MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 26,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 335 lbs for the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009. 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 is certified for 11. 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 45 gallons on the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009. That 43-gallon difference translates to roughly 129–215 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the MasterCraft MS200SS 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft MS200SS 2009

MasterCraft

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

2005

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft MS200SS 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 measures 28,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 26,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 tips the scales at 335 lbs — 283 lbs less than the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 at 52 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

ModelMaristar 280 VLD

ModelMS200SS

Model Year2005

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Depth - DetailTransom: 34 in. (.86 m) Amidship: 37 in. (.94 m)

Depth - DetailTransom: 28 in. Amidship: 26.5 in

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters71.12

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches28

Draft [max] - Detail29 in. (.74 m)

Draft [max] - Detail27 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches27

Weight - Detail5,200 lbs. (2,358.68 kg)

Weight - Detail3,350 lbs

Weight - kg2358.68

Weight - kg1519.53

Weight - lbs.52

Weight - lbs.335

Width [transom] - DetailWidth amidship: 9 ft. 6 in. (2.90 m)

Width [transom] - DetailAmidship: 96 in

Length - Meters8.53

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet2

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in. (8.53 m)

Length overall - Detail20 ft

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters6.1

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches24

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]22 ft. 1 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail88 gal. (333.12 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail45 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters333.12

Fuel tank capacity - Liters170.34

Fuel tank capacity - Gal88

Fuel tank capacity - Gal45

Drive typeInboard

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs (1,043 kg)

Maximum capacity1,609 lbs

Maximum people15

Maximum people11

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all34 ft. 3 in. (10.44 m)

Trailer - Length over all22 ft. 6 in. Swing Away Tongue: 20 ft. 9 in

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WeightSingle-axle: 935 lbs. Tandem-axle: 1,100 lbs

Trailer - Widthnot available

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

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 26,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 335 lbs for the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009. 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 is certified for 11. 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 45 gallons on the MasterCraft MS200SS 2009. That 43-gallon difference translates to roughly 129–215 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the MasterCraft MS200SS 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 full specs ← MasterCraft MS200SS 2009 full specs