Fountain Lightning 2001 vs Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Fountain Lightning 2001 or the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011?

The Fountain Lightning 2001 is the longer of the two at 42,0 feet overall. The Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Fountain Lightning 2001 is rated to a maximum of 550 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 tops out at 3 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 Lightning 2001 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 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 Lightning 2001 and Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain Lightning 2001 and the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 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 Lightning 2001 vs Fountain Patrol Boat 2011

Fountain

Fountain Lightning 2001

2001

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Fountain

Fountain Patrol Boat 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fountain Lightning 2001 vs Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fountain Lightning 2001 vs Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 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 550 hp, the Fountain Lightning 2001 has a 547-hp advantage over the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011's 3-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 Lightning 2001 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountain Lightning 2001 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fountain Lightning 2001 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 42,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail42.00 ft

Length overall - Detail38 ft. (11.56 m)

Length - Feet42

Length - Feet38

Length overall - Meters12.8

Length overall - Meters11.58

Length overall - Inches504

Length overall - Inches456

Beamnot available

Beam10 ft. 6 in. (3.2 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters3.2

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches126

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail12,000 lbs. (5,443 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg5443.1

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.12

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMERCURY

Engine makenot available

Horsepower550 hp

Horsepowernot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeinboard

Drive typeOutboard - Triple

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail300 gal. (1,136 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1135.62

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Engine maxnot available

Engine max3 Mercury 300 Verado

Operational Info

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeFountain

Modelnot available

ModelPatrol Boat

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2011

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Performance

Maximum speednot available

Maximum speed68 mph

Fountain Lightning 2001 vs Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fountain Lightning 2001 or the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011?

The Fountain Lightning 2001 is the longer of the two at 42,0 feet overall. The Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Fountain Lightning 2001 is rated to a maximum of 550 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 tops out at 3 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 Lightning 2001 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 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 Lightning 2001 and Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fountain Lightning 2001 and the Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 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 Lightning 2001 full specs ← Fountain Patrol Boat 2011 full specs