When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Fountain 34 CC 2009 and the Fountain 47 Lightning 2012 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Fountain 47 Lightning 2012 measures 47,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 13,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fountain 34 CC 2009 at 34,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fountain 47 Lightning 2012 tips the scales at 165 lbs — 164 lbs less than the Fountain 34 CC 2009 at 1 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 300 hp, the Fountain 34 CC 2009 has a 298-hp advantage over the Fountain 47 Lightning 2012's 2-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fountain 47 Lightning 2012 carries 34 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Fountain 34 CC 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 Fountain 47 Lightning 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain 34 CC 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 47 Lightning 2012 could be the deciding factor.