Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 comes in at 3,0 feet, making it roughly 25,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the edge at 68 lbs dry weight versus 714 lbs for the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005. 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005. That 72-gallon difference translates to roughly 216–360 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 and Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 and the Four Winns 280 Horizon 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 278 Vista 2005 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005

Four Winns

Four Winns 278 Vista 2005

2005

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Four Winns

Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 measures 28,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 25,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 at 3,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 tips the scales at 714 lbs — 646 lbs less 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.

Bottom line: The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 at 28,0 ft is the right call if deck space, comfort, and entertaining are top of your list. The Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 at 3,0 ft wins on trailering ease, likely lower purchase price, and simpler docking — a solid choice for a buyer who wants more boat for less money.

General Boat Info

MakeFour Winns

Model278 Vista

Model280 Horizon

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. without arch

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.13

Bridge clearance - Meters1.52

Bridge clearance - Inches84

Bridge clearance - Inches6

Deadrise17℃

Deadrise21℃

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

Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (94 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches37

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

Weight - Detail6,240 - 7,140 lbs. (2,830 - 3,239 kg)

Weight - kg3084.43

Weight - kg3238.65

Weight - lbs.68

Weight - lbs.714

Length - Meters8.64

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet3

Length - Inches4

Length - Inches1

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

Length [over all with swim platform]30 ft. 10 in. (9.4 m)

Beamnot available

Beam9 ft. 4 in. (2.85 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.84

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches112

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail85 gal. (322 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gal. (492 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76

Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1

Fuel tank capacity - Gal85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal13

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

HeadPorcelain with holding tank

HeadEnclosed with Porta-Potti

Water capacity25 gal. (95 l)

Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)

Water heater capacity6 gal

Water heater capacitynot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (6 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detail9 gal. (34 l)

Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71

Holding tank capacity - Liters34.07

Holding tank capacity - Gal2

Holding tank capacity - Gal9

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailSee Standard Features

Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 vs Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 comes in at 3,0 feet, making it roughly 25,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the edge at 68 lbs dry weight versus 714 lbs for the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005. 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 or the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005. That 72-gallon difference translates to roughly 216–360 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 and Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2005 and the Four Winns 280 Horizon 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 278 Vista 2005 full specs ← Four Winns 280 Horizon 2005 full specs