Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 vs Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 or the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006?

The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 comes in at 32,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 has a documented max rating of 600 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 is certified for 11. 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 Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 102" for the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006. 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 Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 or the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006?

The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 has the bigger tank at 287 gallons, versus 211 gallons on the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006. That 76-gallon difference translates to roughly 228–380 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 and Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 and the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 are built by Fountain. 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

Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 vs Fountain 38 Lightning 2006

Fountain

Fountain 32 Center Console 2006

2006

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Fountain

Fountain 38 Lightning 2006

2006

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 vs Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 vs Fountain 38 Lightning 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.

The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 tops out at 600 hp. Engine specs for the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 carries 287 gallons versus 211 gallons in the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006. 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 Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 38,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFountain

Model32 Center Console

Model38 Lightning

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches114

Beam - Inches102

Draft [drive up] - Detail2 ft

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 4 in

Draft [max] - Detail35 in

Draft [max] - Meters1.02

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches4

Draft [max] - Inches35

Length - Feet32

Length - Feet38

Length overall - Detail32 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail38 ft. 0 in. (11.38 m)

Length overall - Meters9.75

Length overall - Meters11.58

Length overall - Inches384

Length overall - Inches456

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail8,950 lbs. (4,063 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg4059.65

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.895

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters11.58

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardTwin Mercury 275 Verados

Engine/s standardTwin staggered Mercury SCI w/ ITS Short Sportmasters

Fuel tank capacity - Detail287 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail211 gal. (798 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1086.41

Fuel tank capacity - Liters798.72

Fuel tank capacity - Gal287

Fuel tank capacity - Gal211

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Engine maxnot available

Engine max600 hp

Operational Info

Water capacity20 gal

Water capacitynot available

Headnot available

HeadEnclosed w/ porta-potti

Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 vs Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 or the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006?

The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 comes in at 32,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 has a documented max rating of 600 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 is certified for 11. 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 Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 measures 114" wide, compared to 102" for the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006. 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 Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 or the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006?

The Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 has the bigger tank at 287 gallons, versus 211 gallons on the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006. That 76-gallon difference translates to roughly 228–380 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 and Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 and the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 are built by Fountain. 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.

← Fountain 32 Center Console 2006 full specs ← Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 full specs