Offshoreonly.com - Since Nobody Wanted To Sell Me a Boat .. Pick My New Boat

If anyone cares to get up to date on my search here is the thread about not buying the last Donzi 28ZX I looked at: http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=126694

… and here is the thread about the main issue I had with the last Donzi I looked at: http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=126733

-------------------------------------

So today I went and looked at two other Donzi 28ZXs and drove one (the other’s owner is out of town until next week, I’ll drive it sometime this week).

My worries about the boats handling were resolved. We were out in 4-5 ft seas on Biscane Bay (Miami) and the boat did fine. If anyone was out today the wind was really picking up and the water was rough. The boat handled the water great and the steering was spot on.

The other boat (the one I am not buying) had ½ cable, ½ hydro steering, the boat today has full hydro. It made all the difference in the world. The difference was night and day.

With all that said the 28ZX works well for me, I am ready to stick with it. Nice fit/finish, good power, great looks, in the price range, etc. Now I have 2 to pick from …

The first (the one I drove today) is yellow with twin 350 MAGS. About 300 hours on the boat. Relatively clean, oil change, prop maintenance done in November. Here is the full boat trader ad: (http://www.boattraderonline.com/adde....html?82782510)

Quote:

Originally Posted by boattrader.com

2000 DONZI 28ZX, 28' Great 2000 Donzi 28ZX ... Great Power Boat! This Donzi Z-28-ZX features a well lite cabin with a V Bearth to sleep two. The cabin has a sony am/fm cd player stereo with 4 speakers. 1998 galvanized trailer. Hydraulic engine hatch, donzi Hydraulic assit steering, dual batteries automatic bilge pumps, bilge blowers, power trim and Tilt, halon fire extinguisher system. Silent Choice Exhaust available on boat, mooring cover, swim platform and ladder This is the third owner, was bougt in 2001 and kept in the same location inside dry rack storage summer in Conn. Dry rack storage inside winter Florida.

The second is blue, same twin 350 MAGS, more hours (400). A little cleaner and some extra options (CD Changer, Power Seats, Trim on the throttles). It also recently had a LOT of the maintainence work done (manifolds, tabs, hydraulic rams, etc.) One thing I notices that worried me are some very light and superficial crack (like a spider web) on the floor in the passenger area. Looks like someone dropped something, maybe stress cracks? Also there was a dime size pieces of gelcoat missing on the hull. I haven’t questioned the owner about either yet. Here is the full boat trader ad: (http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/3/82493193.htm)

Quote:

Originally Posted by boattrader.com

2000 DONZI 28ZX, 28' Excellent condition stored inside major service and tune-up on engines and outdrives. New risers, elbows, manifolds,water pumps, impellers, thermostats, tiebar and preformed compression check on both engines. White with blue graphics,350 mags,latham steering,K-plates,silent choice,GPS,AM/FM stereo CD changer,pumpout head,galley sink,freshwater transom shower, cockpit cover and carpet.

To sum it up, basically the same boat except for a few options and the color scheme – virtually the same price. The question is do I go with the boat with lower hours and fewer options or the boat with more options, higher hours but all the maintenance done?

Which would you pick? Thanks again, I can’t get over how great the boating community is. :D :D