When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the ThunderJet Alexis OB OS 2011 and the ThunderJet V162-Eco 2012 are deep vee designs with aluminum 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the ThunderJet Alexis OB OS 2011 has a 210-hp advantage over the ThunderJet V162-Eco 2012's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the ThunderJet Alexis OB OS 2011 carries 48 gallons versus 32 gallons in the ThunderJet V162-Eco 2012. 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 ThunderJet Alexis OB OS 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the ThunderJet V162-Eco 2012 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ThunderJet Alexis OB OS 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the ThunderJet Alexis OB OS 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ThunderJet V162-Eco 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.