FeverMike

I'd take the 35 Playboy Cig over any of them. The 35 Fountain is small compared to the Donzi or Formula...and I'm a Fountain fan but the truth is the truth. I'm sure both boats are well made and the race boat comparo is not a good one because back in 1999-2001 the Anderson family took a stock pleasure boat Formula 353 gutted it and raced it in APBA F2. Never a problem with the boat and they ran hard and were a contender each race.

SDH

Cigarette’s are beautiful and in a league of their own but at twice the price. Rippem makes some very good points on the Formula, putting speed aside has anyone driven both boats and any comparisons on handling and how they drive? Not trying to start an argument between Formula and Donzi fans just trying to make an informed decision when I buy a boat.

Thank you.

Rippem

I have not driven the Donzi. I however have every confidence that it works very well, and do not dis-believe what anyone who has says about it's ride and handling. Sired from the ZR Comp (which from all I've read is said to be one of the finest handling, working bottoms ever) and I'm sure Donzi's more serious jump into the higher performance (than the ZX) recreational market was taken very seriously.

with that said, I would say that if I had money to burn I'd have one of everything...
but when a man's gonna have ONE boat he needs to examinine his boating lifestyle not only in terms of wether he's going to overnight but also where speed fits into the hierarchy of needs...

also need to examine how friendly a boat is (in any segment as compared to others in that segment) to be aboard, get aboard, climb around on, lay and sit around on, stash and store stuff, change your clothes in, and on and on...
Just enjoy all those little things that if you know the difference make the boat such a pleasure the other 90% of the time.

and in this respect, I do defend the Formula as above.

I can come up with a couple of things I'd change about the Formula...
but overall, IMHO the 353 is a home run (and I think the last 9 years of sales would prove it out) for that market segment that's about balance
the near perfect balance of quality, ammenities, comfort, usability, ride quality, performance, and support.

I was ready to sell my boat to 5PMSMWHR here on the board, but for the life of me, and the many different roles I ask my boat to play...
I couldn't find a better place to go in this size range.

So she's staying with me until I can afford a top quality old-school appearance, modern performance/features 37/38'.
and even then I'm sure I'll look back at the 353 fondly.

Rippem

no worries and no arguments.

it's only natural that anyone is going to feel passionately about the particular brand of choice of hole in the water we drop this kind of coin in.

passionate discussion generally leads to disclosure.

info and opinions are what you solicited.

hoping we've all been of assistance.

Donzi38ZR

Take a test drive in both..... I think the decision will be pretty easy from there...
We are talking about a decade old re-hashed tooling Vs one of the latest entry's into the high performance market.

crb76

Like I mentioned on the first page, I have driven both boats w/ 525 EFI's not 496HO's. Speed was about 90MPH on the Donzi and 83MPH on the Formula. Formula handled better in the rough. The Donzi was like driving a sports car but a little flighty when trimmed out. The Formula is like driving a S550 Mercedes. Freeboard in both boats was a major problem for me and I am only 5'11. I run in 2+ seas all the time and feeling safe at high speed in #1 for me. That is the reason I was down to the 38 or 39 Top Gun and the 37 Active Thunder when I bought last. I like the ride of the 38 Donzi much better but I don't recall the difference in price. Good Luck!

dreamer

$139k and shes yours

dreamer

took the listing out of the classifieds... the boat i was gonna get next sold so now im not sure

Rippem

that's where the McCleod footrests and the ability to plant your feet 12-14" below cockpit floor level come in handy whe standing in big water.

the entire McCleod experience, footrests/bolsters is very comfortable and secure.

I'm 6'5" and feel secure in 6'+ Eastern Lake Ontario washing machine water when standing "down in"