Four Winns SL242 2012 vs Four Winns V265 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns SL242 2012 or the Four Winns V265 2012?

The Four Winns V265 2012 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Four Winns SL242 2012 comes in at 24,4 feet, making it roughly 1,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns SL242 2012 or the Four Winns V265 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns SL242 2012 has the edge at 508 lbs dry weight versus 627 lbs for the Four Winns V265 2012. 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 SL242 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Four Winns V265 2012 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Four Winns SL242 2012 and Four Winns V265 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns SL242 2012 or the Four Winns V265 2012?

The Four Winns SL242 2012 has the bigger tank at 58 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Four Winns V265 2012. That 51-gallon difference translates to roughly 153–255 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Four Winns SL242 2012 and Four Winns V265 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns SL242 2012 and the Four Winns V265 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 SL242 2012 vs Four Winns V265 2012

Four Winns

Four Winns SL242 2012

2012

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Four Winns

Four Winns V265 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Four Winns SL242 2012 vs Four Winns V265 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Four Winns SL242 2012 against a modified vee Four Winns V265 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Four Winns SL242 2012 at 24,4 ft versus Four Winns V265 2012 at 26,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns V265 2012 tips the scales at 627 lbs — 119 lbs less than the Four Winns SL242 2012 at 508 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns SL242 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Four Winns V265 2012 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 SL242 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Four Winns SL242 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 24,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Four Winns V265 2012 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

ModelSL242

ModelV265

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.55 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 8 in. (1.42 m) 7 ft. 3 in. (2.21 m) with arch

Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 11 in. (2.11 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.21

Bridge clearance - Meters2.11

Bridge clearance - Inches87

Bridge clearance - Inches83

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise17℃

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

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] meters0.48

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [drive up] inches19

Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (84 cm)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detail4,870 - 5,080 lbs. (2,210 - 2,300 kg) with engine

Weight - Detail6,250 - 6,270 lbs. (2,830 - 2,840 kg) with engine

Weight - kg2304.25

Weight - kg2844.02

Weight - lbs.508

Weight - lbs.627

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

Height - Detail8 ft. 5 in. (2.57 m)

Height - Meters1.93

Height - Meters2.57

Height - Inches76

Height - Inches101

Length - Feet24.42

Length - Feet26

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 5 in. (7.44 m)

Length overall - Detail26 ft. (7.92 m)

Length overall - Meters7.44

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Inches293

Length overall - Inches312

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMerCruiser or Volvo

Fuel tank capacity - Detail58 gal. (220 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters219.55

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal58

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Water capacityPotable: 15 gal. (57 l)

Water capacityPotable: 16 gal. (60 l)

Maximum capacity2,100 lbs. (953 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people12

Maximum people1

Holding tank capacity - Detail2.6 gal. (9.8 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detail16 gal. (60 l)

Holding tank capacity - Liters11.36

Holding tank capacity - Liters60.57

Holding tank capacity - Gal2.6

Holding tank capacity - Gal16

Headroomnot available

Headroom5 ft. 10 in. (1.78 m)

Trailer Info

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

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Height7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m) 8 ft. 5 in. (2.57 m) wakeboard tower down 10 ft. 4 in. (3.15 m) wakeboard tower up

Trailer - Height10 ft. (3.05 m)

Trailer - Weight1,495 lbs. (678 kg)

Trailer - Weight1,667 lbs. (756 kg)

Four Winns SL242 2012 vs Four Winns V265 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Four Winns SL242 2012 or the Four Winns V265 2012?

The Four Winns V265 2012 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Four Winns SL242 2012 comes in at 24,4 feet, making it roughly 1,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Four Winns SL242 2012 or the Four Winns V265 2012?

For trailering, the Four Winns SL242 2012 has the edge at 508 lbs dry weight versus 627 lbs for the Four Winns V265 2012. 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 SL242 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Four Winns V265 2012 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Four Winns SL242 2012 and Four Winns V265 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Four Winns SL242 2012 or the Four Winns V265 2012?

The Four Winns SL242 2012 has the bigger tank at 58 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Four Winns V265 2012. That 51-gallon difference translates to roughly 153–255 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Four Winns SL242 2012 and Four Winns V265 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Four Winns SL242 2012 and the Four Winns V265 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 SL242 2012 full specs ← Four Winns V265 2012 full specs