MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-80 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft X-80 2011?

The MasterCraft X-80 2011 is the longer of the two at 28,3 feet overall. The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 0,3 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 X-80 2011?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 642 lbs for the MasterCraft X-80 2011. 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 X-80 2011 is certified for 8. 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 X-80 2011?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft X-80 2011. That 87-gallon difference translates to roughly 261–435 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and MasterCraft X-80 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the MasterCraft X-80 2011 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 X-80 2011

MasterCraft

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

2005

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-80 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-80 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-80 2011 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 at 28,0 ft versus MasterCraft X-80 2011 at 28,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft X-80 2011 tips the scales at 642 lbs — 590 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 X-80 2011 caps at 8. 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 X-80 2011 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

ModelMaristar 280 VLD

ModelX-8

Model Year2005

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

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

Depth - Detail34 in. (0.86 m) transom 37 in. (0.94 m) amidship

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Inches37

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

Draft [max] - Detail29 in. (0.74 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches29

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

Weight - Detail6,420 lbs. (2,912 kg)

Weight - kg2358.68

Weight - kg2912.06

Weight - lbs.52

Weight - lbs.642

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

Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m) amidship

Length - Meters8.53

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet28.25

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 3 in. (8.61 m)

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Inches339

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail116 in. (2.9 m) standard tower to lowest point on keel

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.95

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches116

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail88 gal. (333.12 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal. (378.5 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters333.12

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Gal88

Fuel tank capacity - Gal1

Drive typeInboard

Engine makenot available

Engine makeIlmor

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelV-8

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs (1,043 kg)

Maximum capacityYacht Certified, no capacity

Maximum people15

Maximum peoplenot available

Trailer Info

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

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight1,180 lbs. (535 kg)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-80 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft X-80 2011?

The MasterCraft X-80 2011 is the longer of the two at 28,3 feet overall. The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 0,3 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 X-80 2011?

For trailering, the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the edge at 52 lbs dry weight versus 642 lbs for the MasterCraft X-80 2011. 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 X-80 2011 is certified for 8. 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 X-80 2011?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the MasterCraft X-80 2011. That 87-gallon difference translates to roughly 261–435 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and MasterCraft X-80 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the MasterCraft X-80 2011 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 X-80 2011 full specs