Fairline Phantom 40 2009 vs Fairline Squadron 78 2015 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 or the Fairline Squadron 78 2015?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 is the longer of the two at 79,1 feet overall. The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 comes in at 41,1 feet, making it roughly 38,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 is rated to a maximum of 1 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 tops out at 365 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 is certified for 24. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 measures 224" wide, compared to 156" for the Fairline Phantom 40 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 or the Fairline Squadron 78 2015?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 has the bigger tank at 1 320 gallons, versus 263 gallons on the Fairline Phantom 40 2009. That 1056-gallon difference translates to roughly 3170–5284 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 and Fairline Squadron 78 2015 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 and the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 are built by Fairline. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Fairline Phantom 40 2009 vs Fairline Squadron 78 2015

Fairline

Fairline Phantom 40 2009

2009

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Fairline

Fairline Squadron 78 2015

2015

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fairline Phantom 40 2009 vs Fairline Squadron 78 2015 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 vs Fairline Squadron 78 2015 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 600 hp, the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 has a 1 235-hp advantage over the Fairline Phantom 40 2009's 365-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 carries 1 320 gallons versus 263 gallons in the Fairline Phantom 40 2009. 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 Fairline Squadron 78 2015 is rated for 24 passengers, while the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 24 passengers and at 79,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail41.08 ft

Length overall - Detail79.11 ft

Length - Feet41.08

Length - Feet79.11

Length overall - Meters12.52

Length overall - Meters24.11

Length overall - Inches493

Length overall - Inches949

Beam13.00 ft

Beam18.70 ft

Beam - Meters3.96

Beam - Meters5.7

Beam - Inches156

Beam - Inches224

Draft [max] - Detail3.20 ft

Draft [max] - Detail5.30 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.98

Draft [max] - Meters1.62

Draft [max] - Inches38

Draft [max] - Inches64

Displacementnot available

Displacement121254.00 lbs

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal263

Fuel tank capacity - Gal1319.8

Fuel tank capacity - Liters995.56

Fuel tank capacity - Liters4995.98

Engine makeVolvo

Engine makeCaterpillar

Engine modelTAMD 63P

Engine modelnot available

Horsepower365 hp

Horsepower1600 hp

Fuel typeDiesel

Drive typeinboard

Engine 2 Engine MakeVolvo

Engine 2 Engine MakeCaterpillar

Engine 2 Engine ModelTAMD 63P

Engine 2 Engine Modelnot available

Engine 2 Horsepower365 hp

Engine 2 Horsepower1600 hp

Engine 2 Fuel TypeDiesel

Engine 2 Drive Typeinboard

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity4

Sleeping capacity6

Cabins2

Cabins3

Head2

Head3

Water capacity118

Water capacity11

Boat typePower

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal11

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters416.4

Fairline Phantom 40 2009 vs Fairline Squadron 78 2015 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 or the Fairline Squadron 78 2015?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 is the longer of the two at 79,1 feet overall. The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 comes in at 41,1 feet, making it roughly 38,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 is rated to a maximum of 1 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 tops out at 365 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Fairline Phantom 40 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 is certified for 24. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 measures 224" wide, compared to 156" for the Fairline Phantom 40 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 or the Fairline Squadron 78 2015?

The Fairline Squadron 78 2015 has the bigger tank at 1 320 gallons, versus 263 gallons on the Fairline Phantom 40 2009. That 1056-gallon difference translates to roughly 3170–5284 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 and Fairline Squadron 78 2015 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fairline Phantom 40 2009 and the Fairline Squadron 78 2015 are built by Fairline. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Fairline Phantom 40 2009 full specs ← Fairline Squadron 78 2015 full specs