Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 or the Fountain 43 NX 2020?

The Fountain 43 NX 2020 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 comes in at 33,0 feet, making it roughly 10,0 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 33 Lightning 2009 has a documented max rating of 425 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 43 NX 2020 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 33 Lightning 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Fountain 43 NX 2020 is certified for 13. 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: Are the Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 and Fountain 43 NX 2020 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 and the Fountain 43 NX 2020 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 33 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020

Fountain

Fountain 33 Lightning 2009

2009

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Fountain

Fountain 43 NX 2020

2020

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020 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 33 Lightning 2009 carries a rated maximum of 425 hp. Engine data for the Fountain 43 NX 2020 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Fountain 43 NX 2020 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 43 NX 2020 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 43 NX 2020 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 43,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFountain

Makenot available

Model33 Lightning

Modelnot available

Model Year2009

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (0.9 m)

Draft [max] - Detail30.00 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Meters9.14

Draft [max] - Inches35

Draft [max] - Inches360

Weight - Detail8,800 lbs. (4,000 kg)

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg3991.61

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.88

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet33

Length - Feet43

Length overall - Detail33 ft. 0 in. (10 m)

Length overall - Detail43.00 ft

Length overall - Meters10.06

Length overall - Meters13.11

Length overall - Inches396

Length overall - Inches516

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail136 gal. (515 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters514.82

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal136

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Drive typenot available

Engine maxTwin Mercury 425 hp 496 HO Bravo 1-X

Engine maxnot available

Performance

Maximum speed82 mph

Maximum speednot available

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity64

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 or the Fountain 43 NX 2020?

The Fountain 43 NX 2020 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 comes in at 33,0 feet, making it roughly 10,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 has a documented max rating of 425 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 43 NX 2020 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 33 Lightning 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Fountain 43 NX 2020 is certified for 13. 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.

Are the Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 and Fountain 43 NX 2020 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 33 Lightning 2009 and the Fountain 43 NX 2020 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 33 Lightning 2009 full specs ← Fountain 43 NX 2020 full specs