Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 boat specs
Fountain
Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007
2007
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VS
Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 boat specs
Fountain
Fountain 47 Lightning 2007
2007
View full specs →

Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 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 47 Lightning 2007 measures 47,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 10,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 at 37,0 feet (2007). At 106 lbs and 139 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 075 hp, the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 has a 775-hp advantage over the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007's 300-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 38 Tournament Edition 2007 carries 287 gallons versus 32 gallons in the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007. 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 47 Lightning 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 47,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 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
Model47 Lightning
Model Year2007
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. 6 in. (3.2 m)
Beam9 ft. 0 in. (2.74 m)
Beam - Meters3.2
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Inches126
Beam - Inches108
Bridge clearance - Detail96 in. (2.4 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.44
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches96
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail24 in. (0.6 m)
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. (0.7 m)
Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (0.96 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.74
Draft [max] - Meters0.97
Draft [max] - Inches29
Draft [max] - Inches38
Weight - Detail10,600 lbs. (4,808 kg)
Weight - Detail13,900 lbs. (6,305 kg)
Weight - kg4808.08
Weight - kg6304.93
Weight - lbs.106
Weight - lbs.139
Length - Meters11.56
Length - Meters14.4
Length - Feet37
Length - Feet47
Length - Inches11
Length - Inches3
Length overall - Detail37 ft. 11 in. (11.56 m)
Length overall - Detail47 ft. 3 in. (14.4 m)
Length overall - Meters11.56
Length overall - Meters14.4
Length overall - Inches455
Length overall - Inches567
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail287 gal. (1,086 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail320 gal. (1,211 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1086.41
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1211.33
Fuel tank capacity - Gal287
Fuel tank capacity - Gal32
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeI/O
Engine max300 hp, 4 each
Engine max1,075 hp, 2 each
Operational Info
Water capacity30 gal. (114 l)
Water capacitynot available
Headnot available
HeadElectric flush w/ holding tank & dockside pump-out
Water heater capacitynot available
Water heater capacity11 gal

Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 or the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007?
The Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 is the longer of the two at 47,0 feet overall. The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 comes in at 37,0 feet, making it roughly 10,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 or the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007?
For trailering, the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 has the edge at 106 lbs dry weight versus 139 lbs for the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007. 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 47 Lightning 2007 is rated to a maximum of 1 075 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 tops out at 300 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 Tournament Edition 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Fountain 47 Lightning 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 38 Tournament Edition 2007 measures 126" wide, compared to 108" for the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007. 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 2007 or the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007?
The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 has the bigger tank at 287 gallons, versus 32 gallons on the Fountain 47 Lightning 2007. That 255-gallon difference translates to roughly 765–1275 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 and Fountain 47 Lightning 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Fountain 38 Tournament Edition 2007 and the Fountain 47 Lightning 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.