MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-7 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft X-7 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-7 2006 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 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 X-7 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 292 lbs for the MasterCraft X-7 2006. 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-7 2006 is certified for 7. 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 91" for the MasterCraft X-7 2006. 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 X-7 2006?

The MasterCraft X-7 2006 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft X-7 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft X-7 2006 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-7 2006

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008

2008

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-7 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-7 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-7 2006 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 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft X-7 2006 at 19,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft X-7 2006 tips the scales at 292 lbs — 230 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 280 STS 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the MasterCraft X-7 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft X-7 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

Model280 STS

ModelX-7

Model Year2008

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam91 in

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Inches114

Beam - Inches91

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 20 in. Amidship: 22.5 in

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters58.42

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches22.5

Draft [max] - Detail29 in

Draft [max] - Detail22 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.56

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches22

Weight - Detail6,200 lbs

Weight - Detail2,920 lbs

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg1324.49

Weight - lbs.62

Weight - lbs.292

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet19

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches8

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters5.99

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches236

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]21 ft. 6 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 - Detail28 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Gal1

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Trailer Info

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs

Trailer - WeightSingle-axle: 860 lbs. Tandem-axle: 1,040 lbs

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over allw/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 20 ft. 7 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - WidthSingle-axle: 99 in. Tandem-axle: 100 in

Operational Info

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity978 lbs

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people7

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-7 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 or the MasterCraft X-7 2006?

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-7 2006 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 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 X-7 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 292 lbs for the MasterCraft X-7 2006. 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-7 2006 is certified for 7. 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 91" for the MasterCraft X-7 2006. 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 X-7 2006?

The MasterCraft X-7 2006 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and MasterCraft X-7 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 and the MasterCraft X-7 2006 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-7 2006 full specs