Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 vs Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 or the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004?

For trailering, the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 has the edge at 7 140 lbs dry weight versus 20 000 lbs for the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004. 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 280 Horizon 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 measures 153" wide, compared to 112" for the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004. 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 280 Horizon 2004 or the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004?

The Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 has the bigger tank at 300 gallons, versus 130 gallons on the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004. That 170-gallon difference translates to roughly 510–850 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 and Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 and the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 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 280 Horizon 2004 vs Four Winns 378 Vista 2004

Four Winns

Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004

2004

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Four Winns

Four Winns 378 Vista 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 vs Four Winns 378 Vista 2004: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 vs Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 12 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFour Winns

Model280 Horizon

Model378 Vista

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 4 in.

Beam12 ft. 9 in.

Beam - Meters2.84

Beam - Meters3.89

Beam - Inches112

Beam - Inches153

Deadrise21℃

Deadrise19℃

Draft [max] - Detail37 in.

Draft [max] - Detail42 in.

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters1.07

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches42

Weight - Detail6,240-7,140 lbs.

Weight - Detail18,000-20,000 lbs.

Weight - kg3238.65

Weight - kg9071.84

Weight - lbs.7140

Weight - lbs.20000

Height [transom]5 ft. 0 in.

Height [transom]11 ft. 6 in. w/arch

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 10 in. (with Swim Platform)

Length overall - Detail41 ft. 3 in. (with Swim Platform)

Length overall - Meters9.4

Length overall - Meters12.57

Length overall - Inches370

Length overall - Inches495

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail300 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1135.62

Fuel tank capacity - Gal130

Fuel tank capacity - Gal300

Operational Info

Water capacity20 gal.

Water capacity66 gal.

Maximum capacityYacht

Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 vs Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 or the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004?

For trailering, the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 has the edge at 7 140 lbs dry weight versus 20 000 lbs for the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004. 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 280 Horizon 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 measures 153" wide, compared to 112" for the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004. 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 280 Horizon 2004 or the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004?

The Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 has the bigger tank at 300 gallons, versus 130 gallons on the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004. That 170-gallon difference translates to roughly 510–850 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 and Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Four Winns 280 Horizon 2004 and the Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 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 280 Horizon 2004 full specs ← Four Winns 378 Vista 2004 full specs