Boat shopping
 

Hey y'all....

Posted in a few other brand forums and just looking for honest feedback on the 35ZR with HO's. Looking to upgrade in the spring/summer and just doing homework. Looking for 35/38' etc...think a 38ZR is outta my range but there is a nice 35 in Austin at Ski Dock with low hours. Sold Baja for many years and did mannnny poker runs back in the day so I'm familiar with go-fasts just never had any experience with the Donzi's.

http://www.skidock.com/Page.aspx/dii...Series-35.aspx


Thanks,
D

Boat looks real nice. Hours are real low. Just be aware of the paint on the boat. If any of the paint is chipping or scratched, it can be very expensive to fix. Otherwise, I love my Donzi.

good price with trailer
the way i look at donzi
ZR fast and not much room under in cabin but great lines great boat if you have to use the bathroom even good luck (love to have one next though)
ZX gofast boat but more of a cruiser, much more room under in cabin for over night stay, get out of the sun or even use the bathroom (Iv owned 2 ZX's)

Thanks for the replies y'all....

I have been in a few ZX's and yes, those are like floating mini hotels, really nice but for our little lake here (Conroe) and possibly a few offshore excursions cabins for us are either used for storing fenders and jackets etc...or :whistle: The only overnighting we would do would be on Canyon Lake tied off behind my inlaws 40' Cruisers cruiser...which we would sleep in anyway.

I just see so many people say (reading through the Donzi Forum) to go to the 38 over the 35 etc....of course size matters but just makes me curious if the 35 isn't as nice (riding, forgiving etc) as maybe other 35's out there and the prices on the 35's out there are pretty tall compared to other 35-38's. This boat looks really nice but would you buy this boat at say $100K or would you buy an older Top Gun (2000/02 or Fountain for $100-110K? My wife's only question is the low freeboard compared to other brands.... I love the lines of the Donzi's but the 38's are a $tep out there for me so I was wondering the compromise? Just wondering from y'all 35 owners if you are really happy with them, how they ride in the real rough etc....

There is a guy on Canyon with a 38ZR with twin 900 Teagues turned up to 1,000's. Nice boat!

Having been in both the 35zr and 38zr many times here is what I have found.

For your type of boating, you will absolutely LOVE the 35zr. They run and handle great with that power package!
A 35 will run/handle as well as a 38 up to about 85mph. After that the 38 really comes into its own. The 35 w/ 525s runs 90mph and it can be a hand full at that speed. The 38 w/ 525s runs just about 90 as well but solid as a rock and runs solid and true well past 110mph with bigger power.

The cabin on both is the same, the extra 3 feet comes in the engine bay for the stagger.

As for a 35zr vs. older 38 Top Gun, you need to look at few things. Speed, cost of maintenance Vs. larger boat and brand recognition value. The 496 Donzi will be as fast as a 525 38 Top Gun. The Top Gun will have more hours and years on it but it is a "Cigarette" (Porsche Vs. Ferrari if you will). Cigarettes are extremely well built and will probably hold the value better over your ownership. That said, the 496's usually need very little maintenance to run for many years.

I honestly don't know what I would do in your position. All would be good choices, it all depends on how you use your boat, store it, tow it, etc.

The wife and I love our 33zx it is very nice, rides great, and has plenty of speed. If the wife is concerned of freeboard in the zr and the 38 is to big check out a 33zx! Ours has 502mags 415hp. stock with 550hrs. and the best speed we have seen is 75 with 4 people and half tank of fuel. Usually 69-72mph. Depending on the load and water, but rides and feels much larger. I have rode in one 38zr with 525s, very nice boat. Where I am at on the ozarks I get to watch the orange 38zr w/700s fly by my dock every weekend, love that boat!! I'm sure the 35 is just as nice a boat. We would love to own a 38 top gun someday also I don't know what I would do!! Good luck!

Thank y'all for the great feedback, much appreciated!!! Great rundown of the 35 vs 38 and I understand all you are saying. I posted something similar in the fountain section bout why so many 35's/42's but not as many 38's and the 38's cost the same as a 42? I'm very familiar with the guns and beaks, down here they are like Baja on every street corner and dock it seems but not a ton of Donzi's....few 38's but that's bout it. Our lake for as little as it is can be snotty like LOTO from time to time, all bulkheads and big boats on a little shallow body of water. Keep our boats dry stored in a stall on the trailer, don't tow much anymore but when I do I have more then enough truck for anything I mentioned above so that's no worry (and I work for a dealership). The 496's are great motors if you leave them alone and low 80s is plenty fast, not looking for exotic power, ins is killer here on the gulf coast for blues...heck my 29 with HO's has seen 80 GPS and that's an inefficient hull so the ZR etc would be a nice step up. The ride/wetness/hardness of the ride is what has me curious. Is it a "bam" and you hear the door rattle/boat stress or is it solid in say avg 2-3' Or ? slop and still have the wife feel comfy in it. She's been over 100 before so it isn't speed it's "holy crap am I gonna get tossed out spray in the face" feeling and from me being in the biz for so long in the past and friends with cool stuff I'm numb to it.

Thanks a ton y'all and the feedback is again much appreciated!

D

Nice boat for what they are asking.

There is a Conroe topps guy that has a 35zr w/525's, his name is Scott Leodroff... Not sure of the spelling on his last name... I know he is friends on the Lcpbc Facebook page, I met him on the toy run last year really nice guy, I'm sure you could track him down and he would let you check it out or at least give you feed back on how it handles Conroe.

Travis

Then drop the price of your boat to my price range!!! :party-smiley-004:

We had a 302 Baja before our Donzi, the Baja was nice but there really is no comparison in the ride. Hands down Donzi, the Zx is 9'3" wide and weighs 9200lb. dry. It flys level and lands very nice! Handles the wind and cruiser waves here at the lake very nice.The only rattle I get is from my glovebox door in front of the passenger. We had our Baja for several years and loved it we put over 300hrs on her but things rattled from day one. The zx is heavier and wider which means not as fast, but it is a lot roomier and has more freeboard but mine sacrifices 5mph vs. zr.

I think u will be happy with the ride when u get the chance to ride in one. Personal experience here at the lake, probably because of the weight the Zx rides better and is drier but is a little slower than the Zr. Both very solid in rough water, no rattles, fly level, land soft. Your wife will be much happier and safer when u put the sticks to the dash!! Mine does!

I know of Scott but I thought he had a 38 so I guess I'll hit him up. Hes on my FB and I know I've seen him at the lake. I'm a member of TOPPS but just not super active in the club anymore.

Regarding my 29...as I've said any serious offer and it's theirs...no "I'll give you $50k and store it till March or deliver it to me". LOL. You need to come look at it....just bring your checkbook cuz you'll leave with it!:party-smiley-004:

Thanks donziben, appreciate it. I'm more of a ZR guy then the ZX, just personal taste. A lot of y'all have talked bout how well they handle and fly straight and level (ZR's) and I don't ever see anyone complain bout them. There was a dealer here a few years back before the economy took a dump and I think Legend carries them but doesn't stock them out of Dallas.
I sold a ton of 29's and 33's but didn't carry many 302's because of the price break between the 29/33 people would usually move to the 33 so they didn't do as well in our market. Driven a good handful of them and they have good cockpit room but a 29 handles better IMO. Still great boats for the money with a great customer fan base still.

The zr's ride real nice. Slice through any chop without any real hard slam or slap. They fly very straight and true and don't need a lot of driver input to run smooth. Donzi really did their homework on these boats. There is a reason a 10 year old ZrComp won the European title last year among a fleet of much newer boats!

I have been on a couple of Fountains and have to say in both handling and rough water you need to have a 42 fountain to ride as good as a 35 Donzi and a 38 Donzi will chew up a 42 Fountain.

Thanks Tom, great feedback! Probably take a drive out to Austin in the next few weekends when I have one off to go check out this 35 if its still around. If not I'm sure spring will bring some fresh glass to the mkt.

I thought I remembered it being a 35 but I have been wrong before, just ask my wife!!! :evilb:
There is also this one local if you haven't seen it, I think the other has better paint though...

http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/3387992261.html

That Donzi is phucking nice. Love the interior and paint. Hmmm. Headed over next week to pull side panels, may look at changing the interior now:lolhit:

I saw that one listed somewhere a while ago....I like it but not sure on the interior?!?!? There is an older 35 CIG that has been re-done all white with similiar color interior. Scared it would get too hot being anything but white with some colors on it... Like the blue paint though! I know the owner of Ski Dock pretty well from working in the biz back in the day with him and Baja....it's only a short drive out there so well see.

I have seen that boat for over 3 months right off I10 with no cover on it , so it is going to need a good scrubbing.

That beige color and material stay fairly cool to the touch.

Unlike my red vinyl that will melt your thighs if you are not careful!

I have the tan in my boat, it's an accent color. Hotter than the white but doable. I like the color personally.

I see the 35 zr with HO's as a performance boat you can run every day. The 38 zr is more exotic... faster, a bit cooler, but chances are the 38 zr owner also has a center console (or something else that floats) to run around in as well.

For a single boater with some concept of a budget... 35 with black engines is a hell of a boat.

Thanks for the imput!

Regarding a good scrubbing...the no cover with the dark paint makes me go OCD CRAZY!!! But maybe I could get the wife to clean it in a nice thong while I watch... :party-smiley-004:

I like the combo of the one in Austin a little better but we already have blue towels from the current boat haha. Who knows what we will buy but so far this 35 ZR is the only thing the wife and I both can agree on is nice....it is that or an older Top Gun...although she would still love a Formula Sport Cruiser...no thanks...no kids!

Wife and I drove to Austin today and back to look at the 35. Nice boat size wise, no cabin (think my 29 has more) but as my wife said "classy looking boat". Nice lines etc. Freeboard in the cockpit wasn't too bad, not as deep as my 29 but she felt good so that's all that mattered. Had a friend tell me the 35 is a little tricky at times as far as "spin out" but great boats. Boat fell off the hydra-hoist when the lake went down (down 50') and owner lives out of town so a couple good dock rashes on it and rub rail is popped out on the transom. Dealer said they'd fix every chip and paint work too. 67 hrs on an 08...HO's. was surprised to see only 28 Bravos on it spinning in....(is that the std prop?) was expecting 30's or so for some reason as I'm running lab 28's on my 29. Asking 110k fixed.... Is this good or where should that boat sell at?

Thoughts?

Beautiful Boat!!!! I love the lines and the color scheme! A friend of ours has the same on their 38ZR. I may be off, but where do you find a 5 year old boat with only 67 hours. You'd like to have it for 100, but 110, if she's clean, is pretty good. Spinning in gets ya the most speed, compared to spinnin out. Docking isnt as good. If you don't like it (handling), switch the props and do the opposite with your sticks. Good Luck,

tom

28 Bravos are the stock prop for the 496's.

Boat seems nice. As for the price... On one hand a new one has a base retail of over 300k.

However I think if I was in your shoes I'd be comparing to other boats. Specifically there are two 38 ZR's in the classifieds for 150 asking price... both have 525's and A/C heat. one also has a generator.

There is a 35 for sale in St. Pete asking 90k. more hours for sure. is it as nice? hard to tell from pics.

At the end of the day I think 110k is priced right it's just a matter of if it is the boat for you vs what else is out there.

Thanks for the replies...

As for spinning in to win I have done that several times, what I meant about "spinning out" was the boat itself spinning (hooking)... Regarding the props I just wasn't sure what was stock set up on the 35's (in or out and 28's). The boat has such low hours because the owner lives out of town (outside Austin) and they have gone (along with most of us here in the South TX area) through a severe drought and the lake is over 50' down so he didn't get to use it but a couple of times. He is the origional owner. The base "retail" is pie in the sky as when I was a dealer/sold Baja and all the brands would post that but part of my question was answered....$150K for 38' and 525's or $40K less for 35 and HO's...I'm sure the retail on the 38 with 525's is more then $350K? But ins. costs here on the gulf coast are crazy with blue 90+ mph power...if you can find someone to carry you (ugh...sucks).

Again I really appreciate everyones feedback. I have someone interested in my 29 right now....hopefully they will make an offer. The dealer in Austin who I am good friends with told me flat out he didn't want my trade b/c of the drought and market there right now...but that also makes me think I can do better then the 110K. But he did say they would fix everything on it (pix below and pix of drought), there are other pix of some rash and lots of little chips of gelcoat along the strakes chipped that need to be fixed as well. There is usually no islands...and we are on a cliff about 4-500' up at "The Oasis"...check it out on Lake Travis

what I don't understand is a boat like that being treated like a 1985 bayliner. don't they have bumpers

I know right! I am so OCD that stuff bothers the heck out of me....but they (dealer) said they'd repair everything if I decided to move fwd. only thing that makes it more acceptable for me is 80% of the damage was from the hoist breaking when the lake went down and him not finding it for a few weeks till he came back to town im being told and some of it was of course from "too much $ and not enough sense". Dealer also told me they'd go through everything mechanical as well, compression etc for me. Rumor was he has "lots of toys"....had fun one weekend in Devils Cove (where everyone party's) and decided he wanted a boat too.... Two wrongs don't make a right! :lolhit:

Gorgeous boat, hope everything goes well for you! I've always wondered, looking at pictures of the V berth, looks awfully tight, does anyone actually sleep in those?

I love the lines of this boat and the color scheme. If you do a test run on Travis would love to meet up!

Oooops:cartman:, I took the wrong bait and ran away there (bait...I don't even like to fish).....i get ya. I have not heard of any spinning out issues with the 35ZR and that power.

tom

Sounds like you have some straight bottom friends giving you some scary advise? :lolhit:

There are some changes you need to make trimming and turning a step bottom boat aggressively. You can search some guides online on driving step bottom boats.

Chances are, (unless you are really aggressive) you didn't even turn your 29 OL that hard, most don't.

First off the ZR line was built for handling first and top speed second. I haven't heard of any ZR's spinning.

I think every manufacturer of a step bottom boat has had a hull or two with some spin issues but the ZR line came later after some learning. The only Donzi hulls I have heard of issues on are the 22ZX and the 45 ZX.

I can tell you my 28ZX is rock solid in turns. It does turn different than a straight bottom hull, the rear end moves side to side and you are pointing in a new direction Vs. digging in / rolling like a straight bottom does.

Regarding that boat's damage... The paint damage couldn't be in worse spots. It's all in fade / blend areas. Metallic paint through multiple colors. I'm not a paint expert but from my view... Good freaking luck getting that repaired and looking like new. I could see a good airbrush guy changing it up and coming up with a new pattern, etc. or a good logo to go over it or something else but I personally don't see a true repair coming out well.

If there plan is to fix it like new I'd ask for that to be done before I saw any money OR I'd get my own estimate for repair / repaint and negotiate the boat as is. If you sign a contract with them 'fixing' it it's going to be an opinion on what makes it 'fixed' and they could hold your deposit if they say it is fixed per the contract. It all seems like a nightmare waiting to happen.

A good paint guy can fix that just fine.
Mine was a dealer repo when I bought it and had some damage. I have Vincent custom paints at LOTO fix it and I challange anyone to tell me where the damage was.
Also got a nice scratch at a poker run in a blend area , he had to paint about six ft of boat to repair a eight inch scratch but you would never know.
Making the repairs on the boat you are looking at will not be cheep to do properly.

U can get 38 for 100k

Got mine for 110 in 2010
Sold for 100 20 months later

U guys r outta touch of what boats r selling for

On key west thurs run vid 8 min in I believe 2010

where????

Said it once and I'll say it again, thanks a bunch for the replies...help out a bunch.

Dealer owner is a friend of mine from when i was in the biz so if I even did a deal on it I would trust him but I also wouldn't buy it without seeing it "fixed" and of course running it a little. You are right....all the fade and colors will be tricky even he said so when we looked at it and he was estimating 3-5k in paint work/repair. There are some great paint guys out there but there are some that would also prob make it look worse which of course is scary.....Dave Morgan with Custom Touch Graphics out of Austin does great work and painted several big name boats out there and boats for us for boat show as well...maybe he'd look at it, dunno....we'll find out in time. Steps are always a little more tricky then the V's guess its all in the driver like you said.

38 for 100k?!?!?! Ummmm.... I am a professional boat shopper From A to Z and that's one I haven't come across.... :party-smiley-004: anyplace we/I am not looking besides the repo lot?

Any of them asking 150k or less!!

red donzi zrc w 700 is for sale now 249k

it sold NEW for 150k with 30 demo hrs

2010 was 2010. It's 2013 now. The smokin' deals that were had from 2009-2010 are gone.