Fountain 43 NX 2020 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 43 NX 2020 or the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009?

The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 is the longer of the two at 47,3 feet overall. The Fountain 43 NX 2020 comes in at 43,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 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 47 Lightning 2009 has a documented max rating of 2 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 43 NX 2020 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 43 NX 2020 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 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.

Q: Are the Fountain 43 NX 2020 and Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 43 NX 2020 and the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 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 43 NX 2020 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 2009

Fountain

Fountain 43 NX 2020

2020

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Fountain

Fountain 47 Lightning 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain 43 NX 2020 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 43 NX 2020 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 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 47 Lightning 2009 tops out at 2 hp. Engine specs for the Fountain 43 NX 2020 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain 43 NX 2020 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 47,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fountain 43 NX 2020 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 13 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail43.00 ft

Length overall - Detail47 ft. 3 in. (14.4 m)

Length - Feet43

Length - Feet47.25

Length overall - Meters13.11

Length overall - Meters14.4

Length overall - Inches516

Length overall - Inches567

Draft [max] - Detail30.00 ft

Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (0.96 m)

Draft [max] - Meters9.14

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Inches360

Draft [max] - Inches38

Beamnot available

Beam9 ft. 0 in. (2.74 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.74

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches108

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail16,500 lbs. (7,500 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg7484.27

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.165

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail340 gal. (1,287 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1287.04

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal34

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Engine maxnot available

Engine max2 staggered Mercury 700 SCI NXT No. 6

Operational Info

Water capacity64

Water capacitynot available

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeFountain

Modelnot available

Model47 Lightning

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2009

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Fountain 43 NX 2020 vs Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 43 NX 2020 or the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009?

The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 is the longer of the two at 47,3 feet overall. The Fountain 43 NX 2020 comes in at 43,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 has a documented max rating of 2 hp. Engine specifications for the Fountain 43 NX 2020 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 43 NX 2020 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 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.

Are the Fountain 43 NX 2020 and Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 43 NX 2020 and the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 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 43 NX 2020 full specs ← Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 full specs