MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 vs MasterCraft MS235 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 or the MasterCraft MS235 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft MS235 2009 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 or the MasterCraft MS235 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 465 lbs for the MasterCraft MS235 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 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the MasterCraft MS235 2009 is certified for 16. 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 2007 or the MasterCraft MS235 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 has the bigger tank at 11 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the MasterCraft MS235 2009. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 and MasterCraft MS235 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 and the MasterCraft MS235 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 2007 vs MasterCraft MS235 2009

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2007

2007

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft MS235 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 vs MasterCraft MS235 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 vs MasterCraft MS235 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 measures 28,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft MS235 2009 at 23,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft MS235 2009 tips the scales at 465 lbs — 403 lbs less than the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 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 MS235 2009 is rated for 16 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft MS235 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft MS235 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model280 STS

ModelMS235

Model Year2007

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: 34 in. Amidship: 27 in

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters86.36

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches34

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Detail27 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches27

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - Detail4,650 lbs

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg2109.2

Weight - lbs.62

Weight - lbs.465

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet23

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches5

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters7.14

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches281

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailAmidship: 102 in

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailTow Bar Height to Waterline: 41 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.04

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches41

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 1 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail110 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters416.4

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal11

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

HeadEnclosed

Headnot available

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,400 lbs

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people16

Trailer Info

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,250 lbs

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all26 ft. Swing Away Tongue: 23 ft. 6 in

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 vs MasterCraft MS235 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 or the MasterCraft MS235 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft MS235 2009 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 or the MasterCraft MS235 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 465 lbs for the MasterCraft MS235 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 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the MasterCraft MS235 2009 is certified for 16. 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 2007 or the MasterCraft MS235 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 has the bigger tank at 11 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the MasterCraft MS235 2009. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 and MasterCraft MS235 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2007 and the MasterCraft MS235 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 2007 full specs ← MasterCraft MS235 2009 full specs