Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns SL262 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns SL262 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 has the edge at 445 lbs dry weight versus 559 lbs for the Four Winns SL262 2012. 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 245 Sundowner 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns SL262 2012 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.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns SL262 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns SL262 2012?

The Four Winns SL262 2012 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004. That 10-gallon difference translates to roughly 30–50 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns SL262 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns SL262 2012 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 245 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns SL262 2012

Four Winns

Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004

2004

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Four Winns

Four Winns SL262 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns SL262 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns SL262 2012 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 SL262 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Four Winns SL262 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns SL262 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 26,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 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

MakeFour Winns

Model245 Sundowner

ModelSL262

Model Year2004

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise20℃

Draft [max] - Detail36 in

Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (84 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches33

Weight - Detail4,170-4,450 lbs

Weight - Detail5,380 - 5,590 lbs. (2,440 - 2,540 kg) with engine

Weight - kg2018.48

Weight - kg2535.58

Weight - lbs.445

Weight - lbs.559

Height [transom]6 ft. 3 in

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 9 in. (with Swim Platform)

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 6 in. (8.08 m)

Length overall - Meters8.15

Length overall - Meters8.08

Length overall - Inches321

Length overall - Inches318

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. (1.53 m) 7 ft. 4 in. (2.24 m) with arch

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.24

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches88

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

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

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches17

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.91

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches75

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet26.5

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail65 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (284 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters246.05

Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal65

Fuel tank capacity - Gal75

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser or Volvo

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Water capacity7 gal

Water capacityPotable: 15 gal. (57 l)

Maximum capacity2500 lbs

Maximum capacity2,400 lbs. (1,089 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people14

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail2.6 gal. (9.8 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters11.36

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal2.6

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailSee Additional Features

Trailer - DetailSure-Load? custom-matched, tandem axle with tandem disc brakes

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Height7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m) 8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m) wakeboard tower down 10 ft. 3 in. (3.12 m) wakeboard tower up

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight1,968 lbs. (893 kg)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns SL262 2012 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns SL262 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 has the edge at 445 lbs dry weight versus 559 lbs for the Four Winns SL262 2012. 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 245 Sundowner 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns SL262 2012 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns SL262 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns SL262 2012?

The Four Winns SL262 2012 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004. That 10-gallon difference translates to roughly 30–50 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns SL262 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 245 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns SL262 2012 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 245 Sundowner 2004 full specs ← Four Winns SL262 2012 full specs