MasterCraft 255V 2012 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 255V 2012 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 255V 2012 comes in at 25,4 feet, making it roughly 2,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 255V 2012 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 485 lbs for the MasterCraft 255V 2012. 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 255V 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 18 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 has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft 255V 2012 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 9 gallons on the MasterCraft 255V 2012. That 94-gallon difference translates to roughly 282–470 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 255V 2012 and MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 255V 2012 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 255V 2012 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 255V 2012

2012

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

2006

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 255V 2012 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 255V 2012 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — MasterCraft 255V 2012 at 25,4 ft versus MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 at 28,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 255V 2012 tips the scales at 485 lbs — 423 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 255V 2012 is rated for 18 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 STS 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 255V 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 255V 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 25,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft 280 STS 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

Model255V

Model280 STS

Model Year2012

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Depth - Detail32 in. (0.8 m) transom 25 in. (0.64 m) amidship

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Inches32

Depth - Inches37

Draft [max] - Detail32 in. (0.8 m)

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.81

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches32

Draft [max] - Inches29

Weight - Detail4,850 lbs. (2,200 kg)

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - kg2199.92

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - lbs.485

Weight - lbs.62

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

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]110 in. (2.8 m) standard tower to lowest point on keel

Height [transom]not available

Length - Feet25.42

Length - Feet28

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 8 in. (8.43 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 5 in. (7.75 m)

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Meters7.75

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Inches305

Length overall - Inches339

Beamnot available

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches114

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches3

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeIlmor

Engine makenot available

Engine model6.0 l V-8, 382 hp (285 kW) 6.2 l V-8, 430 hp (321 kW) 7.4 l V-8, 523 hp (390 kW)

Engine modelnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail90 gal. (341 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters340.69

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Gal9

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum people18

Maximum people15

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all31 ft. 2 in. (9.5 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Weight1,375 lbs. (624 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Width100 in. (2.54 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

MasterCraft 255V 2012 vs MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 255V 2012 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft 255V 2012 comes in at 25,4 feet, making it roughly 2,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 255V 2012 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 485 lbs for the MasterCraft 255V 2012. 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 255V 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 18 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 has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft 255V 2012 or the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 9 gallons on the MasterCraft 255V 2012. That 94-gallon difference translates to roughly 282–470 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 255V 2012 and MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 255V 2012 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 255V 2012 full specs ← MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 full specs