Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 boat specs
Fountain
Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006
2006
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VS
Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 boat specs
Fountain
Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006
2006
View full specs →

Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 vs Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 vs Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 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 2006 measures 48,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 11,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 at 37,0 feet (2006). At 106 lbs and 24 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.

The Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 tops out at 440 hp. Engine specs for the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 carries 457 gallons versus 287 gallons in the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 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 2006 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 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 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 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 Tournament Edition 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 Tournament Edition
Model48 Express Cruiser
Model Year2006
Model Year2006
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 - Detail96 in
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.44
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches96
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail24 in
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.61
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches24
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail29 in
Draft [max] - Detail46 in
Draft [max] - Meters0.74
Draft [max] - Meters1.17
Draft [max] - Inches29
Draft [max] - Inches46
Weight - Detail10,600 lbs. (4,808 lbs.)
Weight - Detail24,000 lbs. (10,886 kg)
Weight - kg4808.08
Weight - kg10886.21
Weight - lbs.106
Weight - lbs.24
Length - Meters11.55
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
Deadrisenot available
Deadrise22℃
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]51 ft
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardTriple Mercury 275 Verados
Engine/s standardTriple Yanmar diesel w/ twin disc surface drives
Fuel tank capacity - Detail287 gal. (1,086 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail457 gal. (1,729 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1086.41
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1729.93
Fuel tank capacity - Gal287
Fuel tank capacity - Gal457
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine maxnot available
Engine max440 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity30 gal. (95 l)
Water capacity80 gal
Headnot available
HeadHigh gloss fiberglass, VacuFlush, stand-up shower
Headroomnot available
Headroom6 ft. 5 in
Sleeping capacitynot available
Sleeping capacity4
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail36 gal
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters136.27
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal36

Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 vs Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 or the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006?
The Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 is the longer of the two at 48,0 feet overall. The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 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 Tournament Edition 2006 or the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006?
For trailering, the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 has the edge at 24 lbs dry weight versus 106 lbs for the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 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.
What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?
The Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 has a documented max rating of 440 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 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 Tournament Edition 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 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 2006 measures 144" wide, compared to 126" for the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 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 Tournament Edition 2006 or the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006?
The Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 has the bigger tank at 457 gallons, versus 287 gallons on the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006. That 170-gallon difference translates to roughly 510–850 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 and Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2006 and the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser 2006 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.