MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-Star 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-Star 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-Star 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 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-Star 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-Star 2005 has the edge at 4 200 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 X-Star 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 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-Star 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 57 gallons on the MasterCraft X-Star 2005. That 46-gallon difference translates to roughly 138–230 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and MasterCraft X-Star 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the MasterCraft X-Star 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 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-Star 2005

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006

2006

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-Star 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-Star 2005: Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-Star 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 STS 2006 measures 28,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft X-Star 2005 at 22,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 tips the scales at 6 200 lbs - 2 000 lbs more than the MasterCraft X-Star 2005 at 4 200 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-Star 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 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-Star 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 STS

ModelX-Star

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: 28 in. (.71 m) Amidship: 32 in. (.81 m)

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches32

Draft [max] - Detail29 in.

Draft [max] - Detail28 in. (.71 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.71

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches28

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs.

Weight - Detail4,200 lbs. (1,905.09 kg)

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg1905.09

Weight - lbs.6200

Weight - lbs.4200

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet22

Length - Inches3

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in.

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m)

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters6.78

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches267

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailWidth amidship: 100 in. (2.54 m)

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.78

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. (7.47 m)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail57 gal. (215.77 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9

Fuel tank capacity - Liters215.77

Fuel tank capacity - Gal103

Fuel tank capacity - Gal57

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs.

Maximum capacity1,770 lbs (803 kg)

Maximum people15

Maximum people12

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all25 ft. (7.62 m) W/Pivot Tongue Folded: 23 ft. 5 in.(7.14 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 106 in. (2.69 m)

MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 vs MasterCraft X-Star 2005 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-Star 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-Star 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 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-Star 2005?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-Star 2005 has the edge at 4 200 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 X-Star 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 STS 2006 or the MasterCraft X-Star 2005?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 57 gallons on the MasterCraft X-Star 2005. That 46-gallon difference translates to roughly 138–230 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and MasterCraft X-Star 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2006 and the MasterCraft X-Star 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 STS 2006 full specs ← MasterCraft X-Star 2005 full specs