Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 comes in at 24,4 feet, making it roughly 3,6 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 HD5 Surf 2021?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 4 860 lbs for the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021. 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 278 Vista 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 is certified for 7. 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 HD5 Surf 2021 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 HD5 Surf 2021?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 55 gallons on the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021. That 30-gallon difference translates to roughly 90–150 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 HD5 Surf 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 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 HD5 Surf 2021

Four Winns

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007

2007

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Four Winns

Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021

2021

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 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 3,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 at 24,4 feet (2021). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 tips the scales at 4 860 lbs — 4 789 lbs less than the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 at 71 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 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 278 Vista 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 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

Makenot available

Model278 Vista

Modelnot available

Model Year2007

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam8.50 ft

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise17℃

Deadrisenot available

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

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detail3.50 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters1.07

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches42

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

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg3220.5

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.71

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Meters8.64

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet24.4

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail24.40 ft

Length overall - Meters8.64

Length overall - Meters7.44

Length overall - Inches34

Length overall - Inches293

Draft Minnot available

Draft Min3.00 ft

Displacementnot available

Displacement4860.00 lbs

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 - Detail85 gal. (321 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76

Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2

Fuel tank capacity - Gal85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal55

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Trailer Info

Trailer - Weight1,741 lbs. (790 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity12

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 comes in at 24,4 feet, making it roughly 3,6 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 HD5 Surf 2021?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 4 860 lbs for the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021. 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 278 Vista 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 is certified for 7. 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 HD5 Surf 2021 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 HD5 Surf 2021?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 55 gallons on the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021. That 30-gallon difference translates to roughly 90–150 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns HD5 Surf 2021 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 HD5 Surf 2021 full specs