When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Fountain 35 Lightning 2011 and the Fountain 42 Lightning 2008 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 42 Lightning 2008 measures 42,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fountain 35 Lightning 2011 at 35,0 feet (2011). At 95 lbs and 114 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 2 hp for the Fountain 35 Lightning 2011 and 2 hp for the Fountain 42 Lightning 2008. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fountain 42 Lightning 2008 carries 328 gallons versus 16 gallons in the Fountain 35 Lightning 2011. 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 42 Lightning 2008 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Fountain 35 Lightning 2011 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 42 Lightning 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 42 Lightning 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 42,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fountain 35 Lightning 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.