Offshoreonly.com - 35 executioner 35 fever and 35 lighting

I'm copying and Pasting some of the good info I found as this does get asked a bit. These are from other well knows forum members. Hope this helps you.

Well the Lightning was originally the Executioner when Reggie first started, then he changed the name and it became the Lightning. Then it got a step, so it was the stepped Lightning, so to speak. Then Reggie decided two steps were better than one, so the twin step became the Lightning, at this time the top deck was changed as well to add some cabin space, the "hump" as you call it. ( We Fountain owners have never refered to it as the twin step "hump" Lightning however ) The old single step Lightning was dropped, but then some customers still liked it and and wanted the single step Lightning brought back, so it was brought back as the Lightning Classic. Around 2001 Reggie must have decided there was just too much confusion around this Lightning chit, so then he decided that the Lightning Classic would be called the Executioner, once again. The new Executioner was to be a base boat, 496's, one paint scheme, blue or red accent colors, few if any options. However, that changed in a couple years because some folks still liked the originally styled Lightning, now the Executioner, but wanted more power and more options. So then the Executioners could be custom ordered with many options and more power just like the Lightning, which had always been, since it became the new twin step Lightning, able to be custom ordered the way a customer wanted it. The last change to the twin step Lightning was to change from the side by side engine set up to a full staggered engine set up in 2007 making it the twin step staggered Lightning. This option is not available on the single step Lightning, now known as the Executioner.

The above pretty much covers the 35' models. Though there have been subtle changes to the bottoms, X dimensions etc, on both single and twin step, Lightning and Executioner models over the years at many and various times.

Now someone else, more qualified than myself, will have to pick this up and run the 42 Lightning / Executioner deal. It's similiar, but has the added twist of having the Lightning bottom placed under the Executioner top deck. Not to mention the 27's, the 29's, the 32's, 38's, 47's, the Comp series of designs, ICBM's, Fevers, Poker Runs, etc. The only one that is a short story would be the 33, it is a Lightning and has yet to be played with.

Oh chit, I forgot that the original very first ever Fountain was a 33 footer, and damed if it wasn't an Executioner back then.

1) The driver position is lower in the Exec, and tall people feel the dash and steeringwheel is "at their knees" when standing in the boat. Seats are not high enough to give support when driving the boat out in big swells.

2) The Lightning wind screen gives much better protection when going fast and especially when it rains. The Exec is not fun to run in rain as you get the raindrops in your face and it is difficult to see through the screen as it leans backward at a sharper angle (but looks better!).

3) The LGT will be much better with a canvas top in bad weather, and could be delivered as an option. The Exec never had this as an option.

4) The sunpad on the Exec is flush with the grab rail, whilst on the LGT, the grab rail is above the pad so it is safer and gives better "comfort" when there are wakes and you need to hold on. The sunpad/hatches are also better recessed in the LGT. Towels and other loose things stop at the rail on a LGT, but fall into the water on the Exec....

5) The Exec has a slightly steeper angle of the area on each side of the windscreen ("gunell"?) where you walk from the cockpit onto the deck and it is slick and sometimes "scary" when wet and the thin acryl windscreen is not a good thing to hold on to. The LGT has a wider area with less angle and is much safer to walk on to get onto the deck. It also has an aluminum profile on top of the screen to hold on to and it gives better grip and is more solid.

6) The dashboard is bigger on the "new style" LGT and gives more space for gauges/chart plotters etc. The angle is also different. The dash of the Exec is more horisontal while the LGT is more vertical. 2008--> is even more horisontal on the LGT and is better when going REALLY fast.

7) Cockpit is deeper on the LGT and gives better protection for wind, falling out of the boat and for bad weather. You reallt apprechiate this when doing long poker runs as it is less wind inside the boat.

8) The LGT has a bow locker for ropes, fenders etc, while the Exec does not have this (at least not the 35 Exec) Don't remember on the 42 Exec.... It saves space in the cockpit.

9) The LGT has a glowbox and the Exec has nothing. Great to store cell phones, sunblock, newspapers etc. so they don't lay around and get damaged while going fast. The LGT also have a small grab rail in front of the passenger seat, while the Exec has it on the side.

10) The 2006 --> LGT has the sliding door and most of them are tinted transparent acryl. This gives great natural lightning inside the cabin. However, it tend to be a little "stuck" when opening/closing. The simplicity of the old style door is better in fact, but looks older. The opening is also bigger on the sliding door boats and is easier to get in and out from. These boats have less space behind the dash though.

11) The LGT has a smoother styling and looks more modern. Especially the rear end of the boat. The angle of the swim platform is also more horisontal on the LGT and is safer when it is wet and you stand on it while the boat is going forward.

12) The LGT has a recessed swim ladder in the swim platform, while the Exec has no ladder that you can reach if you fall out of the boat as the Exec's ladder stows inside the cockpit. It is great to get onboard in case you fall out! That is no problem with the LGT build in fold down ladder.

13) The LGT came with an upgraded and much more modern cockpit interior in 2007 while the Exec had the same old style. The cabins are the same, but in 2008 the LGT got the new style cabin which looks 20 years newer. The forewad V berth is somewhat smaller but is big enough as long as you are only 2 persons in it . I believe the LGT also has more headroom inside the cabin and you notice the difference a lot when sitting on the bench seat as the Exec is too tight for you head.

14) The exec has a shorter engine compartment. 2x Merc 900 hp is tight in both versions. 2x1075 is not possible without modifying the hatches and squeese the engines in on the pre 2006 MY boats. The LGT came in fall 2005 with a new longer engine compartment (a totally new version of the 42 with higher hullsides and different center of gravity because of a shorther deck). That one LGT will have no problems housing 1075s without modification etc. The LGT can therefor handle power upgrades to Merc 1075s, but the Exec continued the same old deck (although had the new hull and raised hullsides in 2006) and it is not easy to make those engines fit if you want to upgrade.

So all in all, the LGT is a more modern lay out. I still LOVE the classic Exec and I guess it is just a matter of personal taste.