Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 347 lbs for the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004. 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.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is certified for 8. 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.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 measures 102" wide, compared to 97" for the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004. 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004. That 50-gallon difference translates to roughly 150–250 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 are built by Four Winns. 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.

Boat Comparison

Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2007

Four Winns

Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004

2004

View full specs →

Four Winns

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007

2007

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFour Winns

Model205 Sundowner

Model278 Vista

Model Year2004

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 1 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches97

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise17℃

Draft [max] - Detail34 in

Draft [max] - Detail39 in. (99 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail3,400-3,470 lbs

Weight - DetailWith Engine: 6,880-7,100 lbs. (3,120-3,220 kg)

Weight - kg1573.96

Weight - kg3220.5

Weight - lbs.347

Weight - lbs.71

Height [transom]5 ft. 5 in

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 7 in. (with Swim Platform)

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 4 in. (8.64 m)

Length overall - Meters7.19

Length overall - Meters8.64

Length overall - Inches283

Length overall - Inches34

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (56 cm)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches22

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters8.64

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches4

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail85 gal. (321 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal85

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standard5.7 Gi/DP 280 hp Volvo Penta

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1500 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailSee Additional Features

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight1,741 lbs. (790 kg)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 347 lbs for the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004. 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 Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is certified for 8. 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 Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 measures 102" wide, compared to 97" for the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004. 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 Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004. That 50-gallon difference translates to roughly 150–250 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 are built by Four Winns. 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.

← Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 full specs ← Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 full specs