Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
ThunderJet Havasu 2008 vs ThunderJet TJ Offshore 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee ThunderJet Havasu 2008 against a deep vee ThunderJet TJ Offshore 2012 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 425 hp, the ThunderJet Havasu 2008 has a 75-hp advantage over the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 2012's 350-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 2012 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 Havasu 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ThunderJet Havasu 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the ThunderJet Havasu 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ThunderJet TJ Offshore 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeThunderJet
MakeThunderJet
ModelHavasu
ModelTJ Offshore
Model Year2008
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam - Meters2.29
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Inches9
Beam - Inches108
Deadrise14℃
DeadriseStern: 18° Bow: 55°
Width [transom] - Detail31 in
Width [transom] - DetailBottom: 90 in
Height - DetailSides: 31 in
Height - DetailSides: 42 in
Height - Meters0.79
Height - Meters1.07
Height - Inches31
Height - Inches42
Length - Feet2
Length - Feet26
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail26 ft
Length overall - Meters6.1
Length overall - Meters7.92
Length overall - Inches24
Length overall - Inches312
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail4,800 lbs
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg2177.24
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.48
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 max350 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,800 lbs
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people8 / 1,750 lbs
Maximum peoplenot available