278 Vista

The 278 Vista is a maxi-cube pocket cruiser whose stylish appearance has kept her from showing her age since she went out of production in 1998. Like many family boats her size, her modified-V hull (with a keel pad) provides a stable and comfortable ride in a variety of weather conditions. The Vista’s accommodations are evenly divided between a roomy and well-arranged cockpit and the full-width cabin with its conventional mid-cabin floorplan. There are double berths fore and aft and both sleeping areas have a curtain for privacy. Notably, the galley has plenty of storage and counter space. There’s a shower in the standup head, and the dinette table converts into a kid-sized berth. Outside, visibility from the double helm seat is excellent. Additional features include a walk-through windshield, space at the helm for flush-mounted electronics, and foldaway bench seating at the transom. Note that oval cabin ports replaced the original sliding cabin windows in 1996, and the cockpit was redesigned in 1998. A single 7.4L OMC sterndrive cruises at 22 knots (about 30+ knots top), and twin OMC 5.7L sterndrives cruise at 24–25 knots (35+ knots top).