MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 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 215 VRS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 3 425 lbs for the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007. 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 215 VRS 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 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 STS 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 1" for the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007. 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 215 VRS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 45 gallons on the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007. That 58-gallon difference translates to roughly 174–290 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 and MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 and the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 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 215 VRS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007

2007

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 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 STS 2006 measures 28,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 at 21,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 tips the scales at 3 425 lbs — 3 363 lbs more than the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 at 62 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 280 STS 2006 is rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 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 215 VRS 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model215 VRS

Model280 STS

Model Year2007

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam100 in

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Inches1

Beam - Inches114

Depth - DetailTransom: 28 in. Amidship: 32 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Inches32

Depth - Inches37

Draft [max] - Detail26.5 in

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches26.5

Draft [max] - Inches29

Weight - Detail3,425 lbs

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - kg1553.55

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - lbs.3425

Weight - lbs.62

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet28

Length - Inches8

Length - Inches3

Length [over all with swim platform]23 ft. 9 in

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Meters6.6

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Inches26

Length overall - Inches339

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail45 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters170.34

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Gal45

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,325 lbs

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum people14

Maximum people15

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all24 ft. 4 in. w/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 22 ft. 2 in

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,100 lbs

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 100 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 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 215 VRS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 3 425 lbs for the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007. 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 215 VRS 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 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 STS 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 1" for the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007. 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 215 VRS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 45 gallons on the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007. That 58-gallon difference translates to roughly 174–290 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 and MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 215 VRS 2007 and the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 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 215 VRS 2007 full specs ← MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 full specs