Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns S265 SS 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns S265 SS 2013?

For trailering, the Four Winns S265 SS 2013 has the edge at 54 lbs dry weight versus 1 038 lbs for the Four Winns 288 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 288 Vista 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns S265 SS 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 288 Vista 2004 measures 116" wide, compared to 101" for the Four Winns S265 SS 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 288 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns S265 SS 2013?

The Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 has the bigger tank at 12 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Four Winns S265 SS 2013. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 and Four Winns S265 SS 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 and the Four Winns S265 SS 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 288 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns S265 SS 2013

Four Winns

Four Winns 288 Vista 2004

2004

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Four Winns

Four Winns S265 SS 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns S265 SS 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns S265 SS 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 S265 SS 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Four Winns 288 Vista 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 S265 SS 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns S265 SS 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 288 Vista 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

Model288 Vista

ModelS265 SS

Model Year2004

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 8 in

Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.55 m)

Beam - Meters2.95

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Inches116

Beam - Inches101

Deadrise18℃

Deadrise20℃

Draft [max] - Detail38 in

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches38

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail10,100-10,380 lbs

Weight - Detail5,100 - 5,400 lbs. (2,310 - 2,450 kg) with engine

Weight - kg4708.28

Weight - kg2449.4

Weight - lbs.1038

Weight - lbs.54

Height [transom]9 ft. 4 in

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 9 in. (with Swim Platform)

Length overall - Detail26 ft. (7.93 m)

Length overall - Meters9.37

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Inches369

Length overall - Inches312

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 11 in. (1.5 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.5

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches59

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

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

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches18

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail6 ft. 5 in. (1.96 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.96

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches77

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet26

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail120 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters454.25

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser or Volvo

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Water capacity27 gal

Water capacitynot available

Maximum capacityYacht

Maximum capacity2,100 lbs. (952 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people11

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 - Height8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight1,610 lbs. (730 kg)

Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns S265 SS 2013 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns S265 SS 2013?

For trailering, the Four Winns S265 SS 2013 has the edge at 54 lbs dry weight versus 1 038 lbs for the Four Winns 288 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 288 Vista 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns S265 SS 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 288 Vista 2004 measures 116" wide, compared to 101" for the Four Winns S265 SS 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 288 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns S265 SS 2013?

The Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 has the bigger tank at 12 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Four Winns S265 SS 2013. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 and Four Winns S265 SS 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 288 Vista 2004 and the Four Winns S265 SS 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 288 Vista 2004 full specs ← Four Winns S265 SS 2013 full specs