Wow... this thread has seed to take on a life of its own... glad to see so many chime in... some on topic... so not so... but its nice to see the interest in the small boats.

I spoke with the owner today of the Apache today... will be heading down to check it out.

Still think you should take a look at a Donzi 22C just for chits and giggles.

Planetwarmer is right, you will get more compliments on the 22C than any other 22 IMO.

Of course, I am a little biased.....

If you are dead set on the Avanti or Apache, Apache all the way.....

Hard to beat a boat built in Miami during the glory days!

We have all boosted the Apache up so much that you may be blinded. Hopefully it is all we want it to be. Just remember if you end up really liking the design, there are more Apaches than THAT boat if it turns out that it needs too much work than you want to take on.

Im jealous! I would like to be in the hunt for a boat too!

Good luck, and have fun. Now is a great time to be in the market for a boat.

TAKE PICS!!

Just out of curiosity, does your Donzi 22 "fall off a chine" at low speeds in sharp turns? One of our customers has one that I've been in several times. It's got a 502 with a Bravo and low speed turns at zero trim are downright scary when it falls off of that inside chine. Powerboat Magazine actually flunked one (with an OMC drive) for the very same reason. It was later blamed on too much negative trim in the OMC drive, but as I've said, a boat with a Bravo drive exhibited the exact same behavior with me in it.

No, the donzi tracks awesome

powerboat flunked the four winns copy of the donzi

Mine is actually a Criterion, not a 22. The Criterion was the predecessor to the 22, although several years they overlapped. I just got done putting a 540 in mine and am still testing and propping, but so far, mine does not have those characteristics.

I know of some fast 22C's. One in Florida has a 710 hp Ilmore that has gone 104.

The Donzi Classics (16,18, 22) are kinda of known as "drivers" boats, which is what I love about them. It takes alot of driver input to make them go fast. Planet warmer hit on it when he said the reason the 22C got beat by the other boat is possibly due to the driver. The fun is learning how to make them go fast and knowing you are hitting alot of speed due to your input vs. just the setup. They will go fast, really fast in some cases. Mighty Mouse was kinda a famous 18 that went over 120 with an arneson and SBC. Twin turbo 16 over 100. N/A 16 went over 85. Alot of 22c's are in the 80's without a whole lot of upgrades from factory, and some, like the Shelby edition, goes 84 stock from the factory.

Interesting, and thanks for the very complete reply.

The Progression 22 is also known as a drivers boat. Almost anybody could get mine to the mid 60's. You have to know what you're doing to get it to 78 though. I've always said it's "like driving a Formula 1 car on the street." It's not for everybody, but I love it! And, as I've said before, that's what I love about starting out with small boats.

I agree 100%! Some people simply like to throw the throttle down, give a little trim and go. I like boats that you have to "drive".

The Donzi that you had to "drive" the most was the factory Blackhawk edition. Many considered it down right scary and dangerous. In the right hands though, they are smoking fast.....plus, they threw a HUGE rooster.

Nice to see interest in the smaller boats.....

I remember an article on the 22 in some boating mag. Said it leaned like you stated. If I remember the conclusion, they said it had too much power.... WTF??? The test driver simply had no seat time. Plus, is there ever too much power? LOL