Jeanneau Leader 805 vs Four Winns V278

[Iceman]

Hi all,

I've been looking for a boat to be used in Adriatic for day trips and an occasional island hopping and sleeping a few nights at anchor or on a buoy. Out of many I've seen so far, my favorites have been a 2009 Four Winns Vista 278 and a 2005 Jeanneau Leader 805. It will be my first cruiser, I grew up on center consoles and have mostly been sailing the past 5 or so years.

Both boats come with a Volvo Penta 5.7 petrol engines with about 1.000 hours on the counter, but recently overhauled. Both have a bow thruster, electric windlass, and all other serial equipment one would expect from a boat that size. Vista also has a radar arch and comes with bow cushions, which the 805 does not. None has trim tabs. The Vista is cheaper by about 5k, and more willing to negotiate.

Vista 278

• seems more sporty and overall better looking boat,
• interior looks way more modern for its age, there are also more lights in the cabin, the integrated mosquito mesh door is a plus,
• it did feel a bit tall - taller center of gravity and buoyancy. Maybe optics played a part since its narrower and the arch does make it feel a bit taller.
• The ride felt a bit more sporty - snappy steering, it felt like it handles like a smaller boat compared to the 805.
• It has a cockpit sink an cooler which is convenient for getting drinks etc. without the need to constantly pop down into the cabin.
• I like the position of the power board panel inside the cabin
• Needs a proper polish, the gelcoat looks fine but the color strip looks a bit washed out.
• Newer boat

Leader 805:

• looks a bit dated both inside and outside, but I felt like it sits a bit lower on the water and since it's a lot wider (2.95m vs 2.55m for V278) it feels more stable,
• has side decks which makes docking much easier (we'll be almost exclusively med mooring with lazy lines so this makes carrying the line aft to bow a breeze).
• Interior feels larger due to its width and the aft cabin door is and stand up space is a nice addition.
• I've read that the stock top can be a pain to set up but haven't had time to take it up or down during the viewing.
• Will need a new canvas soon, the one that's on is a bit worn.
• The wooden details in the cockpit look nice, but I'm afraid will be a pain to maintain.
• Older boat

What are your thoughts and experience on these boats? Any sort of advice would come in handy.

 

[Hot Property]

Hi all,

I've been looking for a boat to be used in Adriatic for day trips and an occasional island hopping and sleeping a few nights at anchor or on a buoy. Out of many I've seen so far, my favorites have been a 2009 Four Winns Vista 278 and a 2005 Jeanneau Leader 805. It will be my first cruiser, I grew up on center consoles and have mostly been sailing the past 5 or so years.

Both boats come with a Volvo Penta 5.7 petrol engines with about 1.000 hours on the counter, but recently overhauled. Both have a bow thruster, electric windlass, and all other serial equipment one would expect from a boat that size. Vista also has a radar arch and comes with bow cushions, which the 805 does not. None has trim tabs. The Vista is cheaper by about 5k, and more willing to negotiate.

Vista 278

• seems more sporty and overall better looking boat,
• interior looks way more modern for its age, there are also more lights in the cabin, the integrated mosquito mesh door is a plus,
• it did feel a bit tall - taller center of gravity and buoyancy. Maybe optics played a part since its narrower and the arch does make it feel a bit taller.
• The ride felt a bit more sporty - snappy steering, it felt like it handles like a smaller boat compared to the 805.
• It has a cockpit sink an cooler which is convenient for getting drinks etc. without the need to constantly pop down into the cabin.
• I like the position of the power board panel inside the cabin
• Needs a proper polish, the gelcoat looks fine but the color strip looks a bit washed out.
• Newer boat

Leader 805:

• looks a bit dated both inside and outside, but I felt like it sits a bit lower on the water and since it's a lot wider (2.95m vs 2.55m for V278) it feels more stable,
• has side decks which makes docking much easier (we'll be almost exclusively med mooring with lazy lines so this makes carrying the line aft to bow a breeze).
• Interior feels larger due to its width and the aft cabin door is and stand up space is a nice addition.
• I've read that the stock top can be a pain to set up but haven't had time to take it up or down during the viewing.
• Will need a new canvas soon, the one that's on is a bit worn.
• The wooden details in the cockpit look nice, but I'm afraid will be a pain to maintain.
• Older boat

What are your thoughts and experience on these boats? Any sort of advice would come in handy.

Both petrol powered so fairly juicy to run. Just depends on how many engine hours you use it for annually. I think fuel costs are similar where you are so less reason for a diesel engine.

I'd get the drives checked over if possible as a rebuild is expensive.

 

[Scubadoo]

Between the two my preference would be the Leader 805, it has side decks which is big plus for ease of access.

 

[Grubble]

For me the additional stability of the wider boat would be a big selling point - depending on where you are planning to be anchoring and how many jet skis will be attracted to your location due to their inability to exist unobserved.

You don't say, but I assume both boats are fuel injected, which again would be a big selling point for me. Hopefully recently overhauled means new manifolds, risers and outdrive bellows in the very recent past, or budget accordingly.

 

[Sianna]

I'm obviously biased as we have an 805 Leader, but the beam width sold it for me, they are exceptionally stable for the size of boat, with, I think, the most sociable cockpit area of any boat of this size. There is a petrol powered 805 in our marina and its performance is comparable with our diesel but the fuel costs are significantly higher, that said they are cheaper to buy.

The canopy is often criticised by people who have never used / owned an 805. Work from the screen backwards, when erecting it and aft to screen when dropping it, and you can put it up or down in 10 mins without a problem.

Rear curved woodwork comes off with 4 screws, mine was very manky but an evening with a sander and some teak oil transformed it, 5 years later it's still looking pretty good, the teak down the sides needs to be repaired in situ though.
from this to this:



Ours has been a great boat and I would recommend one, if you haven't already seen it have a look at Nick Burnhams series on his 805 on his Aquaholics you tube channel.

If you have any questions about the 805 I'd be happy to chat.

 

[rafiki_]

I'm obviously biased as we have an 805 Leader, but the beam width sold it for me, they are exceptionally stable for the size of boat, with, I think, the most sociable cockpit area of any boat of this size. There is a petrol powered 805 in our marina and its performance is comparable with our diesel but the fuel costs are significantly higher, that said they are cheaper to buy. View attachment 193170

The canopy is often criticised by people who have never used / owned an 805. Work from the screen backwards, when erecting it and aft to screen when dropping it, and you can put it up or down in 10 mins without a problem.

Rear curved woodwork comes off with 4 screws, mine was very manky but an evening with a sander and some teak oil transformed it, 5 years later it's still looking pretty good, the teak down the sides needs to be repaired in situ though. View attachment 193174
from this to this:

View attachment 193176

Ours has been a great boat and I would recommend one, if you haven't already seen it have a look at Nick Burnhams series on his 805 on his Aquaholics you tube channel.

If you have any questions about the 805 I'd be happy to chat.


View attachment 193173

Yep, Aquaholic has several You Tube videos of Smugglers Blue 2, plus a friends Leader. Good to watch, and I’m sure you will find them informative. Diesel is the preferred fuel here in the UK. More efficient, hence cheaper to run, better availability in marina’s, and less fire risk. Albeit, the initial purchase price would be higher, which you will get back when you sell.

 

[ari]

805 Leader out of those two. Far more functional and far more stable (both running and at rest). Your point about it needing a new canopy is the perfect opportunity to modify it to something far easier to use so that's that problem solved. The wood, as above, can be treated.

 

[alt]

Leader 805 all day.

Go diesel. KAD43 in these engines is a perfect combo and they're a great engine (IMHO)

 

[Sianna]

Leader 805 all day.

Go diesel. KAD43 in these engines is a perfect combo and they're a great engine (IMHO)

completely agree, we were out on ours this weekend, tops out at 31knts with the KAD43, cruise at 25knts

 

[Iceman]

Thank you all for your responses, you guys are truly amazing!
I wish I could get a KAD engine but close to me, they are very hard to come by, and when they hit the market the prices seem to be rather exorbitant.

Any other gremlins/pet peeves I should be aware of?

I'll have the surveyors do their thing in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Sianna]

Thank you all for your responses, you guys are truly amazing!
I wish I could get a KAD engine but close to me, they are very hard to come by, and when they hit the market the prices seem to be rather exorbitant.

Any other gremlins/pet peeves I should be aware of?

I'll have the surveyors do their thing in the next couple of weeks.

As a boat no big issues, that are super stable, a bow thruster is useful for docking but not critical, the same for trim tabs, check the sterndrive oil ( when it's out of the water) should be clear,, if not, there are a few seals that leak over time (£250 job) , and the sterndrive ram reservoir behind the engine (if thats milky the ram seals are leaking, again £250 ish), all a negotiating points.

 

[petem]

I'd for for the Leader. Beam, stability and side decks are all majot pluses.

Petrol is fine in the Med if you're just pottering about.

I disagree with the comment above, a bow thruster on a single engine boat in the Med is essential IMO.