www.iFourWinns.com

Hello I have just sold my Monterey 210 and I am looking to buy a new second hand boat. I am looking to buy a 2007 Four Winns 278 Vista with volvo penta 5.7gxi 320hp. Any comments please? how about plainning is engine ok? how does it handle? what about speed?
thanks any comments appreciated.

Hi Kitos ! o ve all guys you reach the guy that got exacly that a FW 278 2007 with 5.7 gxi (320hp) duo prop,i was at first, a little worry about a single on a boat that size but hey guess what! it works like clockwork, that boat with the wife and all she can put in (a lot ove stuff)!! would take off and plane in about 15 sec to reach speed of 48 milles an hour (top speed) well trimmed and i found out after a summer with the beauty that it was cheap on gaz compare to a sea ray 260 (same year and similar engine), and i love very much the way that boat manouver while docking very slow and very predictable,i hope it helps ,any other question ! just post it and il reply cya

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The Black Pearl Vista 278 2007 5.7 gxi 320 hp

I've got an 08 278 but have the 8.1L engine so I can't speak as to performance of the smaller engine. I've been on the big lake with a couple of other guys from the forum with the same boat and we don't really see a lot of difference. It seems to me that the 8.1 is certainly a heavier engine so some of the extra horsepower is used in pulling that engine around. I just had it at WOT last week to benchmark performance and came in right at 48 MPH as shown on my GPS. I did not have a full load though and that can make a bit of difference. Add in full fuel, full water tanks and I do see a difference. I'm usually looking for best cruising speed and for my boat that's 3200 RPM which yields around 32 MPH.

I love our boat and it's the right size for the style of boating I'm doing right now. I know some might be crowded on this boat but for us it works perfect. If I decide to stay put I might opt for a larger boat. Right now I enjoy boating in my area close to home but love to tow to spend time on lake Michigan in the summer. I know I'll be back next summer to spend time with the other Fourwinns crew.

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi

I have a 2007 V258 w/5.7 280hp, that was a dealer left over with 11hrs on it. It is basally the same boat, but 2' bigger. Other than the aft deck on the V278 is set up better!! My boat fights a little to get up on plane, the trim tabs help out. Once up on plane, I have hit 35 knots with a little more throttle to go. Which is just fine for me.

What I don't like, no D.C. panel. It uses fuses, even the 2012 models. I found 2 leaks from the helm, one lets water into the cabin & the other into the D.C. panel. I was at the Newport boat show, the 2012 models helm was the same set up. So I am sure the leaks are tell there.

I like the set up of the cabin!! I had to add a sea strainer to the head, it was picking sea grass up.

I like the boat, some things could be better. BUT compared to some of the other boats out there, we do like this one & more so the V278.

Hi all ,and hi Flyer! i reid what you were saying about having a 8.1 (fantastic engine) going top speed at around the same as mine having a 5.7 and the rpm at 3200 give s ya 32 mph ,exacly like mine ! so this is my question ,whats the pitch on your props , it must be a weigt vs horsepower thing just curious

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The Black Pearl Vista 278 2007 5.7 gxi 320 hp

And oh ! yeah i LOVE that boat, can somedy tell me how to put a pic under my messages ,thanks

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The Black Pearl Vista 278 2007 5.7 gxi 320 hp

Hi thank you for all the replies, can I ask how it goes with 3000 rpm? how about consumption? what is the engine revs on crusing speed? also since i have never been on one since I will import it to Malta, how about storage is there a lot of compartments? thanks

Hi Kitos! Here is the fact sheet for the boat you are looking at. I have found the numbers to be very close to our real world numbers on our 268 including the fuel consumption numbers checked against a Floscan meter.
http://www.fourwinns.com/past_product/specs//2007/27%20278%20Vista%20%28p86-89%29.pdf

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Hi thank you for the reply and link, The V278 is there a lot of storage space? it is with the U seat at the back?

We packed and lived/traveled on our 268 for 16 days, so yes there is plenty of storage but you have to be creative. We have picked up a lot of tips and ideas from our boating friends in the past couple years on how to pack a lot of stuff in a small space.

The 268/278 does have the u shape seating which is the reason I almost didn't want the boat. It just didn't look like a good layout to me..... I was wrong and now it's one of my favorite features! Our boat has become the place for our friends to come play cards and hang out because of the nice layout of the U shape seating. Hope this helps!

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Bliss,
Will these boats really get 2.2 mpg? Do they in fact run 24 mph @2000 rpm? Dan

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Current Boat: 1994 278 Four Winns Vista

About 24MPH at 3000RPM sounds right, and 2.2MPG is true. I've got a fuel flow meter on mine also....

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Yes but only on glass flat water! I find the sweet spot for our boat is 28 mph @3600rpm, and as long as water conditions are good I usually average between 1.9-2.2 mpg! As far as running at 24 mph to be honest once you hit 24mph or less it becomes a harder to keep it on plane unless it's glass and your using tabs, but as you know Lake Michigan doesn't give you too many of those "perfect" days. Once I get into the low 20's and start using tabs my gas mileage goes to hell.

I have the 5.7GI in my boat but I would be wiling to bet the 8.1 might be better suited for low rpm operation and it actually gets better mpg than the 5.7. I know Flyer51 has a big block so maybe he can chime in on this.

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Send your pictures to a third party site like photobucket which is what I did then you click on the url that has img in the contents then you copy and paste it to where you are typing the picture will come up. It should be the last one that reads IMG code you copy it and paste it right here.

Hi thank you very much for your help and info, I have just concluded the sale went to UK did a sea trial and boat is great. now shipping to Malta IN 3 weeks time.