MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 vs MasterCraft X-30 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 or the MasterCraft X-30 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-30 2005 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 280 SST 2007 or the MasterCraft X-30 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-30 2005 has the edge at 33 lbs dry weight versus 62 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007. 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 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft X-30 2005 is certified for 12. 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 2007 or the MasterCraft X-30 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 61 gallons on the MasterCraft X-30 2005. That 42-gallon difference translates to roughly 126–210 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 and MasterCraft X-30 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 and the MasterCraft X-30 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 2007 vs MasterCraft X-30 2005

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 SST 2007

2007

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-30 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 vs MasterCraft X-30 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 vs MasterCraft X-30 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 2007 measures 28,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft X-30 2005 at 22,0 feet (2005). At 62 lbs and 33 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 2007 is rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft X-30 2005 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 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 X-30 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model280 SST

ModelX-3

Model Year2007

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: 27.5 in. (.70 m) Amidship: 26.5 in. (.67 m)

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters71.12

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches27.5

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Detail22.5 in. (.57 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.58

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches22.5

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - Detail3,300 lbs. (1,496.88 kg)

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg1496.85

Weight - lbs.62

Weight - lbs.33

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet22

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches8

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 8 in. (6.91 m)

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters6.91

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches272

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailWidth amidship: 98 in. (2.49 m)

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.91

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]21 ft. (7.44 m)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail61 gal. (230.89 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Liters230.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel tank capacity - Gal61

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum capacity1,840 lbs (835 kg)

Maximum people15

Maximum people12

Trailer Info

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all24 ft. 7 in. (7.49 m) W/Pivot Tongue Folded: 23 ft. (7.01 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 99 in. (2.51 m)

MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 vs MasterCraft X-30 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 or the MasterCraft X-30 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-30 2005 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 280 SST 2007 or the MasterCraft X-30 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-30 2005 has the edge at 33 lbs dry weight versus 62 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007. 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 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft X-30 2005 is certified for 12. 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 2007 or the MasterCraft X-30 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 61 gallons on the MasterCraft X-30 2005. That 42-gallon difference translates to roughly 126–210 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 and MasterCraft X-30 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 SST 2007 and the MasterCraft X-30 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 2007 full specs ← MasterCraft X-30 2005 full specs