The Voyager Marine All Welded Jons - SC 2012 vs Voyager Marine Series 8500 - 16 Feet 2006 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Voyager Marine All Welded Jons - SC 2012 measures 19,9 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Voyager Marine Series 8500 - 16 Feet 2006 at 16,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Voyager Marine All Welded Jons - SC 2012 tips the scales at 1 150 lbs - 720 lbs more than the Voyager Marine Series 8500 - 16 Feet 2006 at 430 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 135 hp, the Voyager Marine All Welded Jons - SC 2012 has a 95-hp advantage over the Voyager Marine Series 8500 - 16 Feet 2006's 40-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 All Welded Jons - SC 2012 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Voyager Marine Series 8500 - 16 Feet 2006 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Voyager Marine All Welded Jons - SC 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Voyager Marine All Welded Jons - SC 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 6 passengers and at 19,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Voyager Marine Series 8500 - 16 Feet 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.