MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft MS245 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft MS245 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft MS245 2009 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 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 MS245 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft MS245 2009 has the edge at 4 730 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 MS245 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 2008 or the MasterCraft MS245 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the bigger tank at 100 gallons, versus 90 gallons on the MasterCraft MS245 2009. That 10-gallon difference translates to roughly 30–50 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft MS245 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft MS245 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 2008 vs MasterCraft MS245 2009

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008

2008

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft MS245 2009

2009

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft MS245 2009: Which Modified-V Boat Fits Your Needs?

Both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft MS245 2009 are modified-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 measures 28,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft MS245 2009 at 24,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 tips the scales at 6 200 lbs - 1 470 lbs more than the MasterCraft MS245 2009 at 4 730 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 MS245 2009 is rated for 18 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 MS245 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft MS245 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 18 passengers and at 24,0 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

ModelMS245

Model Year2008

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: 28 in. Amidship: 32 in.

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches32

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 - Detail4,730 lbs.

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg2145.49

Weight - lbs.6200

Weight - lbs.4730

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet24

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches2

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in.

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 2 in.

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters7.37

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches290

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailAmidship: 102 in.

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]26 ft. 3 in.

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail90 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Liters340.69

Fuel tank capacity - Gal100

Fuel tank capacity - Gal90

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeInboard

Trailer Info

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs.

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,480 lbs.

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all26 ft. 11 in. Swing Away Tongue: 24 ft. 3 in.

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthTandem-axle: 100 in.

Operational Info

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,928 lbs.

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people18

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft MS245 2009 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft MS245 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft MS245 2009 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 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 MS245 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft MS245 2009 has the edge at 4 730 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 MS245 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 2008 or the MasterCraft MS245 2009?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the bigger tank at 100 gallons, versus 90 gallons on the MasterCraft MS245 2009. That 10-gallon difference translates to roughly 30–50 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft MS245 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft MS245 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 2008 full specs ← MasterCraft MS245 2009 full specs