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WATERSKI MagazineBoating, like life, is full of compromises. You want a big, roomy boat, but garage space is limited. You plan to pull skiers, but you need the speed, economy and ride of an I/O runabout. The boat has to look good, but you don't want to spend all your time pampering it.
Four Winns has the RS that will solve your dilemma, and in this case RS isn't the abbreviation for a prescription anti-depressant but rather a fiberglass-and-steel antidote for boating blahs. The 18-foot RS is part of Four Winns' Horizon series of performance runabouts, and it offers recreational boaters an enticing combination of elbow room, big-water ride and towing power.
Key to this boat's performance is Four Winns' proprietary second-generation Stable-Vee hull. With this design, a variable-deadrise hull combines wave-cutting deep-V performance at the bow with wide-hull lateral stability at the stern. Reverse chines keep the ride dry and provide crisp turns, while stepped pods on the aft section of the hull provide lift and improve planing performance at low speeds.
If you skip the explanations and simply drive the boat, you'll notice the bow stays low during acceleration, the hull runs flatter through the turns, and passengers enjoy a smoother ride across chop or boat wakes.
You may also notice how much interior room this 18-footer provides. In part, this is due to the boat's 8-foot beam, but it can also be attributed to Four Winns' “helm-forward” design, and the movement of the engine and transom farther back over the aft planing pods.
The oversize cockpit is finished with a seamless fiberglass liner, which can be covered with snap-out carpeting for show, or left bare for easy cleaning after a day of sandy feet, spilled drinks and misplaced potato chips. If you're expecting a crowd, the RS can accommodate them in comfort. A filler cushion turns the bow seats into a 5-foot-wide sun lounge, while the rear seat can accommodate as many as four adults or five youngsters. Order the optional SunSport bucket seats, and you will also have plenty of room for passengers to move about in the cockpit.
For 1998, the RS features an integrated instrument panel made by VDO. Rather than independent gauges, this unit places all read-outs in a single module that requires only one electrical connection. Included on this easy-reading display are a digital clock and depth sounder, while tach, speed and engine functions are shown in familiar analog form.
With an optional 250-hp, 5-liter engine in the box, our test boat proved the validity of the Stable-Vee hull design, as it yanked the loaded ski drone to 36 mph in under seven seconds – a feat some high-powered inboards cannot match. In addition, the RS
didn't wander or fall off plane at slower speeds, which made our test driver happy when it came time to tow the wakeboarders.
Our test team reported soft, forgiving wakes for the boarding contingent, along with advanced-recreational skiing wakes that were best at speeds in the 28 mph range where more and more wide-body slalom skiers are performing.
No matter what you plan on towing, the RS will deliver predictable handling and ample power, even when a half-dozen friends are stretched out in the cockpit waiting their turn.
