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

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

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-Star 2006 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 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-Star 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 425 lbs for the MasterCraft X-Star 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-Star 2006 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 1" for the MasterCraft X-Star 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-Star 2006?

The MasterCraft X-Star 2006 has the bigger tank at 53 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008. That 52-gallon difference translates to roughly 156–260 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

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

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

MasterCraft

MasterCraft 280 STS 2008

2008

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-Star 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

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

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 vs MasterCraft X-Star 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 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft X-Star 2006 at 22,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft X-Star 2006 tips the scales at 425 lbs — 363 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-Star 2006 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 X-Star 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft X-Star 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 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

ModelX-Star

Model Year2008

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam100 in

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Inches114

Beam - Inches1

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. Amidship: 37 in

Depth - DetailTransom: 30 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 - Detail4,250 lbs

Weight - kg2812.27

Weight - kg1927.77

Weight - lbs.62

Weight - lbs.425

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet22

Length - Inches3

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters6.78

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches267

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. 5 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 - Detail53 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Liters200.63

Fuel tank capacity - Gal1

Fuel tank capacity - Gal53

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Trailer Info

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,180 lbs

Trailer - WeightTandem-axle: 1,240 lbs

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over allw/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 24 ft

Operational Info

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,770 lbs

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people12

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

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

The MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-Star 2006 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 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-Star 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008 has the edge at 62 lbs dry weight versus 425 lbs for the MasterCraft X-Star 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-Star 2006 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 1" for the MasterCraft X-Star 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-Star 2006?

The MasterCraft X-Star 2006 has the bigger tank at 53 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft 280 STS 2008. That 52-gallon difference translates to roughly 156–260 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

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

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