Fountain’s 48 Express Cruiser was designed to set a new standard in high-speed luxury diesel powered yachts. The 48 Express Cruiser was just introduced into the line for 2002. Fountain has incorporated diesel power into this beauty while maintaining her luxury and speed.

The 48 handled very well and was easy to maneuver to and from the docks. She was a bit slow when getting out of the hole however when she planed off an unbelievable burst of speed took her to a top speed of 65.1 miles per hour. A 48-foot diesel boat reaching that speed is very impressive! We found her best cruising speed to be 43.4 miles per hour, and she handled the tight turns like a true thoroughbred. Now this boat was built with racing in mind but she will hold her own in open ocean conditions.

When standing at the helm of a 48-footer it’s quite impossible to see everything around you, however in the 48 Express Cruiser your visibility is much greater than most boats this size because of the sleek low profile of the bow. The helm on the 48 Express is just what you would expect to find on a racing boat, and this being a diesel you’ll find a few extra gauges on this full instrumentation panel.

The layout on the 48 Express Cruiser starts with a forward cabin fit for royalty, with a large v-berth with comforter and pillows, a dresser, and cedar-lined hanging locker. There’s also a stand up head with plenty of room to move around. The galley has Corian countertops, sink, two-burner stove, and wet bar with icemaker. The cabin features a wraparound sofa with TV/VCR combination, and there’s also an aft cabin with a queen size bed for any quests that stay aboard.

Topside the lounge area starts just aft of the captain’s chair and has enough seating for eight to ten people. The engine hatch is just aft of the lounge area and doubles as a sun pad. A bench seat aft seats another two to three people and there’s a walk-through to the swim platform on the portside. The 48 has an impressive layout both topside and down below.

So if you have the experience in boat handling, and you want to maintain a high standard in speed and luxury, you’ll appreciate this exceptional cruiser, and the safe fuel-efficient benefits of a diesel power plant

By Capt. Dan Maxwell

Test Captain

• Top speed for the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser is 65.1 mph (104.8 kph), burning 75.9 gallons per hour (gph) or 287.28 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Fountain 48 Express Cruiser is 43.4 mph (69.8 kph), and the boat gets 1.13 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.48 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 490 miles (788.58 kilometers).


• Tested power is 3 x 420-hp Yanmar diesels.