Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
MasterCraft 245 SS 2008 vs MasterCraft 280V 2011 — Which Modified Vee Fits Your Needs?
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the MasterCraft 245 SS 2008 and the MasterCraft 280V 2011 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The MasterCraft 280V 2011 measures 28,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft 245 SS 2008 at 24,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 245 SS 2008 tips the scales at 473 lbs — 411 lbs more than the MasterCraft 280V 2011 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 245 SS 2008 is rated for 18 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280V 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 245 SS 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 245 SS 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft 280V 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeMasterCraft
MakeMasterCraft
Model Year2008
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam102 in
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inchesnot available
Depth - DetailTransom: 28 in. Amidship: 19 in
Depth - Detail34 in. (0.86 m) transom 37 in. (0.94 m) amidship
Depth - Centimeters71.12
Depth - Centimeters93.98
Depth - Inches28
Depth - Inches37
Draft [max] - Detail28 in
Draft [max] - Detail29 in. (0.7 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.71
Draft [max] - Meters0.74
Draft [max] - Inches28
Draft [max] - Inches29
Weight - Detail4,730 lbs
Weight - Detail6,200 lbs. (2,812 kg)
Weight - kg2145.49
Weight - kg2812.27
Weight - lbs.473
Weight - lbs.62
Length - Feet24
Length - Feet28.25
Length - Inches2
Length - Inchesnot available
Length [over all with swim platform]26 ft. 3 in
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 2 in
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in. (8.6 m)
Length overall - Meters7.37
Length overall - Meters8.61
Length overall - Inches29
Length overall - Inches339
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m) amidship
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail116 in. (2.9 m) standard tower to lowest point on keel
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters2.95
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches116
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail90 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal. (379 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters340.69
Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54
Fuel tank capacity - Gal9
Fuel tank capacity - Gal1
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Engine makenot available
Engine makeIndmar, Ilmore
Engine modelnot 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) Ilmore: 5.7 l V-8, 325 hp (239 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity2,928 lbs
Maximum capacityYacht Certified, no capacity
Maximum people18
Maximum peoplenot available
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over all26 ft. 11 in. w/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 24 ft. 3 in
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,480 lbs
Trailer - Weight1,180 lbs. (535 kg)
Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 100 in
Trailer - Widthnot available