By Andy Adams

Exciting new model for 2018

The Four Winns H290OB combines two of the most popular new big boat trends to come up with a great new 30 footer. It's a luxurious and spacious deep-V day boat that can handle big water and big groups, and it's powered by outboards. In this case, two Mercury Verado 300s gives this boat 600 hp of silky smooth, ready to run power.

The H290 has been available for the past three seasons as a twin-engine stern drive powered boat, but the outboard version is brand-new and it's a home run for sure!

The Mercury Verados are now very well proven performers in fresh or salt water.

The Verado debuted in 2004 and the Verado line has now expanded to cover175 horsepower all the way up to 350. The 300 Verados on the test boat are supercharged 2.6 L in-line six cylinder engines with multi point electronic fuel injection. They are designed to rev to 6,400 rpm. Extensive use of sensors and computer engine management make this perhaps the most sophisticated outboard engine on the market.

The Verados also can be equipped with electronic power steering that allows joystick docking as well as skyhook station keeping features and more. The change to outboards has really given the Four Winns H290OB impressive performance but there’s more to it than just that.

This is the cabin. It's quite usable and again, the large window in the hull side makes it bright and pleasant.

In the stern drive version of the Four Winns H290, twin inboard-mounted engines weigh considerably more than the outboards plus, with the Verados mounted on the transom, you are now left with a cavernous storage area where the twin inboard engines used to live. What to do?

Bring all sorts of cargo; scuba tanks, folding bicycles, towable devices, wakeboard's and more. Imagine the fun you can have!

This type of big day boat has really come on strong in the marketplace recently. It's particularly well-suited to marinas that have dry slip facilities where you can have the boat launched on short notice, then when you return to port, the marina can take it right out of the water and rack it indoors to keep it clean and undamaged.

This boat is all about having fun with the gang. The test boat had a shapely curving radar arch over the interior, which provides you with a useful handhold at times and offers a high mount for the ski rope. This helps skiers and wake boarders get out of the water more easily and you can certainly pull tubes or other toys. There is lots of power for that!

The bow area is quite spacious. The hinged cushions lift for access to storageand notice the bracket where the picnic table can be mounted.

The bow area has excellent seating, which can be converted from forward facing seats to a wraparound sun lounge idea with some removable cushions. There are convenient handholds, drink holders, stereo speakers and snap out carpeting as well. The anchor locker is here and the test boat was equipped with anelectric windlass and remote control to make anchoring easy. The polished anchor drops through a chute to protect the hull sides.

The center section of the big curved glass windshield swings open for access to the bow. On cool days two door sections allow you to close the companionway off to prevent the breeze from coming into the main cockpit.

You would call this a dual console design because the helm side dashboard area and the companion side are much more than just a dashboard. There is access to the area below decks and on the starboard side is a cabin with a double berth so you couldstay overnight on board the boat and certainly it gives people a private place to change into a bathing suit.

The main deck seating area includes another bracket where the picnic table can be mounted. There is lots of space for stretching out or accommodating a group of friends and of course, the killer sound system with subwoofer is there to complete the experience!

On the port side is access to a head compartment with toilet and sink, pressure water and both of the cabins have a large section of hull side glazing to bring in light and make sure that you don't feel claustrophobic. Having a private and fully enclosed head on board really makes it comfortable to spend the day on the water.

The test boat had very impressive upholstery with wide helm and companion side seats that include flip up bolsters for added comfort. Down the port side and across the transom is an L-shaped seat that will manage several people in comfort.

The aft bench seat is in fact double-sided, so there is also an aft facing seat where you can relax when swimming. For safety reasons I like to see people securely inside the boat, but I have to admit, this boat would probably work very well for wake surfing and I just know people will sit there to watch.

The swim platform is quite substantial and although you do have the two Mercury outboards mounted there, there is still plenty of room for swimming or getting into a wakeboard. You step up and open the gate on the walk-through to get into the cockpit and the battery controls and shore power connections are included there. There's also lots of storage in the stern for lines, fenders and other items.

This shows the companion seat with flip up bolster, drink holders and removable carpet. The whole side of the console swings open for access to the cabin space below.

On the starboard side is a refreshment area with attractive countertop, stainless steel sink, drink or bottle holders, a refrigerator/freezer and also a big trash locker. The boat also comes with a removable table that could be placed in the bow, in the cockpit or stowed away in the cabin. This will be much appreciated at meal times.

The helm area is quite impressive, as you would expect from a boat that delivers this kind of performance. The very comfortable driving position benefits from an angled foot rest and tilt steering wheel. The control for the Mercury outboards is right there where your right hand falls and the joystick docking control was located on the side console ahead of that.

This shows how spacious the interior is. The seating is luxurious and the overhead arch supports four more speakers as well as the ski tow.

The test boat was equipped with the Mercury Vessel View system in the center of the dashboard. You can select a wide range of engine information or use the system to control accessories on board. If you want to separate navigation screen you could mount one beside it.

With a reasonable load of fuel and five passengers, our Four WinnsH290 OB test boat took off like a sport runabout reaching the plane in about six seconds and topping out at 55 miles per hour. Lake Michigan had a fresh breeze up on the day we ran the boat, but the chop didn't slow us down till we hit another boat’s wake and some big rollers. The boat was fine, but the passengers were more comfortable to drop it back to 30 mph; still a fast cruise. Handling was surefooted and predictable. The boat felt safe and easily controlled at all speeds.

Overall, the performance was exhilarating, the accommodations were plush and everything about the Four Winns H290OB promised a great boating experience for a big group of lucky people.

This shows the stern and main deck interior space beautifully. Notice the boarding ladder on the starboard side, still more speakers [!], the transom walk-through and the comfortable aft bench seat.

This boat is right in the sweet spot for today’s luxury boat buyer!

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINES: Twin Mercury 300 Verados, 300 hp supercharged 2.6 L in-line six cylinder engines with multi point electronic fuel injection, Mercury Vessel View and joystick docking.

ENGINE RPM MPH
1,000 5
2,000 9
3,000 13
3,500 26
4,000 33
4,500 38
5,000 43
5,500 48
6,000 52
Max 55

Length overall: 30'1" / 9.16 m
Beam :9'5" / 2.87 m
Fuel capacity: 120 gal /458 L
Maximum capacity: 1200 kg / 12 Persons
Approx. weight: 8600 lbs / 3900 kg
Deadrise: 21°
Potable Water: 20 gal / 76 L
Holding Tank :6.5 gal /25 L
Base Price: (promotional offer to March 31, 2018 in USD) $181,667.

Test boat, performance data and pricing supplied by:Groupe Beneteau / Four Winns. www.fourwinns.com