Four Winns F274 2008 boat specs
Four Winns
Four Winns F274 2008
2008
View full specs →
VS
Four Winns Vista 278  2006 boat specs
Four Winns
Four Winns Vista 278 2006
2006
View full specs →

Four Winns F274 2008 vs Four Winns Vista 278 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Four Winns F274 2008 vs Four Winns Vista 278 2006 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 375 hp for the Four Winns F274 2008 and 375 hp for the Four Winns Vista 278 2006. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Four Winns Vista 278 2006 carries 85 gallons versus 8 gallons in the Four Winns F274 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns F274 2008 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Four Winns Vista 278 2006 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 F274 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns F274 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns Vista 278 2006 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
Makenot available
ModelF274
Modelnot available
Model Year2008
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam8.70 ft
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.65
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches104
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 2 in. (1.57 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters1.57
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches62
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise17℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86 cm)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - DetailWith Engine: 5,170 - 5,410 lbs. (2,350 - 2,450 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg2453.93
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.541
Weight - lbs.not available
Height - Detail6 ft. 4 in. (1.93 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters1.93
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches76
Height - Inchesnot available
Length - Meters8.59
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet28
Length - Feet28.5
Length - Inches2
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 2 in. (8.59 m)
Length overall - Detail28.50 ft
Length overall - Meters8.59
Length overall - Meters8.69
Length overall - Inches338
Length overall - Inches342
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 Gi/DP 300 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal. (303 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83
Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76
Fuel tank capacity - Gal8
Fuel tank capacity - Gal85
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeI/O
Drive typenot available
Engine max375 hp
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeVolvo
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower375 hp
Operational Info
Water capacityPotable: 12 gal. (45 l)
Water capacity25
Maximum capacity2,300 lbs. (1,043 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people15
Maximum peoplenot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail2.6 gal. (9.8 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters11.36
Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71
Holding tank capacity - Gal2.6
Holding tank capacity - Gal2
Sleeping capacitynot available
Sleeping capacity4
Cabinsnot available
Cabins2
Headnot available
Head1
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailSure-Load? custom-matched, tandem axle with tandem brakes
Trailer - Detailnot available
Trailer - Weight1,925 lbs. (873 kg)
Trailer - Weightnot available

Four Winns F274 2008 vs Four Winns Vista 278 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns F274 2008 or the Four Winns Vista 278 2006?
The Four Winns Vista 278 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,5 feet overall. The Four Winns F274 2008 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 0,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Four Winns F274 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Four Winns Vista 278 2006 is certified for 8. 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 Vista 278 2006 measures 104" wide, compared to 102" for the Four Winns F274 2008. 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 F274 2008 or the Four Winns Vista 278 2006?
The Four Winns Vista 278 2006 has the bigger tank at 85 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Four Winns F274 2008. That 77-gallon difference translates to roughly 231–385 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Four Winns F274 2008 and Four Winns Vista 278 2006 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Four Winns F274 2008 and the Four Winns Vista 278 2006 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.