When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Blue Water Image 2011 and the Blue Water Voyager 2009 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Blue Water Voyager 2009 measures 24,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Blue Water Image 2011 at 19,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Blue Water Voyager 2009 tips the scales at 412 lbs — 167 lbs less than the Blue Water Image 2011 at 245 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 420 hp, the Blue Water Voyager 2009 has a 195-hp advantage over the Blue Water Image 2011's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Blue Water Voyager 2009 carries 81 gallons versus 25 gallons in the Blue Water Image 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Blue Water Image 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Blue Water Voyager 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Blue Water Image 2011 could be the deciding factor.