Ride quality 28zx vs 33zx vs 35zr
 

Hi everyone, I have a 01 28zx love the boat, but I seem to have been bitten by the "go Bigger" bug.

I really like my 28 it's pretty easy on gas for a twin engine boat, the ride is good, it looks great, it drives fantastic but conventional wisdom tells me that going bigger should give me an even better ride. So my question is this has anyone spent time in a 28 zx and 33zx and or a 35zr? How do the 3 compare?

I have read the fourm and understand the 33zx will be slower than the 35zr with the same power but I am really wondering about ride quality especially in 3' or bigger waves. Is it worth going to a 33-35 or should i keep what i have until i can afford to go to a 38ish boat.

Thanks for all you input!

Oh, BTW I boat with my wife and she doesn't ever let me "fly" the boat.

I have run in all three boats (33zx, 35zr, and 38zr). The 33Zx rides like a bigger boat than really is. I have been on much larger boats that felt smaller both in overall size and ride comfort. Part is due to the weight and part to the 9' 3" beam. The 35Zr and 38Zr have a narrower beam (8' 6") but overall good cockpit size. Both are the same in cockpit and cabin because the 3 feet+ is placed in the engine bay to stagger the motors. The 38 Zr is actually 38' 8" and should have been called a 39. (the 35Zr is 35' 3 ") If you need cabin room, the Zrs are much smaller than the Zx's both in height and width.

To be honest the Zx series is a more family friendly boat but with plenty of go for a fun a ride.
The Zr series is more of the traditional go fast with all the goodies but sacrifices space for speed.

I was in your boat upgrade situation a few years ago with out a family so for me I took the jump up to the 38 with no creature comforts. I had the same thoughts as you wanting to go for the 38 (magic number in the offshore world for so many years) but I did not have the needs of a family to consider either.

I would really evaluate the way you do most of your boating and say do I want to sacrifice speed for family comfort. The 33Zx or 38Zx are definitely more family boating friendly. However, I have friends with families that have 35 & 38zrs and they work well for the way they boat. (They poker run and run without the kids as much as they raft up and never overnight)

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse more!
LOL

Thanks for the input Tom! My kids are grown so it's just my wife and I. One question I have about the 35zr is how long are the couches in the cabin? Are they at least 6' long? The Vberth doesn't look like anyone over the of 5 could sleep in it. We don't normally over night on our boat I think we have spend a total of 7 nights on the boat in the last 5years. But it would be nice to have that option.

We own a 28ZX and a 35ZR there is no comparison in ride in the rough stuff.
Never been a 33ZX but a neighbor has one and it looks like it does well going down the lake.
The v berth in the 35 is plenty long but low head room, but a ZR is made for speed.
The 28 is way better on fuel, not as fast but just as much fun to drive IMO.
I just drove to WI and back when we found our old 28 for sale three years after we traded it in on the ZR, that's how much we missed the 28.
You most likely get into a 38ZX for less than a 35ZR and have a real wave crusher, but they a big,

The 35 couches are about 6 feet long, If they're longer it's not much. DD is right about the head room in the v-birth. It has a very low ceiling and can get stuffy if you over night. A hatch directly above would have helped things allot. I don't know if it even matters because I haven't been able to locate any screens for the hatches I do have.

I've owned a 28ZX, 33ZX and two 38ZR and the ride quality of the ZR is so much better. Not to mention the staggered motor config which makes the boat ride better and easier to maintain. I would recommend finding a 38ZR and forget about the overnighting. Get a hotel, thats what I do:)

Mark, that maybe good advice! From what I have seen if I get a ZR I will have to get a hotel :cool:

Donzi Dude, I think I talked to once before but I have to ask... What did you miss about the 28 that you don't have in the 35?