MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Mastercraft NXT24 2021 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 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 NXT24 2021?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 5 000 lbs for the Mastercraft NXT24 2021. 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 NXT24 2021 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 has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Mastercraft NXT24 2021. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and Mastercraft NXT24 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 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 NXT24 2021

MasterCraft

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

2005

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MasterCraft

Mastercraft NXT24 2021

2021

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021 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 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 at 24,0 feet (2021). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 tips the scales at 5 000 lbs — 4 948 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 NXT24 2021 caps at 7. 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 NXT24 2021 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

Makenot available

ModelMaristar 280 VLD

Modelnot available

Model Year2005

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

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

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detail29.00 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters8.84

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches348

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

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg2358.68

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.52

Weight - lbs.not available

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

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Length - Meters8.53

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet24

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail24.00 ft

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters7.32

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches288

Beamnot available

Beam102.00 ft

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters31.09

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches1224

Displacementnot available

Displacement5000.00 lbs

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail88 gal. (333.12 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters333.12

Fuel tank capacity - Liters246.05

Fuel tank capacity - Gal88

Fuel tank capacity - Gal65

Drive typeInboard

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs (1,043 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people15

Maximum peoplenot available

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Trailer Info

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

Trailer - Length over allnot available

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs Mastercraft NXT24 2021 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Mastercraft NXT24 2021 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 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 NXT24 2021?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 5 000 lbs for the Mastercraft NXT24 2021. 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 NXT24 2021 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 has the larger fuel tank — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the Mastercraft NXT24 2021?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Mastercraft NXT24 2021. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and Mastercraft NXT24 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the Mastercraft NXT24 2021 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 NXT24 2021 full specs