Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
ThunderJet Havasu 2008 vs ThunderJet TJ Offshore 30 ft. 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee ThunderJet Havasu 2008 against a deep vee ThunderJet TJ Offshore 30 ft. 2013 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 500 hp, the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 30 ft. 2013 has a 75-hp advantage over the ThunderJet Havasu 2008's 425-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 TJ Offshore 30 ft. 2013 carries 16 gallons versus 5 gallons in the ThunderJet Havasu 2008. 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 TJ Offshore 30 ft. 2013 is rated for 9 passengers, while the ThunderJet Havasu 2008 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 30 ft. 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 30 ft. 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 3,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ThunderJet Havasu 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeThunderJet
MakeThunderJet
ModelHavasu
ModelTJ Offshore 30 ft
Model Year2008
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam - Meters2.29
Beam - Meters3.05
Beam - Inches9
Beam - Inches12
Deadrise14℃
DeadriseStern: 18° Bow: 55°
Width [transom] - Detail31 in
Width [transom] - DetailBottom: 8 ft. 6 in
Height - DetailSides: 31 in
Height - DetailSides: 42 in
Height - Meters0.79
Height - Meters1.07
Height - Inches31
Height - Inches42
Length - Feet2
Length - Feet3
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail30 ft
Length overall - Meters6.1
Length overall - Meters9.14
Length overall - Inches24
Length overall - Inches36
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail7,200 lbs
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg3265.86
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.72
Height [transom]not available
Height [transom]42 in
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.190 in
Hull thicknessSides: 0.16 in. Bottom: 0.25 in. Transom: 0.25 in
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard350 Carbureted; 250 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Jet pumpAmerican Turbine SD 309
Jet pumpnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail160 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters605.67
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Drive typeJet Drive
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max425 hp
Engine max500 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,800 lbs
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people8 / 1,750 lbs
Maximum peoplenot available
Headroomnot available
HeadroomCabin: 6 ft. 3 in