... 54
A Engine................................................................................................................................... 54
B. Stern Drive ............................................................................................................................ 55
E - 4 PROPELLERS ............................................................................................................................ 55
A. Diameter ............................................................................................................................... 55
B. Pitch...................................................................................................................................... 55
C. Prop Slip .............................................................................................................................. 55
E - 5 ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS ................................................................................................... 56
A. Raw Water Cooling ............................................................................................................... 56
B. Fresh Water Cooling ............................................................................................................. 56
E - 6 RUNNING ANGLE & POWER TRIM/TILT ................................................................................... 57
A. Power Trim ........................................................................................................................... 57
B. Power Tilt ............................................................................................................................. 58
E - 7 TRIM TABS ................................................................................................................................ 58
A. Control Listing ....................................................................................................................... 58
B. Induced Planning & Controlling Trim Angle ........................................................................... 58
C. Trim Tab Maintenance ......................................................................................................... 59
E - 8 ENGINE INSTRUMENTATION ................................................................................................... 59
A. Tachometer .......................................................................................................................... 59
B. Speedometer ....................................................................................................................... 60
C. Temperature Gauge ............................................................................................................. 60
D. Oil Pressure Gauge .............................................................................................................. 60
E. Voltmeter - (Included in 4-in-1 Gauge)................................................................................... 61
F. Fuel Gauge - (Included in 4-in-1 Gauge) ............................................................................... 61
G. Power Trim Gauge ............................................................................................................... 61
H. Gas Vapor Detector ............................................................................................................. 61
I. Engine Hour Meter ............................................................................................................... 61
J. Ignition Switch ...................................................................................................................... 61
K. Emergency Stop Switch ....................................................................................................... 61
L. Alarm System ....................................................................................................................... 62
M. Navigational Equipment ....................................................................................................... 62
N. Instrument Maintenance ....................................................................................................... 65

Owner’s Manual Page 4Table of Contents
CONTROL SYSTEMS .................................................................................................................................... 66
F - 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................... 66
F - 2 CONTROL OPERATION............................................................................................................. 66
A. General ................................................................................................................................. 66
B. Maneuvering of Side-Mount Control ..................................................................................... 66
C. Shifting and Control Speed ................................................................................................... 67
F - 3 NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH........................................................................................................68
F - 4 CONTROL SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ........................................................................................ 68
STEERING SYSTEMS.................................................................................................................................... 69
G - 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................... 69
A. Tilt Steering........................................................................................................................... 69
B. Rotary Steering ..................................................................................................................... 69
C. Power Steering ..................................................................................................................... 69
G - 2 PROPELLER TORQUE .............................................................................................................. 70
G - 3 STEERING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE........................................................................................ 70
A. General Maintenance............................................................................................................ 70
B. Rotary System Maintenance ................................................................................................. 70
C. Winter Storage ..................................................................................................................... 71
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................................... 72
H - 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................... 72
H - 2 SINGLE ENGINE - DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM ........................................................................... 72
A. Installation............................................................................................................................. 72
B. Operation - Single Engine with Dual Battery System............................................................. 73
H - 3 BATTERY CHARGER ................................................................................................................ 74
H - 4 VOLTMETER ............................................................................................................................. 74
H - 5 12 VOLT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ........................................................................................ 74
A. Helm Equipment......................................................................................................................74
B. Installation of Additional 12 Volt Equipment ............................................................................75
C. Interior Equipment ..................................................................................................................75
H - 6 12 VOLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES................................................ 76
H - 7 120 (220) VOLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM .................................................................................... 76
H - 8 DOCKSIDE OPERATION ........................................................................................................... 76
A. Shore Power Connections .................................................................................................... 77
B. 120 Volt AC Equipment ........................................................................................................ 77
C. Reverse Polarity Indicator .................................................................................................... 78
D. Ground Fault Current Interrupters (GFCI).............................................................................. 79
H - 9 GENERATOR ............................................................................................................................. 79
H - 10 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ................................................................................... 79
A. Battery Maintenance ............................................................................................................ 79
B. Electrical Wiring Maintenance .............................................................................................. 80
H - 11 STRAY CURRENT CORROSION ............................................................................................... 80
A. General ................................................................................................................................ 80
B. Galvanic Corrosion ............................................................................................................... 81
C. Corrosion Prevention ............................................................................................................ 81
FUEL SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................................................ 88
I - 1 GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEMS ...................................................................................................... 88
A. System Testing ..................................................................................................................... 88
B. Fuel Fills................................................................................................................................ 88

Table of Contents Owner’s Manual Page 5
C. Anti-Syphon Valves............................................................................................................... 89
D. Fuel Gauge ........................................................................................................................... 89
E. Fuel Senders ........................................................................................................................ 89
F. Fuel Filters ............................................................................................................................ 90
G. Use and Maintenance .......................................................................................................... 90
I - 2 FUEL STANDARDS .................................................................................................................... 90
A. Problems With Alcohol in Gasoline........................................................................................ 91
B. Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 91
I - 3 FUELING INSTRUCTIONS ......................................................................................................... 91
WATER AND WASTE SYSTEMS .................................................................................................................. 93
J - 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................... 93
J - 2 PRESSURIZED WATER SYSTEM.............................................................................................. 94
A. Priming the System............................................................................................................... 94
B. System Operation ................................................................................................................. 94
C. Water Heating Systems......................................................................................................... 94
D. Using The Shower ................................................................................................................ 95
J - 3 GREY WATER SYSTEMS .......................................................................................................... 95
J - 4 SHORE WATER CONNECTION ................................................................................................ 95
J - 5 TRANSOM SHOWER ................................................................................................................ 96
J - 6 HEADS ....................................................................................................................................... 96
A. Porcelain Head - Standard ................................................................................................... 96
B. VacuFlush®Sanitation System (Optional).............................................................................. 97
C. Head With Overboard Discharge .......................................................................................... 98
D. Dockside Waste Pump Out ................................................................................................... 98
J - 7 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE........................................................................................................... 99
A. Clean Vents and Screens...................................................................................................... 99
B. Winterizing the Water System ............................................................................................. 100
VENTILATION AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ............................................................................................... 136
K - 1 ENGINE COMPARTMENT VENTILATION................................................................................ 136
A. Natural Ventilation System .................................................................................................. 136
B. Forced Air Ventilation.......................................................................................................... 136
C. Engine Ventilation System Maintenance ............................................................................. 136
K - 2 CABIN VENTILATION ............................................................................................................... 136
K - 3 HULL DRAINAGE SYSTEM ..................................................................................................... 136
A. Transom Drain ................................................................................................................... 136
B. Bilge Pumps ....................................................................................................................... 137
C. Sump ................................................................................................................................. 137
D. Bilge Compartment Drainage .............................................................................................. 137
E. Cockpit Drainage ................................................................................................................ 137
INTERIOR EQUIPMENT............................................................................................................................... 138
L - 1 GALLEY EQUIPMENT .............................................................................................................. 138
A. Electric Stove ...................................................................................................................... 138
B. Microwave Oven ................................................................................................................. 138
C. Refrigerator ........................................................................................................................ 138
L - 2 REFRESHMENT CENTER........................................................................................................ 139
L - 3 ENTERTAINMENT......................................................................................................................139
A. Stereo System ......................................................................................................................139
B. TV and DVD Player Optional.................................................................................................139

Owner’s Manual Page 6Table of Contents
L - 4 AIR CONDITIONING OPTION.....................................................................................................140
EXTERIOR AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT........................................................................................................148
M - 1 RAILS & DECK HARDWARE .................................................................................................... 148
M - 2 TRANSOM DOOR..................................................................................................................... 148
M - 3 COMPANIONWAY DOOR......................................................................................................... 149
M - 4 WINDOWS ............................................................................................................................... 150
A. Windshield and Cabin Windows ......................................................................................... 150
B. Plexiglass ........................................................................................................................... 150
M - 5 FORDECK HATCHES............................................................................................................... 150
M - 6 SWIM PLATFORM .................................................................................................................... 151
M - 7 HELM SEAT STORAGE............................................................................................................ 151
M - 8 TRANSOM STORAGE LOCKER .............................................................................................. 152
M - 9 BOW PLATFORM .................................................................................................................... 152
M - 10 WINDLASS OPTION - 278 VISTA ONLY .................................................................................. 152
M - 11 RADAR ARCH - 278 VISTA ONLY............................................................................................ 153
M - 12 SPOTLIGHT .............................................................................................................................. 153
M - 13 ENGINE HATCH w/ ELECTRIC LIFT ........................................................................................ 153
UPHOLSTERY ...............................................................................................................................................155
N - 1 INTERIOR SEATING...................................................................................................................155
A. Dinette Table.........................................................................................................................155
B. V-berth or Forward Cabin.................................................................................................... 155
C. Mid Cabin (Aft Cabin) Berth...................................................................................................156
N - 2 EXTERIOR SEATING .................................................................................................................157
A. Helm Seat .............................................................................................................................157
B. U-Shaped Stern Seat - 278 Vista (Standard) & 258 Vista (Optional) .....................................157
C. Mediterranean SunSport Seating - 258 Vista Only ................................................................157
D. Cockpit Table ........................................................................................................................158
E. Deck Sunpads.......................................................................................................................158
N - 3 INTERIOR UPHOLSTERY CARE ...............................................................................................159
A. Cleaning Interior Fabric/Upholstery .......................................................................................159
B. Interior Carpets .....................................................................................................................159
C. Privacy Curtains....................................................................................................................160
N - 4 EXTERIOR UPHOLSTERY CARE ..............................................................................................160
A. Cleaning Vinyl .......................................................................................................................160
B. Exterior Carpets ....................................................................................................................161
C. Cleaning and Maintenance....................................................................................................162
D. Stain Removal Testing ..........................................................................................................162
E. Stain Removal Procedures....................................................................................................162
N - 5 REPLACEMENT UPHOLSTERY ................................................................................................162
WEATHER COVERS......................................................................................................................................163
O - 1 GENERAL INFORMATION .........................................................................................................163
O - 2 GENERAL CANVAS INSTALLATION GUIDELINES ...................................................................163
O - 3 TRAILERING...............................................................................................................................164
O - 4 BIMINI TOP.................................................................................................................................164
O - 5 CAMPER ....................................................................................................................................165
O - 6 COCKPIT COVER.......................................................................................................................167
O - 7 USE OF WEATHER COVERS AND CARBON MONOXIDE .......................................................168
O - 8 WINTER STORAGE....................................................................................................................169