Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013?

The Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 is the longer of the two at 36,0 feet overall. The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 8,0 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013?

For trailering, the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 has the edge at 76 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 has a documented max rating of 430 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 is certified for 10. 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013?

The Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 has the bigger tank at 145 gallons, versus 95 gallons on the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005. That 50-gallon difference translates to roughly 150–250 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013

Sunsation

Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005

2005

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Sunsation

Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 measures 36,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 8,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 at 28,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 tips the scales at 465 lbs — 389 lbs more than the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 at 76 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.

The Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 tops out at 430 hp. Engine specs for the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 carries 145 gallons versus 95 gallons in the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005. 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 Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 36,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 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

MakeSunsation

Model288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow

Model36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow

Model Year2005

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam97 in

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Inches97

Deadrise24℃

Deadrise24°

Draft [max] - Detail36 in

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail4,650 lbs

Weight - Detail7,600 lbs

Weight - kg2109.2

Weight - kg3447.3

Weight - lbs.465

Weight - lbs.76

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet36

Length - Inches8

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Detail36 ft

Length overall - Meters8.74

Length overall - Meters10.97

Length overall - Inches344

Length overall - Inches432

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail95 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail145 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters359.61

Fuel tank capacity - Liters548.88

Fuel tank capacity - Gal95

Fuel tank capacity - Gal145

Drive typeInboard

Drive typeInboard - Twin

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardMercury 502 HO's - Bravo X drives

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower430 hp each

Operational Info

Water capacity3 gal

Water capacitynot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 vs Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013?

The Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 is the longer of the two at 36,0 feet overall. The Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 8,0 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013?

For trailering, the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 has the edge at 76 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 has a documented max rating of 430 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 is certified for 10. 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 or the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013?

The Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 has the bigger tank at 145 gallons, versus 95 gallons on the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005. That 50-gallon difference translates to roughly 150–250 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sunsation 288 Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2005 and the Sunsation 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 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 36 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 full specs