Donzi 35 ZF - The Hull Truth

Dentman · 10-31-2005, 09:11 PM

Anyone know how this hull rides in rough water, and how it stacks up against the 35 contender side console.I have been thinking about the stepped hull.

fizisition · 11-01-2005, 01:08 AM

OUR 33zf gets it done. A great tournament boat for the type of sea we have here in the gulf.

Glen E · 11-01-2005, 08:02 AM

Owned a 35zf and loved it - rides on top and not thru it - faster but to me a bit rougher than my conventional wellcraft 32 hull I own now...

Fever Mike · 11-01-2005, 08:30 AM

IF you are looking for a sporty nice deep v center console check out Ocean Hawk or Concept. Both offer more room than the Donzi 35ZF and better build quality, options and rigging.

bigtuna · 11-01-2005, 02:01 PM

Those boats are awesome in rough water. I normally go out on a 35 zf with trip 250 mercs. Runs fast and smoothe in less than desireable conditions. Go for it

Dentman · 11-01-2005, 09:41 PM

Thanks for the input guys

bewitched · 11-02-2005, 01:01 PM

About a year ago, someone turned me on to a site called mystinkindonzi.com, it was run by a gent that was not even a little happy with his big ZF. He went into great detail about all the major issues he was having with the boat, with pictures. Also he was very upset w/ the customer service from Donzi. For logging on, he sent me a mystinkindonzi.com hat. I went back later to check on his situation, and Donzi was in the process of suing the crap out of him for defamation of character, amongst other things. Now, I can't find his site at all, although that's no surprise. There's nothing saying that this fellow knows anything about boats, I just thought it was funny, and figured I'd mention it.

Fever Mike · 11-02-2005, 01:51 PM

There is also some info on offshore only about a 26 and a 38 Donzi with bilsters and on the Fla Sportsman sit there is a new Pro Line (same comapy as Donzi) with bilsters.
Anyway, I liked the look and layout of the 35ZF but at 2 boat shows back in 2003 when I went to look at them I saw serious waves/ripples in the fiberglass above the rubrail on the sides of the boats. I asked a salesman about these and he could not deny they were there and he became an instant smartazz. I was really turned off by the people at Donzi. I finally bought a 36 Concept rigged how I wanted. It was a nice rough water boat but a but wet in a following or quartering sea. The Concept hull is built very well and strong. I sold that and now have a 38te Fountain.
God luck with what ever you pick out. There are a lot of Donzi owners that are very very happy with their Donzi's.

bigtuna · 11-02-2005, 02:50 PM

Dentman

With all this being said, I think you would be safer going with the 32 or 34 fountain if this is the kind of boat you are looking for. Fountain is proven and is a very solid hull. Go with the 32 if you want twins and the 34 if you want trips. I have been on a 35 donzi with trip 250s. The boat was awesome in 4-5 ft seas, but I am a little iffy on their quality. Sounds like customer service is pretty bad to.
Just a thought.