Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Formula 45 Yacht 2012 vs Formula Boats 280 Sun Sport 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Formula 45 Yacht 2012 vs Formula Boats 280 Sun Sport 2008 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Formula 45 Yacht 2012 has a 300-hp advantage over the Formula Boats 280 Sun Sport 2008's 300-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Formula 45 Yacht 2012 carries 35 gallons versus 12 gallons in the Formula Boats 280 Sun Sport 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Formula 45 Yacht 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Formula Boats 280 Sun Sport 2008 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Formula 45 Yacht 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Formula 45 Yacht 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 45,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Formula Boats 280 Sun Sport 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeFormula
Makenot available
Model45 Yacht
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam13 ft. 11 in. (4.24 m)
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters4.24
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches167
Beam - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail12 ft. 10 in. (3.91 m) With IPS: 13 ft. 6 in. (4.11 m) With Radar: 13 ft. 10 in. (4.22 m) With Mast Light: 15 ft. 5 in. (4.7 m) With Mast Light & IPS: 16 ft. 1 in. (4.9 m) With Hardtop, Satellite TV & Mast Light: 17 ft. 4 in. (5.28 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters5.28
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches208
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise18℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [max] - Detail41 in. (1.04 m) With Volvo IPS: 39 in. (0.99 m)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters1.04
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches41
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - DetailWith IPS: 32,500 lbs. (14,742 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg14741.74
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.325
Weight - lbs.not available
Length - Meters13.72
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet45
Length - Feet30
Length [over all with swim platform]48 ft. 2 in. (14.68 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length overall - Detail45 ft. (13.72 m)
Length overall - Detail30.00 ft
Length overall - Meters13.72
Length overall - Meters9.14
Length overall - Inches54
Length overall - Inches360
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Max no of engines2
Max no of enginesnot available
Engine/s standardVolvo Penta Twin IPS 600 HP435 with Joystick
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail350 gal. (1,325 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1324.89
Fuel tank capacity - Liters454.25
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal12
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeinboard
Horsepower600 hp
Horsepower300 hp
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMerCruiser
Operational Info
Headroom6 ft. 11 in. (2.11 m) Guest Stateroom: 5 ft. 8 in. (1.73 m)
Headroomnot available
Water capacity100 gal. (379 l)
Water capacity2
Holding tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (284 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters283.91
Holding tank capacity - Liters98.42
Holding tank capacity - Gal75
Holding tank capacity - Gal26
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower