Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 boat specs
Formula
Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007
2007
View full specs →
VS
Formula 48 Yacht 2007 boat specs
Formula
Formula 48 Yacht 2007
2007
View full specs →

Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 vs Formula 48 Yacht 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 vs Formula 48 Yacht 2007 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Formula 48 Yacht 2007 measures 48,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 19,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 at 29,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Formula 48 Yacht 2007 tips the scales at 3 575 lbs — 3 493 lbs less than the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 at 82 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Formula 48 Yacht 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Formula 48 Yacht 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Formula 48 Yacht 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 48,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeFormula
MakeFormula
Model280 Sun Sport
Model48 Yacht
Model Year2007
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam9 ft. 2 in. (2.79 m)
Beam14 ft. 0 in. (4.27 m)
Beam - Meters2.79
Beam - Meters4.27
Beam - Inches11
Beam - Inches168
Bridge clearance - DetailLight Load: 5 ft. 8 in. (1.72 m) Light Load w/ Arch: 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailLight Load: 12 ft. 9 in. (3.89 m) Light Load w/ Hardtop: 12 ft. 9 in. (3.89 m) Light Load & Mast Light: 15 ft. 6 in. (4.6 m) Light Load w/ Hardtop & Mast Light: 15 ft. 6 in. (4.6 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.59
Bridge clearance - Meters4.72
Bridge clearance - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Inches186
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise18℃
Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Detail44 in. (1.12 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters1.12
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches44
Weight - Detail8,200 lbs. (3,311 kg)
Weight - Detail35,050 lbs. (15,898 kg) w/ Hardtop: 35,750 lbs. (16,216 kg)
Weight - kg3719.45
Weight - kg16215.91
Weight - lbs.82
Weight - lbs.3575
Length - Meters8.99
Length - Meters14.63
Length - Feet29
Length - Feet48
Length - Inches6
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 6 in. (8.99 m)
Length overall - Detail48 ft. 0 in. (14.63 m)
Length overall - Meters8.99
Length overall - Meters14.63
Length overall - Inches354
Length overall - Inches576
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]51 ft. 0 in. (15.54 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardMerCruiser? Twin 5.0 MPI Bravo Three
Engine/s standardCummins Twin QSM 660 Diesel
Fuel tank capacity - Detail120 gal. (454 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail400 gal. (1,514 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters454.25
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1514.16
Fuel tank capacity - Gal12
Fuel tank capacity - Gal4
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Operational Info
Headroom5 ft. 2 in. (1.57 m)
Headroom7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 m) Guest Stateroom: 5 ft. 10 in. (1.78 m)
Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)
Water capacity100 gal. (379 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (98 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (284 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters98.42
Holding tank capacity - Liters283.91
Holding tank capacity - Gal26
Holding tank capacity - Gal75

Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 vs Formula 48 Yacht 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 or the Formula 48 Yacht 2007?
The Formula 48 Yacht 2007 is the longer of the two at 48,0 feet overall. The Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 comes in at 29,0 feet, making it roughly 19,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 or the Formula 48 Yacht 2007?
For trailering, the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 has the edge at 82 lbs dry weight versus 3 575 lbs for the Formula 48 Yacht 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Formula 48 Yacht 2007 is certified for 14. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Formula 48 Yacht 2007 measures 168" wide, compared to 11" for the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 or the Formula 48 Yacht 2007?
The Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 has the bigger tank at 12 gallons, versus 4 gallons on the Formula 48 Yacht 2007. That 8-gallon difference translates to roughly 24–40 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 and Formula 48 Yacht 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Formula 280 Sun Sport 2007 and the Formula 48 Yacht 2007 are built by Formula. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.