Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 or the Fountain 43 NX 2021?

The Fountain 43 NX 2021 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 comes in at 37,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 has a documented max rating of 425 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 and Fountain 43 NX 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 and the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021

Fountain

Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006

2006

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Fountain

Fountain 43 NX 2021

2021

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 carries a rated maximum of 425 hp. Engine data for the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 2021 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Fountain 38 Sportfish 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 43 NX 2021 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish 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

Makenot available

Model38 Sportfish Cruiser

Modelnot available

Model Year2006

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam10 ft. 6 in. (3.19 m)

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters3.2

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches126

Beam - Inchesnot available

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℃

Deadrisenot available

Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (.95 m)

Draft [max] - Detail30.00 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Meters9.14

Draft [max] - Inches38

Draft [max] - Inches360

Weight - Detail13,500 lbs. (6,179 lbs.)

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg6123.49

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.135

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Meters11.55

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet37

Length - Feet43

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail37 ft. 11 in. (11.55 m)

Length overall - Detail43.00 ft

Length overall - Meters11.56

Length overall - Meters13.11

Length overall - Inches455

Length overall - Inches516

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 - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1022.06

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal27

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas or diesel

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine maxGas: 425 hp Diesel: 320 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

HeadEnclosed fiberglass, VacuFlush, stand-up shower

Headnot available

Headroom6 ft. 4 in. (1.98 m)

Headroomnot available

Sleeping capacity4

Sleeping capacitynot available

Water capacity50 gal. w/ hot water heater

Water capacity64

Water heater capacity6 gal

Water heater capacitynot available

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 or the Fountain 43 NX 2021?

The Fountain 43 NX 2021 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 comes in at 37,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 has a documented max rating of 425 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 and Fountain 43 NX 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 38 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 and the Fountain 43 NX 2021 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 Sportfish Cruiser 2006 full specs ← Fountain 43 NX 2021 full specs