Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns V288 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns V288 2008?

For trailering, the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 has the edge at 347 lbs dry weight versus 1 019 lbs for the Four Winns V288 2008. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Four Winns V288 2008 has a documented max rating of 270 hp. Engine specifications for the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

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 V288 2008 is certified for 9. 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 V288 2008 measures 116" 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 V288 2008?

The Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 12 gallons on the Four Winns V288 2008. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 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 V288 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns V288 2008 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 V288 2008

Four Winns

Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004

2004

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Four Winns

Four Winns V288 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns V288 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns V288 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 Four Winns V288 2008 tops out at 270 hp. Engine specs for the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 carries 35 gallons versus 12 gallons in the Four Winns V288 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 Four Winns V288 2008 is rated for 9 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 V288 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns V288 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 3,0 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

ModelV288

Model Year2004

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 1 in

Beam9 ft. 8 in. (2.95 m)

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Meters2.95

Beam - Inches97

Beam - Inches116

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise18℃

Draft [max] - Detail34 in

Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (97 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inches38

Weight - Detail3,400-3,470 lbs

Weight - DetailWith Engine: 9,510 -10,190 lbs. (4,310 - 4,600 kg)

Weight - kg1573.96

Weight - kg4622.1

Weight - lbs.347

Weight - lbs.1019

Height [transom]5 ft. 5 in

Height [transom]not available

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

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 0 in. (9.14 m)

Length overall - Meters7.19

Length overall - Meters9.14

Length overall - Inches283

Length overall - Inches36

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - DetailWith Arch: 9 ft. 4 in. (2.85 m) excludes electronics

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.84

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches112

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in. (68 cm)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches27

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailWith Arch: 11 ft. 2 in. (3.4 m) excludes electronics

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters3.4

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches134

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters9.14

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet3

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail120 gal. (454 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters454.25

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal12

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta Twin 5.0 GXi/SX 270 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Engine maxnot available

Engine maxTwin 270 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1500 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Headroomnot available

HeadroomMaximum: 6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m)

Water capacitynot available

Water capacityPotable: 27 gal. (102 l)

Water heater capacitynot available

Water heater capacity6 gal

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail25 gal. (95 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters94.64

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal25

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailSee Additional Features

Trailer - Detailnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns V288 2008 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns V288 2008?

For trailering, the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 has the edge at 347 lbs dry weight versus 1 019 lbs for the Four Winns V288 2008. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Four Winns V288 2008 has a documented max rating of 270 hp. Engine specifications for the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Four Winns V288 2008 is certified for 9. 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 V288 2008 measures 116" 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 V288 2008?

The Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 12 gallons on the Four Winns V288 2008. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns V288 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 205 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns V288 2008 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 V288 2008 full specs