MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 3,0 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 X-55SS 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 515 lbs for the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009. 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 X-55SS 2009 is certified for 18. 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 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009. 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 X-55SS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 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 X-55SS 2009

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

2006

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-55SS 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 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 280 STS 2006 at 28,0 ft versus MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 at 25,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 tips the scales at 515 lbs — 453 lbs less 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 X-55SS 2009 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 X-55SS 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 25,0 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

Model280 STS

ModelX-55SS

Model Year2006

Model Year2009

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: 32 in. Amidship: 25 in

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches32

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Detail32 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.81

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches32

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - Detail5,150 lbs

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg2336

Weight - lbs.62

Weight - lbs.515

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet25

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches5

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters7.75

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches305

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailAmidship: 102 in

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 8 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail65 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Liters246.05

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel tank capacity - Gal65

Drive typeInboard

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people15

Maximum people18

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all31 ft. 2 in

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,375 gal

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 100 in

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 3,0 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 X-55SS 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 515 lbs for the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009. 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 X-55SS 2009 is certified for 18. 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 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009. 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 X-55SS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the MasterCraft X-55SS 2009 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 X-55SS 2009 full specs