MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Mastercraft NXT24 2021 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

For trailering, the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 has the edge at 5 000 lbs dry weight versus 6 200 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 STS 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 STS 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 is certified for 7. 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Mastercraft NXT24 2021 measures 1 224" wide, compared to 114" for the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Mastercraft NXT24 2021. That 38-gallon difference translates to roughly 114–190 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and Mastercraft NXT24 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 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 STS 2006 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

2006

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MasterCraft

Mastercraft NXT24 2021

2021

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021: Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021 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 STS 2006 measures 28,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 at 24,0 feet (2021). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 tips the scales at 6 200 lbs - 1 200 lbs more than the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 at 5 000 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 280 STS 2006 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 280 STS 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 NXT24 2021 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Makenot available

Model280 STS

Modelnot available

Model Year2006

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in.

Beam102.00 ft

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Meters31.09

Beam - Inches114

Beam - Inches1224

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in.

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail29 in.

Draft [max] - Detail29.00 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters8.84

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches348

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs.

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.6200

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet24

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in.

Length overall - Detail24.00 ft

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters7.32

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches288

Displacementnot available

Displacement5000.00 lbs

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Liters246.05

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel tank capacity - Gal65

Drive typeInboard

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs.

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people15

Maximum peoplenot available

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Mastercraft NXT24 2021 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

For trailering, the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 has the edge at 5 000 lbs dry weight versus 6 200 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 STS 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 STS 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 is certified for 7. 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Mastercraft NXT24 2021 measures 1 224" wide, compared to 114" for the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Mastercraft NXT24 2021. That 38-gallon difference translates to roughly 114–190 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and Mastercraft NXT24 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 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 STS 2006 full specs ← Mastercraft NXT24 2021 full specs