The ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 is a deep-V design and the ThunderJet Landing Craft Cabin 26 ft. 2013 is a modified-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The ThunderJet Landing Craft Cabin 26 ft. 2013 measures 26,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 5,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 at 20,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the ThunderJet Landing Craft Cabin 26 ft. 2013 tips the scales at 3 200 lbs - 1 900 lbs less than the ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 at 1 300 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 300 hp, the ThunderJet Landing Craft Cabin 26 ft. 2013 has a 150-hp advantage over the ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012's 150-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 Landing Craft Cabin 26 ft. 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ThunderJet Landing Craft Cabin 26 ft. 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the ThunderJet Landing Craft Cabin 26 ft. 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 7 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ThunderJet 185 Explorer 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.