Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 vs Sunsation 36 S 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 or the Sunsation 36 S 2012?

The Sunsation 36 S 2012 is the longer of the two at 36,0 feet overall. The Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 comes in at 31,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 or the Sunsation 36 S 2012?

For trailering, the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has the edge at 45 lbs dry weight versus 79 lbs for the Sunsation 36 S 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has a documented max rating of 600 hp. Engine specifications for the Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 and Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 or the Sunsation 36 S 2012?

The Sunsation 36 S 2012 has the bigger tank at 145 gallons, versus 95 gallons on the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009. 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 and Sunsation 36 S 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 and the Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 vs Sunsation 36 S 2012

Sunsation

Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009

2009

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Sunsation

Sunsation 36 S 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 vs Sunsation 36 S 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 against a deep vee Sunsation 36 S 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sunsation 36 S 2012 measures 36,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 at 31,0 feet (2009). At 45 lbs and 79 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 carries a rated maximum of 600 hp. Engine data for the Sunsation 36 S 2012 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sunsation 36 S 2012 carries 145 gallons versus 95 gallons in the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009. 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 S 2012 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sunsation 36 S 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 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

MakeSunsation

Model288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow

Model36 S

Model Year2009

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam97 in

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Inches97

Deadrise24℃

Deadrise24°

Draft [max] - Detail36 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detail4,500 lbs

Weight - Detail7,900 lbs

Weight - kg2041.16

Weight - kg3583.38

Weight - lbs.45

Weight - lbs.79

Length - Feet31

Length - Feet36

Length - Inches7

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail31 ft. 7 in

Length overall - Detail36 ft

Length overall - Meters9.63

Length overall - Meters10.97

Length overall - Inches379

Length overall - Inches432

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]Angle: 11°

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standardnot available

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

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max600 hp

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerc

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelBravo One X Drives

Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 vs Sunsation 36 S 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 or the Sunsation 36 S 2012?

The Sunsation 36 S 2012 is the longer of the two at 36,0 feet overall. The Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 comes in at 31,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 or the Sunsation 36 S 2012?

For trailering, the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has the edge at 45 lbs dry weight versus 79 lbs for the Sunsation 36 S 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 has a documented max rating of 600 hp. Engine specifications for the Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 and Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 or the Sunsation 36 S 2012?

The Sunsation 36 S 2012 has the bigger tank at 145 gallons, versus 95 gallons on the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009. 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 and Sunsation 36 S 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sunsation 288 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 and the Sunsation 36 S 2012 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 SSR Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2009 full specs ← Sunsation 36 S 2012 full specs