MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 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 2008 or the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007?

For trailering, the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 has the edge at 4 300 lbs dry weight versus 6 200 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008. 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 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 measures 114" wide, compared to 102" for the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007. 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 2008 or the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the bigger tank at 100 gallons, versus 57 gallons on the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007. That 43-gallon difference translates to roughly 129–215 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 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 2008 vs MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008

2008

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007

2007

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007: Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 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 2008 measures 28,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 at 21,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 tips the scales at 6 200 lbs - 1 900 lbs more than the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 at 4 300 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 CSX 220 SS 2007 is rated for 12 passengers, while the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 12 passengers and at 21,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 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

ModelCSX 220 SS

Model Year2008

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in.

Beam102 in.

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches114

Beam - Inches102

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

Depth - DetailTransom: 33 in. Amidship: 43.5 in.

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters111.76

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches43.5

Draft [max] - Detail29 in.

Draft [max] - Detail28 in.

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.71

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches28

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs.

Weight - Detail4,300 lbs.

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg1950.45

Weight - lbs.6200

Weight - lbs.4300

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet21

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches5

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in.

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 5 in.

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters6.53

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches257

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailTow Bar Height to Waterline: 7 ft. 4 in.

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.24

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches88

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]23 ft. 8 in.

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail57 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Liters215.77

Fuel tank capacity - Gal100

Fuel tank capacity - Gal57

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeInboard

Trailer Info

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs.

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,250 lbs.

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all27 ft. 5 in. w/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 25 ft. 9 in.

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 102 in.

Operational Info

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,595 lbs.

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people12

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 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 2008 or the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007?

For trailering, the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 has the edge at 4 300 lbs dry weight versus 6 200 lbs for the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008. 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 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 measures 114" wide, compared to 102" for the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007. 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 2008 or the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the bigger tank at 100 gallons, versus 57 gallons on the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007. That 43-gallon difference translates to roughly 129–215 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 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 2008 full specs ← MasterCraft CSX 220 SS 2007 full specs