Both the Voyager Marine 44 Econo Series 2011 and the Voyager Marine 7000 Series - 16 ft. Open 2012 are flat-bottom 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Voyager Marine 7000 Series - 16 ft. Open 2012 measures 16,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Voyager Marine 44 Econo Series 2011 at 10,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Voyager Marine 7000 Series - 16 ft. Open 2012 tips the scales at 275 lbs - 210 lbs less than the Voyager Marine 44 Econo Series 2011 at 65 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 30 hp, the Voyager Marine 7000 Series - 16 ft. Open 2012 has a 28-hp advantage over the Voyager Marine 44 Econo Series 2011's 2-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Voyager Marine 44 Econo Series 2011 is rated for 3 passengers, while the Voyager Marine 7000 Series - 16 ft. Open 2012 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Voyager Marine 44 Econo Series 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Voyager Marine 7000 Series - 16 ft. Open 2012 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 33 lbs per hp for the Voyager Marine 44 Econo Series 2011. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration - meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.