When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 26 ft. 2013 and the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 28 ft. 2013 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — ThunderJet TJ Offshore 26 ft. 2013 at 26,0 ft versus ThunderJet TJ Offshore 28 ft. 2013 at 28,0 ft. At 48 lbs and 56 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 500 hp, the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 28 ft. 2013 has a 150-hp advantage over the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 26 ft. 2013's 350-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 16 gal and 16 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The ThunderJet TJ Offshore 28 ft. 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 26 ft. 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 28 ft. 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the ThunderJet TJ Offshore 28 ft. 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ThunderJet TJ Offshore 26 ft. 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.