MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft X-9 2006?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-9 2006 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 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 X-9 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-9 2006 has the edge at 3 060 lbs dry weight versus 5 200 lbs for the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005. 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-9 2006 is certified for 9. 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-9 2006?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the MasterCraft X-9 2006. That 53-gallon difference translates to roughly 159–265 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-9 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the MasterCraft X-9 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006

MasterCraft

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005

2005

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MasterCraft

MasterCraft X-9 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006: Same Brand, Different Boat

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-9 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 measures 28,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the MasterCraft X-9 2006 at 21,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 tips the scales at 5 200 lbs - 2 140 lbs more than the MasterCraft X-9 2006 at 3 060 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-9 2006 caps at 9. 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-9 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMasterCraft

ModelMaristar 280 VLD

ModelX-9

Model Year2005

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

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

Depth - DetailTransom: 23 in. Amidship: 25.5 in.

Depth - Centimeters93.98

Depth - Centimeters66.04

Depth - Inches37

Depth - Inches25.5

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

Draft [max] - Detail24 in.

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.61

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches24

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

Weight - Detail3,060 lbs.

Weight - kg2358.68

Weight - kg1387.99

Weight - lbs.5200

Weight - lbs.3060

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

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Length - Meters8.53

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet21

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 0 in.

Length overall - Meters8.61

Length overall - Meters6.4

Length overall - Inches339

Length overall - Inches252

Beamnot available

Beam96 in.

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches96

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]22 ft. 10 in.

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail88 gal. (333.12 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters333.12

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal88

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs (1,043 kg)

Maximum capacity1,370 lbs.

Maximum people15

Maximum people9

Trailer Info

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

Trailer - Length over allw/ Swing Away Tongue Folded: 21 ft.

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WeightSingle-axle: 900 lbs Tandem-axle: 1,050 lbs.

Trailer - Widthnot available

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

MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 vs MasterCraft X-9 2006 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 or the MasterCraft X-9 2006?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The MasterCraft X-9 2006 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 7,0 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 X-9 2006?

For trailering, the MasterCraft X-9 2006 has the edge at 3 060 lbs dry weight versus 5 200 lbs for the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005. 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-9 2006 is certified for 9. 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-9 2006?

The MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 has the bigger tank at 88 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the MasterCraft X-9 2006. That 53-gallon difference translates to roughly 159–265 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and MasterCraft X-9 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the MasterCraft Maristar 280 VLD 2005 and the MasterCraft X-9 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 Maristar 280 VLD 2005 full specs ← MasterCraft X-9 2006 full specs