MasterCraft 235V 2011 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 235V 2011 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 235V 2011 comes in at 23,4 feet, making it roughly 4,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 235V 2011 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 465 lbs for the MasterCraft 235V 2011. 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 235V 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 16 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 235V 2011 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the MasterCraft 235V 2011. That 82-gallon difference translates to roughly 246–410 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 235V 2011 and MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 235V 2011 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 235V 2011 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 235V 2011

2011

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 235V 2011 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 235V 2011 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 4,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft 235V 2011 at 23,4 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 235V 2011 tips the scales at 465 lbs — 413 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 235V 2011 is rated for 16 passengers, while the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 235V 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 235V 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 23,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 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

Model235V

ModelMaristar 280 VLD

Model Year2011

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Depth - Detail34 in. (0.86 m) transom 27 in. (0.69 m) amidship

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

Depth - Centimeters86.36

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Inches34

Depth - Inches37

Draft [max] - Detail27 in. (0.69 m)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches27

Draft [max] - Inches29

Weight - Detail4,650 lbs. (2,109 kg)

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

Weight - kg2109.2

Weight - kg2358.68

Weight - lbs.465

Weight - lbs.52

Width [transom] - Detail102 in. (2.59 m) amidship

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

Height - Detail113 in. (2.87 m) standard tower to lowest point on keel 41 in. (1.04 m) tow bar height to waterline

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters2.87

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches113

Height - Inchesnot available

Length - Feet23.42

Length - Feet28

Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 1 in. (7.64 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 5 in. (7.14 m)

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

Length overall - Meters7.14

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Inches281

Length overall - Inches339

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters8.53

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches3

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeIndmar, Ilmore

Engine makenot available

Engine modelIndmar: MCX 5.7 l 350 CID V-8, 312 hp (230 kW) Indmar: L96 6.0 l V-8, 386 hp (284 kW) Indmar: LSA 6.2 l V-8, 537 hp (395 kW) Ilmore: 5.7 l V-8, 325 hp (239 kW) Ilmore: 6.0 l V-8, 386 hp (284 kW) Ilmore: 6.2 l V-8, 436 hp (321 kW)

Engine modelnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail88 gal. (333.12 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Liters333.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel tank capacity - Gal88

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,400 lbs. (1,089 kg)

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs (1,043 kg)

Maximum people16

Maximum people15

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all26 ft. (7.93 m) 23 ft. 6 in. (7.16 m) swing away tongue

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

Trailer - Weight1,250 lbs. (567 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

MasterCraft 235V 2011 vs MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 235V 2011 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 235V 2011 comes in at 23,4 feet, making it roughly 4,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 235V 2011 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 465 lbs for the MasterCraft 235V 2011. 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 235V 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 16 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 235V 2011 or the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the MasterCraft 235V 2011. That 82-gallon difference translates to roughly 246–410 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 235V 2011 and MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 235V 2011 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 235V 2011 full specs ← MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 full specs