Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009?

The Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009?

For trailering, the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has the edge at 465 lbs dry weight versus 465 lbs for the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has a documented max rating of 600 hp. Engine specifications for the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 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.

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

Both the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 share an 97 in 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 95 gallons and 95 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 are built by Sunsation. 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

Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009

Sunsation

Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005

2005

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Sunsation

Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 at 28,0 ft versus Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 at 28,0 ft. At 465 lbs and 465 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 tops out at 600 hp. Engine specs for the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 95 gal and 95 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 8 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

Bottom line: The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 are closely matched on the specs that matter most. Test-ride both on the water you actually use, check current dealer pricing, and factor in long-term service access before you sign.

General Boat Info

MakeSunsation

Model288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow

Model288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow

Model Year2005

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam97 in

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Inches97

Deadrise24℃

Draft [max] - Detail36 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detail4,650 lbs

Weight - kg2109.2

Weight - lbs.465

Length - Feet28

Length - Inches8

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Meters8.74

Length overall - Inches344

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail95 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters359.61

Fuel tank capacity - Gal95

Drive typeInboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardMX 6.2 MPI's 320 hp - Bravo One

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Engine maxnot available

Engine max600 hp

Operational Info

Water capacity3 gal

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009?

The Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009?

For trailering, the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has the edge at 465 lbs dry weight versus 465 lbs for the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has a documented max rating of 600 hp. Engine specifications for the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 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.

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

Both the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 share an 97 in 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 95 gallons and 95 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and the Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 are built by Sunsation. 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.

← Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 full specs ← Sunsation 288 SS Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 full specs