MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-9 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-9 2006 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 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-9 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 306 lbs for the MasterCraft X-9 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 X-9 2006 is certified for 9. 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 280 STS 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 96" for the MasterCraft X-9 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 X-9 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the MasterCraft X-9 2006. That 68-gallon difference translates to roughly 204–340 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and MasterCraft X-9 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the MasterCraft X-9 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 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

2006

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-9 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-9 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 measures 28,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft X-9 2006 at 21,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft X-9 2006 tips the scales at 306 lbs — 244 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 280 STS 2006 is rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft X-9 2006 caps at 9. 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 X-9 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model280 STS

ModelX-9

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam96 in

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches114

Beam - Inches96

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 23 in. Amidship: 25.5 in

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters66.04

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches25.5

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Detail24 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.61

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches24

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - Detail3,060 lbs

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg1387.99

Weight - lbs.62

Weight - lbs.306

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet21

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters6.4

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches252

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]22 ft. 10 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum capacity1,370 lbs

Maximum people15

Maximum people9

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over allw/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 21 ft

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WeightSingle-axle: 900 lbs Tandem-axle: 1,050 lbs

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthSingle-axle: 99 in. Tandem-axle: 100 in

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-9 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-9 2006 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 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-9 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 306 lbs for the MasterCraft X-9 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 X-9 2006 is certified for 9. 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 280 STS 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 96" for the MasterCraft X-9 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 X-9 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the MasterCraft X-9 2006. That 68-gallon difference translates to roughly 204–340 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and MasterCraft X-9 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the MasterCraft X-9 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 280 STS 2006 full specs ← MasterCraft X-9 2006 full specs