Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 boat specs
Fountain
Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006
2006
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Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 boat specs
Fountain
Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007
2007
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Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 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 48 Express Cruiser 2007 measures 48,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 11,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 at 37,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 tips the scales at 135 lbs — 111 lbs more than the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 at 24 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 525 hp, the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 has a 100-hp advantage over the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006's 425-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 48 Express Cruiser 2007 carries 47 gallons versus 27 gallons in the Fountain 38 Express 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 48 Express Cruiser 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 48,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeFountain
MakeFountain
Model38 Express Cruiser
Model48 Express Cruiser
Model Year2006
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. 6 in. (3.19 m)
Beam12 ft. (3.66 m)
Beam - Meters3.2
Beam - Meters3.66
Beam - Inches126
Beam - Inches144
Bridge clearance - DetailWith Arch: 9 ft. (2.73 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.74
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches108
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise22℃
Deadrise22℃
Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (.95 m)
Draft [max] - Detail46 in. (1.2 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.97
Draft [max] - Meters1.17
Draft [max] - Inches38
Draft [max] - Inches46
Weight - Detail13,500 lbs. (6,179 kg)
Weight - Detail24,000 lbs. (10,886 kg)
Weight - kg6123.49
Weight - kg10886.21
Weight - lbs.135
Weight - lbs.24
Length - Meters11.5
Length - Meters14.78
Length - Feet37
Length - Feet48
Length - Inches11
Length - Inches6
Length overall - Detail37 ft. 11 in. (11.55 m)
Length overall - Detail48 ft. 6 in. (14.78 m)
Length overall - Meters11.56
Length overall - Meters14.78
Length overall - Inches455
Length overall - Inches582
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]51 ft. (15.5 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardGas: Twin Mercury w/ Bravo III drives (496 cu. in.) Diesel: Twin Cummins w/ Bravo III XR drives
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail270 gal. (1,021 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail470 gal. (1,779 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1022.06
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1779.14
Fuel tank capacity - Gal27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal47
Fuel typeGas or diesel
Fuel typeGas or diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O - Triple
Engine maxGas: 425 hp Diesel: 320 hp
Engine maxGas: 525 hp, 3 each Diesel: 480 hp, 3 each
Operational Info
HeadHigh gloss fiberglass, VacuFlush, stand-up shower
HeadVacuFlush
Headroom6 ft. 4 in. (1.98 m)
Headroom6 ft. 5 in. (1.96 m)
Sleeping capacity4
Sleeping capacity4
Water heater capacity10 gal
Water heater capacitynot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity80 gal. (303 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail36 gal. (136 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters136.27
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal36
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass

Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 or the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007?
The Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 is the longer of the two at 48,0 feet overall. The Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 comes in at 37,0 feet, making it roughly 11,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 or the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007?
For trailering, the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 has the edge at 24 lbs dry weight versus 135 lbs for the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 is rated to a maximum of 525 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 tops out at 425 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 is certified for 14. 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 48 Express Cruiser 2007 measures 144" wide, compared to 126" for the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 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 38 Express Cruiser 2006 or the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007?
The Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 has the bigger tank at 47 gallons, versus 27 gallons on the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006. That 20-gallon difference translates to roughly 60–100 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 and Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Fountain 38 Express Cruiser 2006 and the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2007 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.