First off, congratulations!

I will shoot you a PM -- I'd definitely love to hear what you've got.

There is virtually no difference in running at 35 or 38 boat. The COST to MANUFACTURE a 38 over a 35 is nominal. Albeit MSRP and sales prices do not reflect that. If you find a 38ZR that suits your needs, jump on it. After a year with a 35, you will want a 38 anyhow.
Remember a 35 Donzi ZR is actually only a 33'-ish long hull, and a 38 Donzi ZR is roughly a 36' long hull. Those two models include the molded in swim platform as part of the overall measurement and naming convention. Same with many Fountains, Sonics, and Sunsations.

Excellent input, and I will certainly keep that in mind. It appears that the 38s are just as hard to find as the 35s right now. I saw a red one with 700s that is right up my alley. Just not my wallet's.
Thank you!

Figured I would update this post -- as I have have not been on the forum much.
A few updates:

I did end up finding a beautiful and clean 35ZR with 525s and all of the amenities we were looking for (heat/ac, generator, pump out head) in June of '21. My wife and I loved every second spent on the boat and we got a ton of use out of it.

Recently, a gentleman from Iowa called me at work (assume he found me on one of the Donzi Facebook groups) and asked if I would sell the boat...to which I reluctantly said "yes I would consider it". My wife was 8 months pregnant with our first and I did not figure we would do "a ton" of boating in the near future. I figured the best time to sell is when I am not looking to sell, right?

Long story short, I told him what I felt was a fair price for the boat...and sure enough he and his wife came and picked it up the day we brought our son home. It was a busy day full of emotions.

The financially responsible thing to do as a new father would have been to hang on to the money for a rainy day. However, my wife kept bothering me for a "push present".......
I ended up purchasing a 38ZR that had been "re done" in 2022. It has everything the 35 had & then some, my favorite addition being the Alcantara interior.

I decided to name the boat "Push Present" -- seemed appropriate.

We already had our little dude out for a cruise (he slept the entire time) -- and loved spending time under the Anchor Shade.
Some fun pics below of the old boat and the new boat.

Boating season is about done here in MI so we are already thinking about next year!


My wife and I on Lake Charlevoix with the 35

Last trip with the 35 in Traverse City for Cherry Fest (wife about to pop, she's a trooper).

The 35 on its last day with us

The new 38

The new 38

The day I brought the 38 home

First trip on the 38 as a family

Proud dad (don't worry we have a life jacket & earmuffs for him when we are underway)

38 interior & engine bay



When the boat was getting the new paint it also got a new trailer built by Integrity out of Nunica, MI. I am very pleased with it.

Great looking Donzi!

Thanks!

Very nice 38. Looks like you made a trip to LOTO. Looks likeThe Cave and maybe Margaritaville???

We are loving it so far.
A good eye you have -- those pics were taken at LOTO but are not mine -- they are from the previous owner. He had taken it down there a few weeks prior to my purchase of it.
We would love to make a trip down someday ourselves.

That’s a pretty slick one! Congrats on your boy and the boat.

I’m assuming that boat was silver before the re-do? Any before pictures?

Thanks!

I've actually followed your 38ZR thread for quite a while.
I love the updates you've made....I wish I had that sort of ability.

The boat was actually bright yellow like what the accent colors are. I don't have any before pictures unfortunately.