Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004?

For trailering, the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 has the edge at 382 lbs dry weight versus 714 lbs for the Four Winns 280 Horizon 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 215 Sundowner 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 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 280 Horizon 2004 measures 112" wide, compared to 97" for the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004?

The Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004. That 22-gallon difference translates to roughly 66–110 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 and Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 and the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 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 215 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004

Four Winns

Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007

2007

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Four Winns

Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 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 280 Horizon 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 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 280 Horizon 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 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

Model215 Sundowner

Model280 Horizon

Model Year2007

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)

Beam9 ft. 4 in

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Meters2.84

Beam - Inches97

Beam - Inches112

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise21℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86 cm)

Draft [max] - Detail37 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inches37

Weight - DetailWith Engine: 3,720-3,820 lbs. (1,690-1,730 kg)

Weight - Detail6,240-7,140 lbs

Weight - kg1732.72

Weight - kg3238.65

Weight - lbs.382

Weight - lbs.714

Length - Meters7.01

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet23

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 0 in. (7.01 m)

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 10 in. (with Swim Platform)

Length overall - Meters7.01

Length overall - Meters9.4

Length overall - Inches276

Length overall - Inches37

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]5 ft. 0 in

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard5.0 GL/SX 220 hp Volvo Penta

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal13

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,500 lbs. (680 kg)

Maximum capacityYacht

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity20 gal

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailSure-Load? custom-matched trailer, tandem axle w/brakes

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Weight1,150 lbs. (508 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004?

For trailering, the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 has the edge at 382 lbs dry weight versus 714 lbs for the Four Winns 280 Horizon 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 215 Sundowner 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 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 280 Horizon 2004 measures 112" wide, compared to 97" for the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 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 Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004?

The Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004. That 22-gallon difference translates to roughly 66–110 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 and Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 215 Sundowner 2007 and the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 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 215 Sundowner 2007 full specs ← Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 full specs