Both the Fountain 42 Lightning 2009 and the Fountain 47 Lightning 2010 are modified-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Fountain 47 Lightning 2010 measures 47,3 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 5,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fountain 42 Lightning 2009 at 42,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fountain 47 Lightning 2010 tips the scales at 16 500 lbs - 5 100 lbs less than the Fountain 42 Lightning 2009 at 11 400 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 2 hp for the Fountain 42 Lightning 2009 and 2 hp for the Fountain 47 Lightning 2010. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fountain 47 Lightning 2010 carries 340 gallons versus 328 gallons in the Fountain 42 Lightning 2009. 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 2010 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain 42 Lightning 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 47 Lightning 2010 could be the deciding factor.