Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-55 2012 — A Close Look at Two Modified Vees
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft X-55 2012 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 at 28,0 ft versus MasterCraft X-55 2012 at 25,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft X-55 2012 tips the scales at 515 lbs — 453 lbs less than the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 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 X-55 2012 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 X-55 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft X-55 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 25,4 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
MakeMasterCraft
Model Year2008
Model Year2012
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 - Detail32 in. (0.8 m) transom 25 in. (0.6 m) amidship
Depth - Centimeters93.98
Depth - Centimeters81.28
Depth - Inches37
Depth - Inches32
Draft [max] - Detail29 in
Draft [max] - Detail32 in. (0.8 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.74
Draft [max] - Meters0.81
Draft [max] - Inches29
Draft [max] - Inches32
Weight - Detail6,200 lbs
Weight - Detail5,150 lbs. (2,336 kg)
Weight - kg2812.27
Weight - kg2336
Weight - lbs.62
Weight - lbs.515
Length - Feet28
Length - Feet25.42
Length - Inches3
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in
Length overall - Detail25 ft. 5 in. (7.75 m)
Length overall - Meters8.61
Length overall - Meters7.75
Length overall - Inches339
Length overall - Inches305
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail102 in. (2.59 m) amidship
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail110 in. (2.8 m) standard tower to lowest point on keel
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters2.79
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches11
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 8 in. (8.4 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail90 gal. (341 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54
Fuel tank capacity - Liters340.69
Fuel tank capacity - Gal1
Fuel tank capacity - Gal9
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Engine makenot available
Engine makeIlmor
Engine modelnot available
Engine model6.0 l V-8, 382 hp (285 kW) 6.2 l V-8, 430 hp (321 kW) 7.4 l V-8, 523 hp (390 kW)
Trailer Info
Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs
Trailer - Weight1,375 lbs. (624 kg)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Length over all31 ft. 2 in. (9.5 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available
Trailer - Width100 in. (2.54 m)
Operational Info
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum capacity3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg)
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people18