Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 vs ThunderJet Envoy - Northern Edition 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 against a modified vee ThunderJet Envoy - Northern Edition 2010 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 has a 125-hp advantage over the ThunderJet Envoy - Northern Edition 2010's 25-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 48 gal and 48 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 is rated for 6 passengers, while the ThunderJet Envoy - Northern Edition 2010 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 20,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ThunderJet Envoy - Northern Edition 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeThunderJet
MakeThunderJet
Model185 Explorer
ModelEnvoy - Northern Edition
Model Year2012
Model Year201
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Meters2.13
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inches84
Deadrise16°
Deadrise12° Entry: 40°
Weight - Detail1,300 lbs
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg589.67
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.13
Weight - lbs.not available
Width [transom] - DetailBottom: 72 in
Width [transom] - Detail66 in
Height - DetailSides: 34 in
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters0.86
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches34
Height - Inchesnot available
Height [transom]34 in
Height [transom]31 in
Length - Feet20.42
Length - Feet19
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 5 in
Length overall - Detail19 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Meters6.22
Length overall - Meters5.79
Length overall - Inches245
Length overall - Inches228
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thicknessSide: 0.125 in. Bottom: 0.19 in. Transom: 0.19 in
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail48 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail48 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters181.7
Fuel tank capacity - Liters181.7
Fuel tank capacity - Gal48
Fuel tank capacity - Gal48
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeInboard
Engine max150 hp
Engine maxnot available
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardVortec 305
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower25
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailGateway 2,600 lbs. capacity galvanized single axle
Trailer - Detailnot available