Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns F224 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns F224 2008?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns F224 2008 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns F224 2008?

For trailering, the Four Winns F224 2008 has the edge at 42 lbs dry weight versus 71 lbs for the Four Winns 278 Vista 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Four Winns F224 2008 has a documented max rating of 300 hp. Engine specifications for the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 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 278 Vista 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns F224 2008 is certified for 13. 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 278 Vista 2007 and Four Winns F224 2008 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) 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 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns F224 2008?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Four Winns F224 2008. That 80-gallon difference translates to roughly 240–400 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and Four Winns F224 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns F224 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 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns F224 2008

Four Winns

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007

2007

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Four Winns

Four Winns F224 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns F224 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns F224 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 measures 28,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Four Winns F224 2008 at 21,0 feet (2008). At 71 lbs and 42 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The Four Winns F224 2008 tops out at 300 hp. Engine specs for the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 carries 85 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Four Winns F224 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 F224 2008 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 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 F224 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns F224 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 21,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 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

Model278 Vista

ModelF224

Model Year2007

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise17℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (56 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail14 in. (36 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] meters0.36

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inches14

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

Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (79 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.79

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches31

Weight - DetailWith Engine: 6,880-7,100 lbs. (3,120-3,220 kg)

Weight - DetailWith Engine: 4,110 - 4,200 lbs. (1,860 - 1,910 kg)

Weight - kg3220.5

Weight - kg1905.09

Weight - lbs.71

Weight - lbs.42

Length - Meters8.64

Length - Meters6.4

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet21

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 4 in. (8.64 m)

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 0 in. (6.4 m)

Length overall - Meters8.64

Length overall - Meters6.4

Length overall - Inches34

Length overall - Inches252

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 6 in. (1.37 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.37

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches54

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailWith Windshield: 6 ft. 2 in. (1.88 m) With Wind Deflector: 5 ft. 7 in. (1.71 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.88

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches74

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]23 ft. 8 in. (7.21 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX 270 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detail85 gal. (321 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Engine maxnot available

Engine max300 hp

Trailer Info

Trailer - Weight1,741 lbs. (790 kg)

Trailer - Weight1,365 lbs. (619 kg)

Trailer - Detailnot available

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

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacityPotable: 12 gal. (45 l)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,900 lbs. (862 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people13

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

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns F224 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns F224 2008?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns F224 2008 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns F224 2008?

For trailering, the Four Winns F224 2008 has the edge at 42 lbs dry weight versus 71 lbs for the Four Winns 278 Vista 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Four Winns F224 2008 has a documented max rating of 300 hp. Engine specifications for the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 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 278 Vista 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns F224 2008 is certified for 13. 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 278 Vista 2007 and Four Winns F224 2008 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) 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 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns F224 2008?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Four Winns F224 2008. That 80-gallon difference translates to roughly 240–400 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and Four Winns F224 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns F224 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 278 Vista 2007 full specs ← Four Winns F224 2008 full specs