MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 vs MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 or the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 or the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 has the edge at 28 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 280 SST 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 is certified for 6. 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 280 SST 2006 or the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005. That 75-gallon difference translates to roughly 225–375 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 and MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 and the MasterCraft Prostar 197 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 280 SST 2006 vs MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 SST 2006

2006

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 vs MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 vs MasterCraft Prostar 197 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 280 SST 2006 measures 28,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 at 19,0 feet (2005). At 62 lbs and 28 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 280 SST 2006 is rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 280 SST 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 Prostar 197 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model280 SST

ModelProstar 197

Model Year2006

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches114

Beam - Inchesnot available

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 20 in. (.51 m) Amidship: 23.5 in. (.57 m)

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters60.96

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches23.5

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Detail22 in. (.56 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.56

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches22

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - Detail2,800 lbs. (1,270.06 kg)

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg1270.06

Weight - lbs.62

Weight - lbs.28

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet19

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches8

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 8 in. (5.99 m)

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters5.99

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches236

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailWidth amidship: 91 in. (2.31 m)

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters5.99

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]22 ft. (56 m)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (105.96 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum capacity900 lbs (408 kg)

Maximum people15

Maximum people6

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all22 ft. 10 in. (6.96 m) W/Pivot Tongue Folded: 21 ft. 1 in. (6.43 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthSingle-axle: 99 in. (2.51 m) Tandem-axle: 100 in. (2.54 m)

MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 vs MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 or the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 or the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 has the edge at 28 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 280 SST 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 is certified for 6. 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 280 SST 2006 or the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005. That 75-gallon difference translates to roughly 225–375 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 and MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 SST 2006 and the MasterCraft Prostar 197 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 280 SST 2006 full specs ← MasterCraft Prostar 197 2005 full specs