Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns S265 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns S265 2013?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns S265 2013 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 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns S265 2013?

For trailering, the Four Winns S265 2013 has the edge at 54 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns S265 2013 is certified for 11. 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 measures 102" wide, compared to 101" for the Four Winns S265 2013. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns S265 2013?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Four Winns S265 2013. That 78-gallon difference translates to roughly 234–390 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 S265 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns S265 2013 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 S265 2013

Four Winns

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007

2007

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Four Winns

Four Winns S265 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns S265 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns S265 2013 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 278 Vista 2007 at 28,0 ft versus Four Winns S265 2013 at 26,0 ft. At 71 lbs and 54 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns S265 2013 is rated for 11 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 S265 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns S265 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 26,0 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

ModelS265

Model Year2007

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.55 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches101

Deadrise17℃

Deadrise20℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail18 in. (46 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inches18

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

Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (89 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches35

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

Weight - Detail5,100 - 5,400 lbs. (2,130 - 2,450 kg) with engine

Weight - kg3220.5

Weight - kg2449.4

Weight - lbs.71

Weight - lbs.54

Length - Meters8.64

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet26

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail26 ft. (7.93 m)

Length overall - Meters8.64

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Inches34

Length overall - Inches312

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 2 in. (1.58 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.57

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches62

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail6 ft. 8 in. (2.03 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.03

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches8

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

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 - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeI/O

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser or Volvo

Trailer Info

Trailer - Weight1,741 lbs. (790 kg)

Trailer - Weight1,610 lbs. (730 kg)

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailColor-matched, tandem axle with tandem disc brakes

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Height8 ft. 5 in. (2.55 m)

Operational Info

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,100 lbs. (952 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people11

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns S265 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns S265 2013?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns S265 2013 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 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns S265 2013?

For trailering, the Four Winns S265 2013 has the edge at 54 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns S265 2013 is certified for 11. 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 measures 102" wide, compared to 101" for the Four Winns S265 2013. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns S265 2013?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Four Winns S265 2013. That 78-gallon difference translates to roughly 234–390 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and Four Winns S265 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns S265 2013 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 S265 2013 full specs