MasterCraft 209 2006 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 209 2006 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 209 2006 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 209 2006 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 292 lbs for the MasterCraft 209 2006. 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 209 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 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 has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft 209 2006 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the MasterCraft 209 2006. That 53-gallon difference translates to roughly 159–265 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 209 2006 and MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 209 2006 and the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 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 209 2006 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 209 2006

2006

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 209 2006 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 209 2006 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 measures 28,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft 209 2006 at 21,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 209 2006 tips the scales at 292 lbs — 240 lbs more than the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 at 52 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft 209 2006 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 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 209 2006 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

MakeMasterCraft

Model209

ModelMaristar 280 VLD

Model Year2006

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam96 in

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inchesnot available

Depth - DetailTransom: 23 in. Amidship: 25.5 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. (.86 m) Amidship: 37 in. (.94 m)

Depth - Centimeters66.04

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Inches25.5

Depth - Inches37

Draft [max] - Detail24 in

Draft [max] - Detail29 in. (.74 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.61

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches24

Draft [max] - Inches29

Weight - Detail2,920 lbs

Weight - Detail5,200 lbs. (2,358.68 kg)

Weight - kg1324.49

Weight - kg2358.68

Weight - lbs.292

Weight - lbs.52

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet28

Length [over all with swim platform]22 ft. 10 in

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in. (8.53 m)

Length overall - Meters6.4

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Inches252

Length overall - Inches339

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailWidth amidship: 9 ft. 6 in. (2.90 m)

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters8.53

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches3

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail88 gal. (333.12 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters333.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal88

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,370 lbs

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs (1,043 kg)

Maximum people9

Maximum people15

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allw/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 21 ft

Trailer - Length over all34 ft. 3 in. (10.44 m)

Trailer - WeightSingle-axle: 900 lbs. Tandem-axle: 1,050 lbs

Trailer - Weightnot available

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

Trailer - Widthnot available

MasterCraft 209 2006 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 209 2006 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 209 2006 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 209 2006 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 292 lbs for the MasterCraft 209 2006. 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 209 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 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 has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft 209 2006 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the MasterCraft 209 2006. That 53-gallon difference translates to roughly 159–265 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 209 2006 and MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 209 2006 and the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 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 209 2006 full specs ← MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 full specs