Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns SL242 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns SL242 2012?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns SL242 2012 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 SL242 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 508 lbs for the Four Winns SL242 2012. 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 SL242 2012 is certified for 12. 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 SL242 2012 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 SL242 2012?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 58 gallons on the Four Winns SL242 2012. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 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 SL242 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns SL242 2012 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 SL242 2012

Four Winns

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007

2007

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Four Winns

Four Winns SL242 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns SL242 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 vs Four Winns SL242 2012 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 SL242 2012 at 24,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns SL242 2012 tips the scales at 508 lbs — 437 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 SL242 2012 is rated for 12 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 SL242 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns SL242 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 24,4 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

ModelSL242

Model Year2007

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise17℃

Deadrise20℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inches17

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

Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (84 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches33

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

Weight - Detail4,870 - 5,080 lbs. (2,210 - 2,300 kg) with engine

Weight - kg3220.5

Weight - kg2304.25

Weight - lbs.71

Weight - lbs.508

Length - Meters8.64

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet24.42

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 5 in. (7.44 m)

Length overall - Meters8.64

Length overall - Meters7.44

Length overall - Inches34

Length overall - Inches293

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 8 in. (1.42 m) 7 ft. 3 in. (2.21 m) with arch

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.21

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches87

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail6 ft. 4 in. (1.93 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.93

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches76

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 - Detail58 gal. (220 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76

Fuel tank capacity - Liters219.55

Fuel tank capacity - Gal85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal58

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser or Volvo

Trailer Info

Trailer - Weight1,741 lbs. (790 kg)

Trailer - Weight1,495 lbs. (678 kg)

Trailer - Detailnot available

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

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Height7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m) 8 ft. 5 in. (2.57 m) wakeboard tower down 10 ft. 4 in. (3.15 m) wakeboard tower up

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacityPotable: 15 gal. (57 l)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,100 lbs. (953 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people12

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 SL242 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 or the Four Winns SL242 2012?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Four Winns SL242 2012 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 SL242 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 508 lbs for the Four Winns SL242 2012. 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 SL242 2012 is certified for 12. 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 SL242 2012 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 SL242 2012?

The Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 58 gallons on the Four Winns SL242 2012. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and Four Winns SL242 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 278 Vista 2007 and the Four Winns SL242 2012 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 SL242 2012 full specs