MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 has the edge at 39 lbs dry weight versus 62 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 SST 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 230 SS 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 16 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 SST 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 SST 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 102" for the MasterCraft 230 SS 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 230 SS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007. That 38-gallon difference translates to roughly 114–190 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 and MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 and the MasterCraft 280 SST 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 230 SS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2006

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 230 SS 2007

2007

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 SST 2006

2006

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 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 SST 2006 measures 28,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 at 22,0 feet (2007). At 39 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 230 SS 2007 is rated for 16 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 15 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model230 SS

Model280 SST

Model Year2007

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches114

Depth - DetailTransom: 26 in. Amidship: 32 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Inches32

Depth - Inches37

Draft [max] - Detail26 in

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.66

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches26

Draft [max] - Inches29

Weight - Detail3,900 lbs

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - kg1769.01

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - lbs.39

Weight - lbs.62

Length - Feet22

Length - Feet28

Length - Inches5

Length - Inches3

Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. 6 in

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Meters6.83

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Inches269

Length overall - Inches339

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail65 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters246.05

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Gal65

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,275 lbs

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum people16

Maximum people15

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all24 ft. 8 in. w/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 22 ft. 10 in

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,250 lbs

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 100 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 vs MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 has the edge at 39 lbs dry weight versus 62 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 SST 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 230 SS 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 16 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 SST 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 SST 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 102" for the MasterCraft 230 SS 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 230 SS 2007 or the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007. That 38-gallon difference translates to roughly 114–190 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 and MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 230 SS 2007 and the MasterCraft 280 SST 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 230 SS 2007 full specs ← MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 full specs