Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 or the Fountain 43 NX 2021?

The Fountain 43 NX 2021 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 comes in at 42,0 feet, making it roughly 1,0 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 42 Lightning 2010 has a documented max rating of 2 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 42 Lightning 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 12 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 42 Lightning 2010 and Fountain 43 NX 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 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 42 Lightning 2010 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021

Fountain

Fountain 42 Lightning 2010

2010

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Fountain

Fountain 43 NX 2021

2021

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 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 42 Lightning 2010 carries a rated maximum of 2 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 42 Lightning 2010 caps at 12. 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 42 Lightning 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFountain

Makenot available

Model42 Lightning

Modelnot available

Model Year201

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] - Detail40 in. (1 m)

Draft [max] - Detail30.00 ft

Draft [max] - Meters1.02

Draft [max] - Meters9.14

Draft [max] - Inches4

Draft [max] - Inches360

Weight - Detail11,400 lbs. (5,182 kg)

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg5170.95

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.114

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet42

Length - Feet43

Length overall - Detail42 ft. 0 in. (12.8 m)

Length overall - Detail43.00 ft

Length overall - Meters12.8

Length overall - Meters13.11

Length overall - Inches504

Length overall - Inches516

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail328 gal. (1,241 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1241.61

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal328

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Drive typenot available

Engine max2 staggered Mercury 525 EFI with Bravo 1-XR/SSM/ITS

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Water capacity13 gal. (49 l)

Water capacity64

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 vs Fountain 43 NX 2021 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 or the Fountain 43 NX 2021?

The Fountain 43 NX 2021 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 comes in at 42,0 feet, making it roughly 1,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 has a documented max rating of 2 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 42 Lightning 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 12 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 42 Lightning 2010 and Fountain 43 NX 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 42 Lightning 2010 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 42 Lightning 2010 full specs ← Fountain 43 NX 2021 full specs