MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-35 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft X-35 2011?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-35 2011 comes in at 23,4 feet, making it roughly 4,6 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 X-35 2011?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-35 2011 has the edge at 4 900 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 X-35 2011 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 2008 or the MasterCraft X-35 2011?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the bigger tank at 100 gallons, versus 60 gallons on the MasterCraft X-35 2011. That 40-gallon difference translates to roughly 120–200 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft X-35 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft X-35 2011 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 X-35 2011

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008

2008

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-35 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-35 2011: Which Modified-V Boat Fits Your Needs?

Both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft X-35 2011 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 4,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft X-35 2011 at 23,4 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 tips the scales at 6 200 lbs - 1 300 lbs more than the MasterCraft X-35 2011 at 4 900 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 X-35 2011 is rated for 16 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 X-35 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft X-35 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 16 passengers and at 23,4 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

ModelX-35

Model Year2008

Model Year2011

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 - Detail34 in. (0.86 m) transom 27 in. (0.69 m) amidship

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters86.36

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches34

Draft [max] - Detail29 in.

Draft [max] - Detail27 in. (0.69 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches27

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs.

Weight - Detail4,900 lbs. (2,223 kg)

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg2222.6

Weight - lbs.6200

Weight - lbs.4900

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet23.42

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in.

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 5 in. (7.14 m)

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters7.14

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches281

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail102 in. (2.59 m) amidship

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail113 in. (2.87 m) standard tower to lowest point on keel 41 in. tow bar height to waterline

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.87

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches113

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 1 in. (7.654 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal100

Fuel tank capacity - Gal60

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeInboard

Engine makenot available

Engine makeIndmar, Ilmore

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelIndmar: MCX 5.7 l 350 CID V-8, 312 hp (230 kW) Indmar: L96 6.0 l V-8, 386 hp (284 kW) Indmar: LSA 6.2 l V-8, 537 hp (395 kW) Ilmore: 5.7 l V-8, 325 hp (239 kW) Ilmore: 6.0 l V-8, 386 hp (284 kW) Ilmore: 6.2 l V-8, 436 hp (321 kW)

Trailer Info

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs.

Trailer - Weight1,250 lbs. (567 kg)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all26 ft. (7.9 m) 23 ft. 6 in. (7.16 m) swing away tongue

Operational Info

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,400 lbs. (1,089 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people16

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-35 2011 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft X-35 2011?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-35 2011 comes in at 23,4 feet, making it roughly 4,6 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 X-35 2011?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-35 2011 has the edge at 4 900 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 X-35 2011 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 2008 or the MasterCraft X-35 2011?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the bigger tank at 100 gallons, versus 60 gallons on the MasterCraft X-35 2011. That 40-gallon difference translates to roughly 120–200 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft X-35 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft X-35 2011 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 X-35 2011 full specs