Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 or the Fountain 43 NX 2020?

The Fountain 43 NX 2020 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 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 38 Lightning 2006 has a documented max rating of 600 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 38 Lightning 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 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 38 Lightning 2006 and Fountain 43 NX 2020 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 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 38 Lightning 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020

Fountain

Fountain 38 Lightning 2006

2006

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Fountain

Fountain 43 NX 2020

2020

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 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 38 Lightning 2006 carries a rated maximum of 600 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 38 Lightning 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 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 38 Lightning 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

Makenot available

Model38 Lightning

Modelnot available

Model Year2006

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

Draft [max] - Detail30.00 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Meters9.14

Draft [max] - Inches35

Draft [max] - Inches360

Weight - Detail8,950 lbs. (4,063 kg)

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg4059.65

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.895

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Meters11.58

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet38

Length - Feet43

Length overall - Detail38 ft. 0 in. (11.38 m)

Length overall - Detail43.00 ft

Length overall - Meters11.58

Length overall - Meters13.11

Length overall - Inches456

Length overall - Inches516

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardTwin staggered Mercury SCI w/ ITS Short Sportmasters

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail211 gal. (798 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters798.72

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal211

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max600 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

HeadEnclosed w/ porta-potti

Headnot available

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity64

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2020 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 or the Fountain 43 NX 2020?

The Fountain 43 NX 2020 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 has a documented max rating of 600 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 38 Lightning 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 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 38 Lightning 2006 and Fountain 43 NX 2020 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 38 Lightning 2006 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 38 Lightning 2006 full specs ← Fountain 43 NX 2020 full specs