Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns H260 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns H260 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns H260 2012 has the edge at 482 lbs dry weight versus 1 065 lbs for the Four Winns 298 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 298 Vista 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns H260 2012 is certified for 14. 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 298 Vista 2004 measures 126" wide, compared to 102" for the Four Winns H260 2012. 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 298 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns H260 2012?

The Four Winns H260 2012 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004. That 61-gallon difference translates to roughly 183–305 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 and Four Winns H260 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 and the Four Winns H260 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 298 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns H260 2012

Four Winns

Four Winns 298 Vista 2004

2004

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Four Winns

Four Winns H260 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns H260 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns H260 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns H260 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Four Winns 298 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 H260 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns H260 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns 298 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

Model298 Vista

ModelH26

Model Year2004

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam10 ft. 6 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters3.2

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches126

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise20℃

Draft [max] - Detail39 in

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (91 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detail10,370-10,650 lbs

Weight - Detail4,580 - 4,820 lbs. (2,080 - 2,190 kg) with engine

Weight - kg4830.75

Weight - kg2186.31

Weight - lbs.1065

Weight - lbs.482

Height [transom]9 ft. 2 in. w/arch

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail31 ft. 0 in. (with Swim Platform)

Length overall - Detail26 ft. (7.93 m)

Length overall - Meters9.45

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Inches372

Length overall - Inches312

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 4 in. (1.63 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.63

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches64

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail19 in. (48 cm)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.48

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches19

Height - Detailnot available

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

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.93

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches76

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet26

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail140 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (284 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters529.96

Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal14

Fuel tank capacity - Gal75

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser or Volvo

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Water capacity30 gal

Water capacityPotable: 12 gal. (45 l)

Maximum capacityYacht

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people14

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

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

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

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Height7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m) 8 ft. 8 in. (2.64 m) wakeboard tower down 11 ft. 4 in. (3.45 m) wakeboard tower up

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight1,505 lbs. (683 kg)

Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 vs Four Winns H260 2012 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns H260 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns H260 2012 has the edge at 482 lbs dry weight versus 1 065 lbs for the Four Winns 298 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 298 Vista 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Four Winns H260 2012 is certified for 14. 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 298 Vista 2004 measures 126" wide, compared to 102" for the Four Winns H260 2012. 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 298 Vista 2004 or the Four Winns H260 2012?

The Four Winns H260 2012 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004. That 61-gallon difference translates to roughly 183–305 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 and Four Winns H260 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns 298 Vista 2004 and the Four Winns H260 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 298 Vista 2004 full specs ← Four Winns H260 2012 full specs