Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 or the Fountain Express Cruiser 2002?

The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 is the longer of the two at 47,3 feet overall. The Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 9,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 is rated to a maximum of 370 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 tops out at 2 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.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 is certified for 11. 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 47 Lightning 2009 and Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 and the Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 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 47 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain Express Cruiser 2002

Fountain

Fountain 47 Lightning 2009

2009

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Fountain

Fountain Express Cruiser 2002

2002

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 370 hp, the Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 has a 368-hp advantage over the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009's 2-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

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 Express Cruiser 2002 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 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 Express Cruiser 2002 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

Makenot available

Model47 Lightning

Modelnot available

Model Year2009

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 0 in. (2.74 m)

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.74

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches108

Beam - Inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches38

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

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

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg7484.27

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.165

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet47.25

Length - Feet38

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

Length overall - Detail38.00 ft

Length overall - Meters14.4

Length overall - Meters11.58

Length overall - Inches567

Length overall - Inches456

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1287.04

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal34

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel typeDiesel

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Drive typeinboard

Engine max2 staggered Mercury 700 SCI NXT No. 6

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeCummins

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower370 hp

Operational Info

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 vs Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 or the Fountain Express Cruiser 2002?

The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 is the longer of the two at 47,3 feet overall. The Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 9,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 is rated to a maximum of 370 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 tops out at 2 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 47 Lightning 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 is certified for 11. 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 47 Lightning 2009 and Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain 47 Lightning 2009 and the Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 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 47 Lightning 2009 full specs ← Fountain Express Cruiser 2002 full specs