MasterCraft 197 2006 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 197 2006 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 197 2006 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 197 2006 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 197 2006 has the edge at 28 lbs dry weight versus 62 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008. 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The MasterCraft 197 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 is certified for 15. 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 measures 114" wide, compared to 91" for the MasterCraft 197 2006. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft 197 2006 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008?

The MasterCraft 197 2006 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 197 2006 and MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 197 2006 and the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 are built by MasterCraft. 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

MasterCraft 197 2006 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2008

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 197 2006

2006

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 SST 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 197 2006 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 197 2006 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 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 MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 measures 28,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft 197 2006 at 19,0 feet (2006). At 28 lbs and 62 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 is rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft 197 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft 197 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model197

Model280 SST

Model Year2006

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam91 in

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Inches91

Beam - Inches114

Depth - DetailTransom: 20 in. Amidship: 22.5 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - Centimeters58.42

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Inches22.5

Depth - Inches37

Draft [max] - Detail22 in

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.56

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches22

Draft [max] - Inches29

Weight - Detail2,800 lbs

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - kg1270.06

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - lbs.28

Weight - lbs.62

Length - Feet19

Length - Feet28

Length - Inches8

Length - Inches3

Length [over all with swim platform]21 ft. 6 in

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Meters5.99

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Inches236

Length overall - Inches339

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal1

Drive typeInboard

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity978 lbs

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum people7

Maximum people15

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allw/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 20 ft. 7 in

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - WeightSingle-axle: 860 lbs. Tandem-axle: 1,040 lbs

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs

Trailer - WidthSingle-axle: 99 in. Tandem-axle: 100 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

MasterCraft 197 2006 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 197 2006 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 197 2006 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 197 2006 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 197 2006 has the edge at 28 lbs dry weight versus 62 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The MasterCraft 197 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 is certified for 15. 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 measures 114" wide, compared to 91" for the MasterCraft 197 2006. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft 197 2006 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008?

The MasterCraft 197 2006 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 197 2006 and MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 197 2006 and the MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 are built by MasterCraft. 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.

← MasterCraft 197 2006 full specs ← MasterCraft 280 SST 2008 full specs