What gives with Donzi anyway?
 

I was at the NYC Boat Show (extremely lame! - except for Sy, Sunseeker and Azimut) and looked at a 38' Donzi with twin 575 SC's. They had a "special" boat show price of ...get this.... $322,000!!!

wow - such a deal! :)

Does anyone actually buy these things?

Who in their right mind would fork over $322k for a 38' Donzi.

There's a local 28' with a single 502 that only has 40 hours and it's been sitting for sale for (get this) 89K for two years now. I understand the guy spent over $100G's for this thing...

boy o boy... PT Barnum was right!

:)

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Donzi's and think they're nice boats...but their prices are Astronomical.

[ 01-07-2002: Message edited by: JeffreyBoy ]

Apparently they have to build enough profit in to defer the warranty costs of repairing all their de-laminated hulls. :eek: :eek:

Believe it or not, I have owned a 23ft donzi.

Great boats... exceptionally well made, no...
exceptionally fast, not really.
exceptionally overpriced, yes.

Poeople do like the name though....

go figure.

I only bought mine for 12k... it was called a REGAZZA, and had 800 hours on it when I bought it (350 Small block).

Ran good though.

[ 01-07-2002: Message edited by: NICKSLICK ]

Nick... I used to own a 17' Ragazza...It was Yellow. Nice boat, but I only paid 4k used for it.

Jeffrey Boy, If you handled the Deal the right way you could buy the 38Zx in the 200s and that is the going price for a good 38, As far as the used 28 he is over priced especilly when you can get a 28zx for 89,000 left over. I bought my 98 22ZX for 36,000 I put another 10,000 into her over the 3years, Supercharger her and still was able to trader her in for 35,000 I paid 41,000 for a 26ZX when I traded my boat in. And also a 38 Cigarette for 450,000 and how about Outerlimits starting at over 400,000 You pay for Quality boats. :eek:
Frank

Built like a piece of tissue paper. Don't get them wet and they are OK. If I could change my name I would as I never want to see another one for the rest of my life. :mad:

In 97 I bought a new loaded 38 Scarab w/500HP's for $130,000 and the next year or 2 later the Donzi was $205,00 with same options it was a little faster in the calm but could not handle the bigg water.

Tell us about it. This sounds good! :)

At the San Diego boat show they had a left over 33zx. It was a very nice boat, lots of extras but only 502's and it was show priced at $165,000. It listed for $217,000. Of course they threw in a trailer for that price.

Actually, I thought it was a very nice looking and thought out boat, but I also thought it was pricy since a 28 is around 90K then jump to 217K ouch.

boys...

If I had 300k to spend I'd be sitting in a Skater....

period.

What's the problem DonziMitch?

Very nice choice! :D ;) :D

i would pay 400+ for an outerlimits or skater but tha tis it. I don't think cigs are woth that much. When you see an outerlimits pull up you know it, same with a skater.

That 38 was the same one from last year. I was looking at it they would let in go for 280k. My budy bought a 38 cig last year with 575's price 300k not 400k.Right now most of the boat company's are very hungry, you could get a great deal. :)

MercMan, I bought a 88 Z33 and it was nothing but work. After thousands of dollars in repairs and beefing the boat up it still was not what I expected. I sold the boat at a loss and am very bitter. I feel the structure of the boat was very weak and the design of the boat was horrible. The way the hatches cover 2/3rds of the deck right in the middle of the boat is like perforated paper, it will rip. Just nor worth the money in my opinion. :mad:

Shanghied is right just because they have a boat show price of 300+ does not mean that is what you pay for it. If you havent guessed I am a Donzi dealer and I love the boats, but that is beside the point. We have a used 99 38 ZX with 525sc's and I would let it go for 189,900.00. Just my little plug there, sorry.

Donzi Mitch, I am sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience, if there is anything I can do to help in the future please let me know. My # is 800-557-1350 ext. 2 ask for Dan Cramer

.02

You cannot compare a Donzi Regazzi to the Donzi's that built the company's reputation. Regazzi was a suicidal attempt to capitalize on the name recognition to sell bayliners for the price of a wellcraft. The new Donzi's are significantly better than the old Regazzi's or Medallions, but still not up to what it should be for the price,in my opinion.

I am not here to defend Donzi, hell there is one thing I don't like about my new boat, that being the flip out cup holder is a poor design.
I know several new ZX Donzi owners, we all purchased between 35% and 40% off MSRP. That is a good rule of thumb for these boats.

I am obviously happy with them and just bought my second one. A good point (in a way) was made above about the added cost is for warranty spending, this maybe true but I believe they were one of the first with the 5 year warranty, with this coverage you don't spend money on the Merc Q extended plans, and after the first year it is a good feeling to have some protection. Yes it is merely an insurance policy from Marine Innovations but I made several claims including an outdrive and the ext warranty paid. I believe they also underwrite several other major manufactures who now offer this type of coverage?
* 6 in one hand half dozen in another I guess.

There will always be some bad boats out there, but unlike cars you don't always hear all the stories. I am still curious of the outcome of the Blister Boat, but I bet I can guess the result. Has anyone heard from Chris???

DonziMitch I was curious about your boat, thanks for giving us the details. Have you found a new ride yet? And Just FYI, you can change your screen name on here in your profile, same account new handle...
Bryan

[ 01-08-2002: Message edited by: 2001 26ZX ]

There is a 99 38 Donzi with 575s in the classified right here on OSO for $145000.

No no new ride yet. I am waiting until the spring to find the right one. I hope at that time I have a huge choice and some good deals. I will let you all know what I end up with. :D

The Cincinnati boat show is going on right now. There are about 5 boats there worth looking at in my opinion. There are a couple of Donzis. There is a 2001 left over 28' Scorpion. Special boat show price of $133,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: I didn't think retail on that boat was so high. I think I'll go down and offer him 70. :p

I think all of these companies can bring offshore performance boating to every one, just like henry ford with the car, just start selling a 28' v or cat your choice
500hp for 50k twin for 100k :eek: :eek: :p I take mine right away ;) what do you guys think?
oh and BTW in my world the weather is always sunning, the beer is always flowing(and ice cold) the women are topless,and the meds are handed out by a nice guy in a white suit :D

Mattyboy

Hello my fellow OSO folks. The facts of this thread are wrong. If you go to the Donzi Web site you will find that they are currently offering 9 months no payments. They have coupled this with a reduction in there pricing. I have purchased 2 new Donzi ZX boats since 1999 and have always done significantly better than the MSRP. When you take other Builders boats and add the options that Donzi offers as standard you are in about the same price range. If you are a consumer and do not like Donzi boats that is fine. If you have never owned one, driven one and formulate a negative opinion that is hard for me to understand. The facts listed here not only with Donzi but other boat builders is not reality relative to pricing. How many boat builders are vacuum bagging during there construction. Add K-Planes and HYD steering as standard features on there boats. The list goes on and on. I have owned 2 and I am in the process of purchasing another. I personnally have not found any other boat that satisifies me like a Donzi and I have done my shopping and homework. Shopped, Priced, Driven etc... Most boat show prices that I have seen are really not good deals. My .02. I like My Donzi as much as my fellow members like there Sunsation, Powerquest, Fountain, AT, Cig, velocity, Apache, and all the rest. I do not question the intelligence of you folks on what you bought. If you are a happy boat owner that is great. Donzi is a good company. I can say this without prejudice because I have lived the experience. See you all on the water. DONZIMAN2

I was waiting for you to chime in.

There should be lots of Donzi's at the Miami BS!

Nice post Donziman2. :)

I have seen the term 'vacuum bagged' several times but I am not familiar with the process and its benefits. Could you, or anyone else, please elaborate.

I know this might be better addressed in the tech section, but since I was already posting... :D

Thanks in advance for educating me on this topic,

Sean :)

I was waiting too.... :)
I just want a new cup holder for my birthday!
It will come, trust me!

I WILL MENTION I am glad no other manufactures were over priced.
Did SUNSATION have a blue light sale?

Lets face it, if they can stick it to ya they will, some get deals some don't, on any brand.
Bryan

[ 01-08-2002: Message edited by: 2001 26ZX ]

2001 26ZX:

I bet you wouldn’t have guessed that my boat is currently at the Donzi factory being repaired would you? Well, it is. They plan to grind off all the defective gelcoat and replace.

I intend to post the results once I take delivery (estimated to take approximately 30 days, but I’m not holding my breath). Not so much because it’s Donzi but more so because I’ve estimated a few projects in my day.

70 degrees here in TX, not a cloud in the sky and no boat (sigh), I think I’ll go visit the hole in the water I’m renting and maybe watch my lift go up an down.

-Chris

Chris, I mean it with in all sincerity, I am glad you got somewhere from your persistance.
Keep us posted.
Bryan

Vacuum bagging is pretty much what it's name implies. Quick background (I'm sure you know this, but just in case), the fiberglass mat used to form a boat hull is "painted" or "rolled" with resin. The resin saturates the 'glass and a chemical reaction follows that binds it all together (don't sue me if I'm not 100% right on this). The problem is that the resin may or may not fully saturate the glass, so the boat builder has to use lots of resin, adding weight.

When a boat is vacuum-bagged, the hull/deck/whatever is rolled with resin then sealed in a big old plastic bag. Then all the air is pumped out of the bag, forcing the resin throughout the structure (I'm reaching here, can anyone help?). The end result is a stronger, lighter hull.

To see a really hi-tech method of doing glass/resin, check out Genmar's VEC technology. Varying glass/resin amounts is one of the big reasons boats vary so much in weight from one hull to the next; with VEC Genmar is turning out hulls that vary no more than I think 7 lbs on a 20' hull, time after time. Supposed to be stronger too, but the tooling costs a fortune, that's why they are only using it on "volume" models.

More info here....

Vacuum bagging: http://www.fibreglast.com/Bro913Vacbag.htm
http://www.info-central.org/construc...mbagging.shtml

VEC: http://www.genmar.com/page.cfm?id=63

[ 01-08-2002: Message edited by: MikeStar ]

Thanks Mike. Very thorough indeed... :D

Sean :)

Donzimitch- As you may have seen in the readers rides post I had a 89 Z33,I loved that boat, then it got stolen and gutted. Did you drive the **** out of that thing? I had no structural problems with mine whatsoever, how many hours were on yours?

Thanks Folks, I get asked all the time about vacuum bagging construction. The examples and explanations are excellent. Hec of a lot better than this tired old squid naval officer could have ever done.

Chris, I hope all works out well with you on your repair work. You have waited a long time and deserve the best. I am glad Donzi is backing there boat. Good luck and happy boating. I envy your good weather. We had it nice here in Virginia Beach until about a week ago. Please keep us posted. Again good luck.

Hey Mr DONZIMAN2, I am leaving after the first brief tomorrow...
63 degree forecast!
Bryan

Does that mean you are going to dump some more Anti-Freeze? Give me a call later. I may drive tomorrow.

Troutly, To anwser your Q's on Active Thunder
w/575, under 250, is slightly high. About 235k with all the toys, tv, ac/heat, trailer, and all the quality components that usually are std. Also the new millenium cabins are included with any kind of paint job that you can dream of. The best part is there warranty, lifetime. No wood what so ever, anywhere, and quality construction, vacuum bagged and so forth. Check their site out www.activethunderboats.com go to Latest news, you can see AT Dans 37 under construction, check the bolts out in their seats, check the hull out, its all there, nothin to hide. Go to graphics, My boat is Radio Active , Dans is Thunderstorm. All the info is there on their site. They are as close as your going to get, especially for the $, to an Outerlimits.

As to Donzi they are finally fixing my uncles 2001 38Daytona. Their warranty is for ****, took 3 months of arguing to fix hull delams, fairing cracks, stitching comin undone, the list goes on. What good is a DONZI-CARE warranty if they dont fix anything, they are overpriced by 60k with the same options as to my A.T. and were more than the Outerlimits by 3500.00. No comparision, I just wish they would quit jackin my uncle around. Good luck to everyone, see ya on the water :D

Chris, fantastic! I am happy to see they are taking care of the problem. DonziMitch, I will agree with you from the past Donzis, In the 80s OMC bought the company and they cut corners Big time! They sent Donzi down hill just like they did with Chris Craft, The Scorpions Transoms were falling off. But the new company is pulling Donzi in to the future, They are coming out with new models for the up coming future also the F-2 race boat will be making her day view this year and there is plans for 2 Cats. They are also talking about making Custom Boats from the new 38 design, I owned a 22ZX that I will say took a beating like no other boat in her class could or would of ever taken, I have a lot of faith in the new Donzi thats why I bought a new one.
Frank

I almost forgot to add earlier than Donzi uses polyurethane foam in there stringer system and transom, and Divinycell coring in the hullsides. The totally WOOD-FREE boat's hull and Deck is bonded with glass and Plexus adhesive. My 1999 ZX was also wood free. I am not sure how many other builders besides the previously mentioned A/T are taking this Wood-Free approach.

Well I for one learn allot hear daily, from the best XXX sites to if I snif my hull using a bag I can get a buzz....
Bryan

Troutly, Thanks for the info. I like the formula boats. We have a few in our club.