Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the edge at 68 lbs dry weight versus 491 lbs for the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007. 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 passengers can the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 carry?

The Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 has an official capacity rating of 8 people. Capacity data wasn't available for the other model in this comparison — verify directly with the dealer.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007. That 20-gallon difference translates to roughly 60–100 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 and Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 and the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 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 255 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2005

Four Winns

Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007

2007

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Four Winns

Four Winns 278 Vista 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 at 26,0 ft versus Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 at 28,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 tips the scales at 491 lbs — 423 lbs more than the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 at 68 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 is rated for up to 8 people. Passenger data for the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 wasn't available.

Bottom line: The Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 and Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 are closely matched on the specs that matter most. Test-ride both on the water you actually use, check current dealer pricing, and factor in long-term service access before you sign.

General Boat Info

MakeFour Winns

Model255 Sundowner

Model278 Vista

Model Year2007

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inchesnot available

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise17℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail19 in. (48 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.48

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches19

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (91 cm)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - DetailWith Engine: 4,650-4,910 lbs. (2,100-2,230 kg)

Weight - Detail6,800 lbs. (3,084 kg)

Weight - kg2227.14

Weight - kg3084.43

Weight - lbs.491

Weight - lbs.68

Length - Meters8.15

Length - Meters8.64

Length - Feet26

Length - Feet28

Length - Inches9

Length - Inches4

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 9 in. (8.15 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters8.15

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches321

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. without arch

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.13

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches84

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]28 ft. 4 in. (8.64 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail65 gal. (246 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail85 gal. (322 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters246.05

Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76

Fuel tank capacity - Gal65

Fuel tank capacity - Gal85

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,500 lbs. (1,134 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Headnot available

HeadPorcelain with holding tank

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity25 gal. (95 l)

Water heater capacitynot available

Water heater capacity6 gal

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (6 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal2

Trailer Info

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

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Weight1,370 lbs. (622 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 vs Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the edge at 68 lbs dry weight versus 491 lbs for the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007. 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 passengers can the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 carry?

The Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 has an official capacity rating of 8 people. Capacity data wasn't available for the other model in this comparison — verify directly with the dealer.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 or the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007. That 20-gallon difference translates to roughly 60–100 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 and Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 255 Sundowner 2007 and the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 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 255 Sundowner 2007 full specs ← Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 full specs