Both the ThunderJet Envoy 2008 and the ThunderJet NE Envoy 2012 are modified-V designs, both built in aluminium, so 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?

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 330 hp for the ThunderJet Envoy 2008 and 320 hp for the ThunderJet NE Envoy 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. 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 Envoy 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the ThunderJet NE Envoy 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ThunderJet Envoy 2008 could be the deciding factor.