Mainship Expedition 2009 boat specs
Mainship
Mainship Expedition 2009
2009
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VS
Mainship Pilot 43 2007 boat specs
Mainship
Mainship Pilot 43 2007
2007
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Mainship Expedition 2009 vs Mainship Pilot 43 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Mainship Expedition 2009 vs Mainship Pilot 43 2007 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Mainship Pilot 43 2007 measures 47,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Mainship Expedition 2009 at 38,0 feet (2009). At 24 lbs and 38 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The Mainship Expedition 2009 carries a rated maximum of 260 hp. Engine data for the Mainship Pilot 43 2007 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Mainship Pilot 43 2007 carries 777 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Mainship Expedition 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 Mainship Pilot 43 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Mainship Expedition 2009 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Mainship Pilot 43 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Mainship Pilot 43 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 47,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Mainship Expedition 2009 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
MakeMainship
MakeMainship
ModelExpedition
ModelPilot? 43
Model Year2009
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam14 ft. 2 in. (4.32 m)
Beam15 ft. 6 in. (4.72 m)
Beam - Meters4.32
Beam - Meters4.72
Beam - Inches17
Beam - Inches186
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 8 in. (1.12 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 8 in. (1.12 m)
Draft [max] - Meters1.12
Draft [max] - Meters1.12
Draft [max] - Inches44
Draft [max] - Inches44
Weight - Detail24,000 lbs. (10,896 kg)
Weight - Detail38,000 lbs. (17,252 kg)
Weight - kg10886.21
Weight - kg17236.5
Weight - lbs.24
Weight - lbs.38
Height - DetailClearance (Air Draft): 19 ft. 2 in. (5.84 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters5.84
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches23
Height - Inchesnot available
Length - Meters11.68
Length - Meters14.55
Length - Feet38
Length - Feet47
Length - Inches4
Length - Inches9
Length [over all with swim platform]41 ft. 4 in. (12.6 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 4 in. (11.68 m)
Length overall - Detail47 ft. 9 in. (14.55 m)
Length overall - Meters11.68
Length overall - Meters14.55
Length overall - Inches46
Length overall - Inches573
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - DetailAir Draft: 10 ft. 7 in. (3.23 m)
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters3.23
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches127
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeSemi Displacement
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Max no of engines2
Max no of enginesnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail300 gal. (1,136 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail777 gal. (2,941 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1135.62
Fuel tank capacity - Liters2941.26
Fuel tank capacity - Gal3
Fuel tank capacity - Gal777
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Engine maxTwin: 260 hp ea. (194 kW ea.)
Engine maxTwin diesels, 440-540 hp (each)
Operational Info
Headroom6 ft. 6 in. (1.98 m)
Headroom6 ft. 4 in. (1.91 m)
Sleeping capacity6
Sleeping capacity4-6
Water capacity130 gal. (492 l)
Water capacity200 gal. (757 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail47 gal. (178 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail56 gal. (212 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters177.91
Holding tank capacity - Liters211.98
Holding tank capacity - Gal47
Holding tank capacity - Gal56

Mainship Expedition 2009 vs Mainship Pilot 43 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Mainship Expedition 2009 or the Mainship Pilot 43 2007?
The Mainship Pilot 43 2007 is the longer of the two at 47,0 feet overall. The Mainship Expedition 2009 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Mainship Expedition 2009 or the Mainship Pilot 43 2007?
For trailering, the Mainship Expedition 2009 has the edge at 24 lbs dry weight versus 38 lbs for the Mainship Pilot 43 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?
The Mainship Expedition 2009 has a documented max rating of 260 hp. Engine specifications for the Mainship Pilot 43 2007 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 Mainship Expedition 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Mainship Pilot 43 2007 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.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Mainship Pilot 43 2007 measures 186" wide, compared to 17" for the Mainship Expedition 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Mainship Expedition 2009 or the Mainship Pilot 43 2007?
The Mainship Pilot 43 2007 has the bigger tank at 777 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Mainship Expedition 2009. That 774-gallon difference translates to roughly 2322–3870 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Mainship Expedition 2009 and Mainship Pilot 43 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Mainship Expedition 2009 and the Mainship Pilot 43 2007 are built by Mainship. 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.