Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns S235 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns S235 2013?

For trailering, the Four Winns S235 2013 has the edge at 44 lbs dry weight versus 728 lbs for the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 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 285 Sundowner 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns S235 2013 is certified for 1. 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 285 Sundowner 2004 measures 112" wide, compared to 101" for the Four Winns S235 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 285 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns S235 2013?

The Four Winns S235 2013 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004. That 39-gallon difference translates to roughly 117–195 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns S235 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns S235 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 285 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns S235 2013

Four Winns

Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004

2004

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Four Winns

Four Winns S235 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns S235 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns S235 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns S235 2013 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns S235 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFour Winns

Model285 Sundowner

ModelS235

Model Year2004

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 4 in

Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.55 m)

Beam - Meters2.84

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Inches112

Beam - Inches101

Deadrise21℃

Deadrise20℃

Draft [max] - Detail37 in

Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches34

Weight - Detail6,380-7,280 lbs

Weight - Detail4,370 - 4,400 lbs. (1,980 - 2,000 kg) with engine

Weight - kg3302.15

Weight - kg1995.8

Weight - lbs.728

Weight - lbs.44

Height [transom]5 ft. 6 in

Height [transom]not available

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

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 4 in. (7.11 m)

Length overall - Meters9.4

Length overall - Meters7.11

Length overall - Inches37

Length overall - Inches28

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 8 in. (1.42 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.42

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches56

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

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

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches17

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail5 ft. 10 in. (1.78 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.78

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches7

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet23.33

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal. (197 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal13

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser or Volvo

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Water capacity20 gal

Water capacitynot available

Maximum capacityYacht

Maximum capacity1,800 lbs. (816 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people1

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

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

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Height7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight1,505 lbs. (683 kg)

Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 vs Four Winns S235 2013 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns S235 2013?

For trailering, the Four Winns S235 2013 has the edge at 44 lbs dry weight versus 728 lbs for the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 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 285 Sundowner 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns S235 2013 is certified for 1. 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 285 Sundowner 2004 measures 112" wide, compared to 101" for the Four Winns S235 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 285 Sundowner 2004 or the Four Winns S235 2013?

The Four Winns S235 2013 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004. That 39-gallon difference translates to roughly 117–195 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 and Four Winns S235 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 285 Sundowner 2004 and the Four Winns S235 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 285 Sundowner 2004 full specs ← Four Winns S235 2013 full specs