Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Fountain 33 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Fountain 33 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 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 Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 measures 38,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fountain 33 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 at 33,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fountain 33 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 tips the scales at 129 lbs — 114 lbs more than the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 at 15 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 Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 tops out at 425 hp. Engine specs for the Fountain 33 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 carries 296 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Fountain 33 Sportfish Cruiser 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 Express Cruiser 2008 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Fountain 33 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2008 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 33 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 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
Model33 Sportfish Cruiser
Model38 Express Cruiser
Model Year2006
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. 9 in
Beam10 ft. 6 in. (3.2 m)
Beam - Meters3.28
Beam - Meters3.2
Beam - Inches129
Beam - Inches126
Deadrise20°
Deadrise19℃
Weight - Detail12,900 lbs
Weight - Detail15,000 lbs. (6,818 kg)
Weight - kg5851.34
Weight - kg6803.88
Weight - lbs.129
Weight - lbs.15
Length - Feet33
Length - Feet38
Length overall - Detail33 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 0 in. (11.58 m)
Length overall - Meters10.06
Length overall - Meters11.58
Length overall - Inches396
Length overall - Inches456
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - DetailWith Arch: 9 ft. 0 in. (2.74 m)
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.74
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches108
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (0.97 m)
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.97
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Inches38
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters11.58
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardTwin Mercury 275 Verado
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail300 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail296 gal. (1,120 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1135.62
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1120.48
Fuel tank capacity - Gal3
Fuel tank capacity - Gal296
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O - Twin
Engine maxnot available
Engine maxGas: Twin 425 hp 496HO Mercury with Bravo III Diesel: Twin 320 Cummins Bravo III
Operational Info
Sleeping capacity4
Sleeping capacity4
Water capacity50 gal
Water capacity50 gal. (189 l)
Headroomnot available
Headroom6 ft. 4 in. (1.93 m)
Water heater capacitynot available
Water heater capacity10 gal
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail11 gal. (42 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters41.64
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal11
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee