lonestar382

The ONLY reason I would go with Formula over Donzi is the support from the factory is un-paralleled in a production boat manufacturer with Formula. Donzi is not the best manufacturer to deal with as you may hear from several past and current owners. Formula is certainly a top-notch boat, but Donzi is right there behind them IMO.

Either way you go, I think you'll be VERY happy with your choice.

Corey

Rippem

I've stayed out of this so far and will just say I think it's funny that you all recommend the ZR based pretty much upon speed alone.

nothing about long proven manufacturer support, all the small niceties throughout the Formula that the ZR doesn't offer, climbing over over laying across the extra tall backseat headrests to enjoy the "racy" hatch with the minimized padded area ect ect.

I wont dwell on the cabin because he says it'll be a dayboat, though I'm sure there are other circumstances under which a much nicer cabin (353) could be enjoyed!

yes the 353 is relatively slow now with all the low-slung, low cut minimized "35's" that are out now that sacrifice headroom, cockpit space, and ammenities in the name of speed...

but spend a couple hundred hours running one, and a couple hundred days hanging out on one...

and you'll know first hand it's a boat that is very easy to be aboard, use and enjoy, and does that hard to find combination of most everything very well, if not better than the others.

a day of fun on the water is much more than going fast to a large % of the market for a boat like this, and in this light there are alot of other little things to consider!

I know first hand of the EXCELLENT support from Formula and thier ROCK-SOLID dealer network.

The long term value holding and desirability of the Formula product is PROVEN...not a guess

some of the things mentioned above will negatively effect the size of the audience for the Donzi in terms of resale...especially in those situations where the other half has a voice!

and before you jump on me as a Formula cheerleader, this is far from my first boat (6th) and I pretty much do nothing but boat every summer, all summer.

This product is just plain enjoyable in so many ways, that's all.

Rippem

it's kind of a mute question as damn near all the "equipment" aboard these things is common. The same drivetrains, and vendors for just about everything from guages to FW pumps and tanks to battery chargers and wiring sources.

They are both excellent quality production boat lay-ups

bla, bla, Kevlar bla, bla. I haven't seen or heard of any cracked, broken, or delaminating Formulas.

All that is a wash. It's about how you're gonna use the boat. Even as a dayboat...what, in terms of usability and comfort is important to you or the ones you want to enjoy thier time aboard?

AIR TIME

F2 extra lean broke the bottom in kw acouple of yrs back there' a nice pic in my engine builders shop of them getting air and when I spoke to the driver he said yeap thats when it happened, they since sold there last f2 boat last yr to someone over sea's that was there 2nd boat for like 75 or 80,000 2001or 2002 525s thats cheap.

Rippem

pizz poor example but nice try.

race boat
racing
how many race seasons old?


sold a 5/6 year old raceboat for 80K?
Sounds about right to me.

your not talking about a maintained, fully built out and optioned, recreationally operated boat.

your raceboat story has little or no relavence.

TeamSaris

Fountain 35

dreamer

real nice 35

dreamer

real 35... no molded swim platform

OL40SVX

A 35 Fountain is tiny compared to these boats. If you want an all around solid performer look for a used 35 T/S Cigarette such as dreamer's above.

Rippem

True
true
and I can't believe his boat hasn't sold.