Overview

The new Donzi 39 VRZ opens a new chapter in the history of a storied boating nameplate that has been the property of Iconic Marine Group since 2017. This 38-foot-8-inch performance-luxury center-console represents a brand reboot, the first in a new generation of Donzi models being developed under the guidance of a team assembled by former Cigarette Racing and Statement Marine marketing maven Craig Barrie and built at Caldwell Marine Designs in North Carolina. Versatility makes center-consoles the most popular segment of the performance-boat market right now. A plush center-console is simply a great dayboat for its abundant space and the easy movement around the boat the layout affords. This Donzi will vie for boatbuyers’ dollars along with premium models like the 39-foot Nor-Tech 390 Sport ($664,395 base price with triple Mercury Racing 300R outboards) and the 38-foot-7-inch Mystic M3800 ($775,000 base price with triple 300R outboards), each a luxurious 12,000-pound step-hull that owners can rig with as much Mercury Racing outboard horsepower as they care to pay for. The Nor-Tech offers a “hidden fishing package,” while the Mystic makes no pretense to angling.

Engines

You also won’t find a rod holder on the Donzi 39 VRZ. The ­mission is confident performance. Barrie told us he wants an owner to take the helm of the 39 VRZ and feel immediately comfortable at any speed, in any ­water condition. That was exactly our experience running hull No. 1, a blazing orange beauty ordered by a Canadian customer who specified triple Racing 300R outboards. Top speed was a tick over 70 mph, fast enough to keep up with the poker-run fleet and as fast as this customer wants to run with the family. We were unfamiliar with this Donzi but ­discovered it was instantly fun. It does not require trim tabs, carving turns at speed with absolute confidence and no hint of step-hull skipping or bobbing. We could execute a pretty aggressive 180-degree turnaround maneuver without trimming down the outboards. More power is always available. Barrie estimates this will be a 90 mph boat with triple Mercury ­Racing 500R motors, a different experience for a different kind of owner.

Credit goes to the hull design for this boat’s easygoing personality. Pete Caldwell and pro racer Billy Moore consulted on the modification of the Fluid Diversion Technology twin-step hull originally created in 2001 by the late Jim Caldwell (Pete’s father) for the Donzi 38 ZRC, one of the first sit-down performance boats and a champion in offshore competition. To convert that hull to outboard power and a center-console layout, the deadrise was changed from the midstep aft, and the angles of each step were also modified. The hull is laid up with bi- and quad-axial fiberglass, with a high-density foam core vacuum-bagged over the layup with vinylester resin. Plexus methyl methacrylate adhesive bonds the hull-deck joint and the deck to stringers. The transom is cored with Coosa composite.

Interior and Accessories

The interior is laid out to maximize space and create social areas. The four-wide aft seat is divided by a walk-through to a 24-inch-deep transom platform. More than 4 feet of deck space—room for dancing or big coolers—separates the aft seat from the first console, which holds a three-across seat with a footrest and a grab bar. Forward on the center console is a lounge with room for two. The bow lounge features angled ­forward-facing ­backrests and stowage below the main cushions.

At the helm, our test boat had an optional throttle console that places the controls between port and starboard seating positions and directly under the captain’s left hand, race-boat-style. This blocks passage through the helm area, and the standard helm has the controls on the main console with a three-wide seat, if that’s your preference. A pair of 16-inch ­Garmin 8616 multifunction displays offer boat and navigation data.

Aerodynamics does not often factor into pleasure-boat design, but note the details in the Donzi 39 VRZ’s hardtop. It angles down a few degrees when the boat is at rest so it is horizontal to reduce drag when the boat is running. A vent in the top forward windshield relieves air pressure at speed; without the vent, a parachute effect occurs, wanting to pull the boat back against its roll into a turn. To further improve handling and stability, the top is formed of carbon fiber to reduce weight high on the boat, reportedly weighing only 160 pounds.

The top, the central control location, and the fine-tuning of the hull are examples of a racer’s influence on the design of this new Donzi, but this is no race boat. This is a center-console built purely for pleasure, for an owner who wants to be seen at the scene at the wheel of a boat that’s fast but never demanding. Donzi is back, baby.

How We Tested

• Engines: Triple Mercury Racing 300R
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury Racing 5.44 HD gear case/Mercury Racing Bravo I FS 15.25″ x 28″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 140 gal. Water on Board: NA Crew Weight: 850 lb.

High Points

• Well-balanced and well-designed, the boat inspires instant confidence from the helm, with no hint of handling quirks.
• Standard Fusion and JL Audio system could power a Rolling Stones concert, with 20 speakers, four subs and four 900-watt amps.
• Room for your entire poker-run entourage.

Low Points

• Windshield does not open for ventilation.
• No ventilation in the head compartment.
• No grab handles at the console lounge position.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2023 Donzi 39 VRZ appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

The passion of a lifetime is what might explain our attraction to the Donzi 38 ZRC. Beautiful and powerful, but easy to handle, this fabulous 38-foot speedboat vanished from our lives more than a decade ago. So, finding one bobbing at a boat show this spring is like spying that old flame at the end of the bar. The desire is undeniable.

And for good reason. The 38 ZRC proved fast, fun and attractive, a combination that made it a big hit—and a champion stock-class race boat—during its initial production run, from 2002 until the turmoil of the Great Recession. Yet a great hull remains a great hull, and its performance is even more potent thanks to new powertrain options and technology. So, the return of the Donzi 38 ZRC to production under the Iconic Marine Group banner put a wry smile on this boat tester’s face.

Iconic chose to splash an example of the original two-step 38 ZRC hull to make the new mold, a better option for recreational use than the four-step race version that Donzi also built back in the day. The hull has a 15.5-degree pad at the keel aft that carries the boat at speed (overall deadrise is 23 degrees) and an 8-inch transom notch. Iconic says the hull form has been “blueprinted,” or optimized for its anticipated weight, power, drive and prop application, all of which are new. Adjustments to the shape and location of a strake, for example, can be measured in fractions of an inch and are guided by experience and intuition. “There’s no software program that can re-create the properties of strakes, a pad and steps, and factor in power and aero- and hydrodynamics,” says Jeff Harris, Iconic Marine Group’s chief operating officer.

The 38 ZRC hull and deck are hand-laid using vinylester resin with high-density foam coring. The transom is cored with high-density Coosa composite, and composite sandwich material is used for stringers and bulkheads. We got a good look at the stringers when we opened the foredeck hatches, since there’s no cabin or liner in this boat.

Interior and Accessories

The Donzi 38 ZRC helped popularize the sit-down cockpit for performance boats, which permits a lower-profile top deck and cowl than are required for a boat with stand-up bolsters, lowering the center of gravity a bit. The skipper and helm mate must slither into floor-mounted seats with bolsters that wrap around the thighs to lock each securely in place. The seats, the rather narrow cockpit, and the curved dual canopy-style windscreens combine to create a sensation akin to being tucked into a high-performance sports car. The wheel on our boat was to port with Mercury Racing Digital Zero Effort controls on a center console. A set of digital/analog Livorsi gauges are mirrored port and starboard on the dash, with a Garmin 8610 screen atop the center stack over rows of trim switches. A Mercury VesselView 502 display is mounted on the steering wheel located to starboard. Footrests are adjustable; the seats are not. The cockpit is finished with three bucket seats aft and tall padded inwales. Small stowage compartments are located below each seat, and a pair of insulated and drained compartments are directly abaft the rear seats.

Engine

Our test boat boasted maximum power—a pair of normally aspirated 860 hp Mercury Racing 860 9-liter (552 cid) V-8 engines with the quad-cam four-valve cylinder heads—in a staggered installation, mated to Mercury Racing M6 sterndrives. As high-performance engines go, these 860s are pretty easy to live with. They are covered by a two-year warranty, require 89-octane fuel, and won’t need a factory refresh for 300 hours, according to Mercury Racing.

With champion racer Billy Moore at the throttles, we ran the Donzi on a cool day with flat water on the Pamlico River in North Carolina. The boat hopped on plane with minimal prop slip, and from a cruising speed of 50 to 70 mph, leaped ahead when fed more throttle. The boat felt rock-solid as we clocked a top speed of 116 mph. Moore was still fine-tuning the props and setup, and has since reported a routine 120 mph top speed with the same boat. Our previous reviews of this boat praised its confident and controlled handling in confused chop (think Lake of the Ozarks), conditions we did not experience on this test. We can say that the sit-down cockpit and canopies combine to enhance the sensation of speed; the wind blast roars overhead while the helm area remains calm.

Alternatives in this sit-down performance segment are limited (unless you shop pre-owned), but you might consider the open-cockpit 43-foot-5-inch Outerlimits SV-43 ($799,000 base price with twin Mercury Racing 860 engines), a semi-custom speedster that is longer, wider and lighter than the Donzi, and has a cabin. It’s also much more expensive.

While the 38 ZRC was on hiatus, some performance boaters migrated to sport cats and luxury center-consoles. Maybe the 38 ZRC will spur a revival of classic V-bottom speedboats—rigs that go fast, ride and handle well, and look flat-out sexy doing it.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin staggered Mercury Racing 860s/Mercury Racing M6 outdrives
• Prop: Mercury Racing CNC Cleaver 17″ x 31″ 5- blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.496:1 Fuel Load: 140 gal. Crew Weight: 430 lb.

High Points

• Pop-off steering wheel eases access to the helm seat.
• Canopy windscreens are distortion-free.
• This fast poker-run machine handles better than a cat and looks sexier than a center-console.

Low Points

• Loud exhaust will earn dirty looks in the marina.
• Canopies funnel a wind blast right onto the rear-seat passengers.
• No cabin and minimal storage.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Donzi Marine/Iconic Marine Group – Washington, North Carolina; 252-975-2000; donzimarine.com

The post 2020 Donzi 38 ZRC appeared first on Boating Mag.

With the reintroduction of the 38ZRC, Donzi is bringing back a modern performance-boat classic. When we reviewed the last version of the boat in 2008, our intrepid boat tester wrote, “Donzi got it right with the latest incarnation of its 38ZRC.” Those words still hold true today.

The first thing that stands out is the boat’s style. It is long and slender—with a narrow 8-foot, 3-inch beam—and sports a glossy gelcoat finish and eye-popping performance graphics. Donzi uses multi-axial laminates with 100 percent VE resins. When you lower the throttles. Donzi reports a top speed of over 120 mph with the staggered Mercury Racing 860 engines paired with M6 drives. (If you want to tone it down a little, you can opt for the Mercury Racing 565 engines.) Its double-stepped hull rides with a level attitude for excellent handling at high speeds.

This Donzi is lightweight for its size yet solid thanks to its composite stringer system with a fiberglass inner liner and high-density cored hullsides. The finished and highly organized engine compartment makes it easy to maintain your choice of performance power.

At the helm, the carbon-fiber dash houses Livorsi analog gauges as well as a Garmin 8610 and Vessel View screen. A matching set of gauges sit on the passenger side, along with a second Vessel View display. The Livorsi controls for the throttle and F-N-R are easily reached from the console in between the seats. The driver and throttleman are protected by jet-canopy-style windscreens that help the boat keep its aerodynamic shape. Three plush and secure passenger seats behind the helm round out the cockpit seating for your crew. There are grab bars for safety and cup holders for convenience.

As for bling, the 38ZRC has it in spades. The Shadowcaster system will make the boat come alive with light . And the custom stainless-steel hardware looks great any time of day. The JL Marine sound system provides premium entertainment with clean, crisp audio. Whether you’re rocking out at the dock or blasting along at top speed, the 38ZRC will command the attention of all who happen to see it.

High Points

⋅Double-stepped hull provides a great running attitude at high speeds.

⋅Premium gelcoat features custom Donzi graphics.

⋅Top speed? A blazing 120 mph with the twin Mercury Racing 860s.

⋅Shadowcaster Lightning System controls underwater, cockpit and engine lights as a group or individually.

⋅The custom Livorsi gauges are a performance boat staple.

⋅Custom SeaDek flooring provides style as well as comfort underfoot.

Specs

LOA: 38′3″

Beam: 8′3″

Draft (max): 2′4″

Dry Weight: 9,500 lb.

Seat/Weight Capacity: Yacht Certified

Fuel Capacity: 250 gal.

Available Power: Mercury Racing 565 or 860 inboards

Price: $399,000 (base)

More Information

Donzi Marine – Washington, North Carolina; 252-975-2000; donzimarine.com

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Joe Curran_1

Over a 32-year career in the marine industry Curran earned a reputation for honesty and a no-nonsense approach to business. At the time of his death Curran was engaged in the challenging assignment of reviving the Donzi, Fountain and Baja boat brands under the Iconic Marine umbrella. With Curran at the helm, Iconic introduced five new models and revived eleven models in less than two years, and is poised to be a driving force in both the high-performance and sport-boat markets. Just weeks ago Curran was working the docks for Iconic at the Miami International Boat Show.

“When Iconic was formed, Joe was my first hire,” said Iconic Marine Managing Partner FredRoss. “I couldn’t have made a better choice. Joe’s passion for boating was obvious, his talent and experience in so many areas unmatched. We’ll miss Joe as a leader and a driving force at Iconic, but more than anything we’ll miss him as a friend.”

Curran’s diverse career also included key roles at US Marine, Harris Kayot, Wellcraft, Chris-Craft, Monterey Boats, Brunswick, Forrest River and Crest Pontoons. While boating was his first love, Curran was also a gifted athlete who was a star defensive tackle for the Michigan StateSpartans football team in the 1980s. Curran enjoyed lifelong friendships with some of the biggest names in college and professional football. Joe was born on April 27, 1963 in Chicago, Ill. He was married to his wife, Julie, for 32 years. The family requests that memorials be made to Michigan State University Parkinson’s Research. Fund AR9002, University Advancement, Spartan Way, 535 Chestnut Rd., Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824 or to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46808

Memorial services to be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Elmhurst, Ill on April4, 2019

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Custom Marine Group (CMG), a new partnership formed by the Ross and Wortley families, has purchased Baja Marine LLC, taking over ownership of Baja Marine, Fountain Powerboats, Donzi Marine and Pro-Line Boats. The Wortley family has been active behind the scenes at Baja Marine and Fountain Powerboats since the companies declared bankruptcy. The addition of the Ross family gives the company the resources it needs to reinvest, bring back employees and ramp up production.

The president of the company is Carol Price, who had recently been named to that position at Baja Marine. She had been with Fountain Powerboats and then Baja Marine for 29 years. “I’m proud to enter into a successful journey with Custom Marine Group and excited for great things to come,” Price says. “Our possibilities are truly endless. This is just what our employees, local community, vendors, and current and future dealer partnerships need.”

Fountain recently showed a new 38-foot center console model at the Miami International Boat Show and Palm Beach International Boat Show. Price says there are models from all four manufacturers in production on the floor, including a Donzi 35 ZR midcabin. All the boats under the corporate umbrella will be built at the former Fountain Powerboats factory in Washington, North Carolina, and each company will retain its own brand identity and website (www.fountainpowerboats.com, www.bajamarine.com, www.donzimarine.com, and www.prolineboats.com). Visit each manufacturer’s website for more information.

The post New Parent Company Buys Fountain, Donzi, Baja and Pro-Line appeared first on Boating Mag.

It ran easy and arrow-straight at just shy of 80 miles per hour, and I throttled down to 60 mph, then slightly more, settling the boat on the three sections of its two-step hull before feeding in port rudder. It carved into the turn, and, thanks to the safe setup by Donzi, the helm held without feedback. Hands off the helm, I fed in throttle, and the boat held its course, hooked up and stayed that way as we crossed back across our own wake. The ZR was just as kind turning to starboard.

If go-fasts were all this easy to handle, and if gas were a buck a gallon, everybody would want one! As it is, everybody can become proficient with them, and there seems little to stem the enthusiasm for those who love this romping sport.

Fully expecting to need tabs to hold a lunging bow down as I throttled up, I was surprised to find none were needed. And, no matter the speed, trim settings for our ride could have been left at about “3” on the mechanical trim indicators conveniently viewed just to the left of the dual throttle and dual shift controls. Halfway through the ride, I was about to conclude that tabs were redundant. But, as wind picked up and bay chop climbed past a foot or so in quartering seas and winds, a bit of leeward tab helped level the ride. In heftier seas they’d come in handy too, helping a bit in keeping down the leaping and lunging brought on by clearing waves. Even on still waters like those of Lake of the Ozarks, they deploy quickly to counter the dynamics of those pesky crew members who bound like Labradors from port to starboard.

We didn’t make the prescribed 80 mph on our test, but the day was damp and rainy and the tank was full of fuel. Also, when we loaded the ZR back on the trailer, we spotted three or four pieces of shrink-wrap tape clinging to the steps and keel of the just-uncovered craft. We would have peeled them and dunked her back in then and there, but clouds were building and the damp mist was beginning to progress from drizzle to rain.

Noteworthy on our test ride, the engines were the new 430 hp big blocks from Mercury, and there was no Captain’s Choice exhaust cutoffs mounted to the manifolds. Catalytic converters provided ample muffling to keep the throaty growl within marina-friendly confines. A side benefit of catalytic converters is a reduction by more than half of carbon monoxide fumes. That’s great for reducing risk caused by the station wagon effect, in which fumes follow the boat and are drafted inside, and it also reduces noxious gases in marinas.

While the skinny on power and handling was striking enough, so was the look of the go-fast, thanks to its rocket-red theme and contrasting ice-white upholstery. The latter is durable and stain-resistant, as I learned when accidentally rolling my ballpoint across the helm seat backrest. A sheepish apology and a little spit and polish with my thumb set it right.

Most dramatic is the forward seating area, ideal for several guests but best used in calm waters and at moderate speeds. Even in light chop, the bow can lift enough to rock bow passengers, so Donzi recommends caution when placing passengers there. Still, at 70 mph our passenger enjoyed relative comfort at the bow.

Formula forgoes the forward seating in its 353 FasTech ($284,400 powered like our test boat, see “The History of Go-Fast Boats“), offering a V-berth farther forward of the midship lounges — as is the tradition in this genre of sexy boats. Performance-wise, the open bow takes nothing from the ride, since the closed and open deck versions weigh exactly the same. Performance purists can opt for the closed-deck ZR.

Convenience of a full head makes this a poker-run winner. Consider Craig Barrie’s parting words: “It’s not how fast you can go, but how long you can go fast.”

Comparable model: Formula 353 FasTech

**

**

The post Donzi 35 ZR appeared first on Boating Mag.

Donzi has figured it out. The proof? Take a close look at its new 35 ZR 009 edition. Here’s an offshore boat that handles great, has classic good looks, and sports a family-friendly freeboard. But most important: It hits 82.2 mph with bone-stock 425-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG HO Bravo Ones. And quite frankly, those engines are all you’ll ever need.

Step Right Up. The 35 ZR 009 rides on a twin-stepped bottom. The first step is placed under the faring, and the second one is 4′ aft, situated under the driver’s bolster. The outer strakes run full length, but the inners stop at the first step. There’s a 10″ deep by 10″ tall transom notch that spans the gap between the outer strakes and feeds water to the drives.

Also noteworthy: my test boat was able to pick up an extra 2 to 3 mph over the stock model due to its Lightweight Racing Cabin, which saves 300 pounds. More commonly called a half-cabin, this layout has only facing lounges, with no V-berth in the forward section. It also has a pair of coolers in dedicated holders and a concealed portable commode. Most owners of offshore go-fasts don’t use a cabin for anything other than kids’ naps and stowage, so I think this layout works fine.

Less weight in the bow definitely helped the boat’s running attitude. I like to run with the bow up slightly, and was zipping the 35 ZR 009 through some light 1′ chop, trimmed out for top end. While I was looking down momentarily to read the trim indicators, I hit a series of 3′ swells over a shoal and launched off the first wave. Whoa! Often when you’re trimmed out like this and strike a wave, your boat’s bow will pop up and the boat will land on its drives. The danger? The bow could easily stuff into the next swell. Instead the 35 ZR 009 flew level off the second and third waves. I felt so comfortable and confident, I didn’t even pull back when we hit another bump. Laughing, I launched the boat again and kept right on running. That’s when you know your boat is truly dialed-in.

Donzi chose the right props for the boat, too. It planed easily, and even with the stock power, I could feel the acceleration when I advanced the levers. In turns, the props held their bite without a hint of slip. The 35 ZR 009 is just plain fun to drive. Turns at 70 mph felt as smooth as those I made at 50 mph.

If your heart’s set on a high-performance boat with a full cabin, you have two choices, both from Washington, North Carolina-the Fountain 35′ Lighting ($283,940 powered like my test boat) or the Baja 35 Outlaw ($206,012 also powered like my test boat). The Fountain outweighs the Donzi, so speeds would be similar with the same engines; whereas, the Baja might run a little slower but should offer more cabin room.

Instrument Approach. Let’s take a look at the 35 ZR 009’s cockpit, starting with the helm. All the Livorsi Marine instruments were well placed in a dash that had a decidedly sports car-like feel. Even with the Lowrance GlobalMap 5200C chartplotter centrally positioned, I could find all the instruments easily when running at speed. The acrylic windscreen was effective, and the bolster offered comfortable support. I had only a couple gripes. First, the controls were too close to the inwale upholstery; my right hand was constantly rubbing against it while I was running the boat. Second, placing the circuit breaker on the underside of the dash ahead of the driver’s legs was a good choice, but having to remove screws to get to the helm rigging is inconvenient. To port, the double-level cooler in the port dash has a shelf so you can keep ice and drinks in the lower wet section and sandwiches dry in the upper half. The steps molded into the cabin hatch make it easy to get on deck, but unfortunately our test model had black steps, which will singe bare feet on a sunny day.

Abaft, the bench seat is set up perfectly for rough-water comfort with three individual buckets and grabhandles in the gunwale cutouts that also offer shallow stowage for sunblock or a hat. Map pockets on the bolster backs add some stowage, too.

One thing Donzi didn’t need to change on the 35 ZR 009 is the engine hatch, which is the best in the game. The centrally padded section is perfect for sunbathing while the intakes, which angle in and down, feed cool air into the engine and quickly remove hot fumes.

Beneath the hatch, the motors were installed on gusseted aluminum L-angles with the center units using each other as backing plates. To keep the weight balanced, the batteries and trim pumps were separated on each side of the compartment, but a drain hose will make it tough to add fluid on the port side. For a custom touch, there’s diamond-plate decking on each side of the engines and the underside of the hatch is mirrored. On a boat such as the 35 ZR 009, the engine compartment needs to have a custom touch because everyone’s going to want to know what power you have when you pass them at 82 mph. Ha! Wait until they see those stock engines.

The post Donzi 35 ZR 009 Edition appeared first on Boating Mag.

Twenty miles per hour, 30, 40, then 50 and the boat hopped a little, like a thoroughbred that wanted to run. But it was still well behaved for a boat of its breed, so I trimmed it up and let it have its full-throttle head. The 22 Classic’s gait smoothed and reached more than 75 miles per hour. We talked to others who’d seen her tick the speedo to 80 mph on a cooler, drier day.

I trimmed the nose down a little in crisp turns, and she came around sweetly like a kid who’d caught a whiff of cotton candy. Trim tabs are standard on the 22, and to enjoy a smooth ride at 20 to 30 miles per hour, I ran them all the way down.

Some might want to criticize Donzi’s fireball for not having a swim platform — or a sun pad on the aft deck. But those who’ve added aftermarket goodies like that found their Classics didn’t fetch the collectors’ fancy at resale time. The cockpit is posh enough with tuck-and-roll upholstery and lush snap-in carpet. The performance instrumentation strokes your racing demons while keeping tabs on the powerful engine. Still, nothing reinforces customer satisfaction like the stares of envious friends.

Standout Features
• The 22’s stiletto lines are a traditional performance classic.
• Performance trim tabs respond quickly for a tuned ride.
• Only the Mercruiser 496 Mag HO we tested does performance justice to this boat.
• Optional “Quick and quiet” switchable exhaust gives stealthy port entrances.
• Plush carpeting adds comfort to a speedy ride.

Vital Stats
* Length Overall: 22’6″
* Beam: 7″
* Dry Weight: 3,400 lb.
* Seating/Weight Capacity: 5/1,200 lb.
* Fuel Capacity: 52 gal.
* Maximum HP: 425
* MSRP (w/Mercruiser 496 Mag HO): $88,514
* NMMA Certified: Yes

Test Drive
* Test Engine: Mercruiser 496 Mag HO w/Bravo I
* Test Props: 14 5/8 x 27 Mirage Plus(Lab Finished, 3-Blade, Stainless)
* Test Load: People (375 lb.); Fuel (40 gal.)
* Top Speed: 75.6 mph @ 5,500 rpm
* Time to Plane: 7.0 sec.
* Time to 30 MPH: 10.8 sec.

donzimarine.com

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It sounds as if you’ll need three boats to cram it all in, but the Donzi 38 ZFX Open is here to serve your every whim. This boat is a gamer — it has many talents, and you can make great use of each and every one of them.

Step into the 38 ZFX Open’s cockpit through the full transom gate, and you’ll spot five rodholders across the stern. There’s a small sink for cleaning up after prepping bait as well as a line locker. Four inspection hatches make it easy to maintain the steering system and rigging, and the batteries, bilge pumps, and through-hulls are accessible in under-deck lockers. On each side are 6’2″-by-1’7″-by-1’4″ macerated fishboxes with plenty of stowage for whatever monster the kids haul in. Rodracks run up the sides of the cockpit with one dedicated slot for a gaff to starboard.

Ace of the Chase

When the time comes for the poker run on Saturday, you and your three buddies will ride in style in twin standup bolsters with power-activated dropout bottom cushions and an aft leaning post. Everyone is protected behind the wide center console with an extra tall windshield.

Located ahead of the port forward bolster, the helm is set up for offshore running. The instrument panel is a study in understatement with three SmartCraft tachometers that provide scroll-through data on the motors. Proving that the 38 ZFX Open is also a high-performance boat, my test model featured mechanical trim indicators. To starboard of the controls, beneath a splash-resistant panel, all the accessory switches are within easy reach. Above, the electronics box has space for all the latest gear and is set up for easy installation with bus bars. You can stash PFDs in zippered overhead compartments.

Of course, you wouldn’t go near a poker run in a boat that can’t handle the heat. No problem here. With the triple 275-hp Verado outboards, the 38 ZFX Open ran 69.3 mph at 6200 rpm, courtesy of the 22-degree Z-Tech twin-stepped bottom design. That top end is more than enough to pass some pure go-fasts during the contest. Back off to 5000 rpm and the boat cruises at a comfortable 57.2 mph. It also turns in any direction with predictable results, and when the time comes to back into a slip at the end of the day, its triple outboards take you wherever you point it.

Looking for similar performance from an all-around-style center console? Check out the Spectre 34 SC. With triple 275-hp Verados, it runs speeds similar to the 38 ZFX Open ($231,712) and has an open layout that rivals the 38 ZFX Open’s. Taking a slightly different approach to an open deck plan, Italy’s Sessa Marine offers the Open 36, which has full open seating abaft the two-person center console and in the open bow area for $438,000 with triple Yamaha 350-hp outboards. With the Sessa you also get a full cabin belowdecks, with sleeping space for four people in the amidships master stateroom and in the bow cabin.

Suck It Up

Many manufacturers in the go-fast world love to tout their boats’ vacuum-bagged construction. A large bag is placed in the hull after the core is laid on top of the laminate. Then the bag is filled with air to force the resin into the core for better saturation and less weight.

It’s the extra step that Donzi takes on the 38 ZFX Open that sets it apart. Donzi technicians spray on a material called Corebond, a high-intensity adhesive with a putty-like consistency. It’s laid down in a 1⁄8″-thick bead upon which a Corecell closed-cell high-density foam core is placed. This makes the bottom of the hull 1¼” thick. The piece is then vacuum-bagged, sucking the Corebond adhesive through the foam to ensure complete saturation.

Once the core is in place, the balance of the laminate consists of multidirectional fiberglass. Stringers are molded fiberglass and the hull-to-deck joint is bonded with methacrylate adhesive and fiberglass tabbing.

The solid construction is complemented by clean rigging for the triple 275-hp Verado outboards. Four inspection plates provide great access to the steering, cables, and wiring across the transom.

**Quality Time
**

But wait, you still have family day planned. When nature calls for mom or the kids, there’s the private head in the helm console. As you enter, there’s a 2½’ step down to improve headroom. The backside of the tacklebox is inside the head, which works well because you can lean up against it when you’re sitting on the commode.

As you move forward, you see a truly unique aspect of the 38 ZFX Open. Instead of the cabin that you’d find on most boats this size, there’s a large open bow.

Donzi was smart to put small entertainment-center-style pods at the aft ends of the bowrider. To port beneath a hinged hatch is a wetbar with a sink, three-hole cupholder, and refrigerator. Opposite to starboard is a sink with a pull-up faucet so you can rinse off after a dip in the salty brine, along with an extra-large 2’4″-by-2′-by-2′ locker. The stowage capacity throughout the boat is outstanding.

I could sit facing forward comfortably in the bow lounges. I was in up to my armpits and the bowrails were perfectly placed. Stowage lockers in the decking are a little tricky to get to because you need to pick up the rear of the two hatches before you can hoist the forward one. Once it’s up, the forward locker alone measures 3’6″-by-2′-by-2′.

Normally, I would have scoffed at having seven other people onboard for my test, but the extra crew helped prove this boat’s versatile mission. No matter what you want to do in the 38 ZXF Open, this boat can handle it.

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Donzi 38 ZRC

Donzi 38 ZRC Specs

Boatbuilders and designers of stepped hulls walk a fine line between getting the most speed out of a boat and making it manageable at high speed. Donzi got it right with the latest incarnation of its 38 ZRC.

The 38 ZRC first debuted five years ago as a twin-stepped model. In 2007, the manufacturer redesigned the bottom by adding shorter steps to further break adhesion to the water, which improved efficiency. With a pair of 700-hp Mercury Racing HP700 SCi NXT-1 packages, the boat ran 114 mph in windy conditions. In midrange acceleration tests, the boat ripped from 60 to 80 mph in 7.6 seconds and from 70 to 90 mph in 8.6 seconds.

The first step is 2½” tall and starts right under the quarter F-16 canopies, at about the 17′ mark. Abaft 2’11” is a ½” step followed by another taller step that’s 3′ aft. The final ½” step is 3’8″ farther back. Lifting strakes set close to the V in the forward section of the running surface help get the boat on plane quickly. Once the 38 ZRC is up and running, it rides on a keelpad with a shallow V. An 8″-tall transom notch spans between the outer strakes.

In washing machine-like conditions, the 38 ZRC has a reassuring feel. The boat carves smoothly through circles at 75 mph and zigs and zags through slalom turns up to 60 mph. Even at 100 mph the boat responded well to evasive maneuvers.

When you get in big water, you’ll appreciate the 38 ZRC’s heavy-duty construction. The bottom has a 1¼”-thick composite core with extra stiffening in the sides and deck. Stringers are composite cored forward of the engine compartment, and those beneath the motors are cored with marine plywood. The hull-to-deck joint is sealed with a methacrylate adhesive and bonded around the inside perimeter with fiberglass.

Take a Seat

I always feel more connected to the boat when I sit down to drive, whether I’m racing or pleasure zooming. It was no different aboard the 38 ZRC, which has five high-backed buckets. I liked that the boat is set up with port or starboard helms. I prefer driving on the port side, which frees up my right hand to throttle. Or you can move the helm to starboard if a friend wants to drive. I felt the throttles were too far away from the port seat. Donzi agreed and said it will move them about 2″ closer, which should work fine. Check it out when you sit at the helm.

Livorsi Monster Series instruments are laid out with the most important gauges ahead of the port bolster. The list includes the SmartCraft monitor flanked by tachometers. There’s an Azimuth compass tucked under the quarter canopy. The deck beneath each canopy is finished in black to kill glare.

Still to port, the engine monitoring gauges back up the SmartCraft equipment and are grouped by motor. There were no mechanical trim indicators for the drives or tabs on my boat because they were included in the optional SmartCraft SC 5000 screens ($2,964), something that will probably meet with mixed reviews because they’re hard to see in direct sunlight.

Forward of the centrally mounted controls, the Garmin 2206 GPSmap is visible from either front seat. The trim buttons are just below so that you can reach them with your throttling arm. There’s also a second set of buttons ahead alongside the starboard steering wheel hub if the driver wants to help set the boat’s attitude.

Cockpit stowage is provided in gunwale trays and in the bases of the back seats in compartmentalized lockers. I prefer this to one continuous box because it lets you better organize contents. You don’t need to stow a long item like a paddle on a 38′ go-fast. There are also large lockers between the aft seats and the engine compartment that are insulated so you can use them for coolers.

To help backseat passengers secure themselves, there are T-style aluminum grabhandles in the armrests. I prefer the softer loops found in the OuterLimits 39 GTX, which retails for $676,000 with the same test power and runs about 118 mph. Also with the 700-hp Mercs, the Fountain 42 Poker Run Edition sports a sticker of $496,060 and runs an estimated 118 mph. Its cockpit is a four-seater with grabhandles on the gunwales.

Your wife won’t like that the tops of the 38 ZRC’s engine hatches aren’t padded, but you’ll appreciate their lightness because you open them manually. With the hatches up, you have an easy step into the compartment onto the starboard outboard stringer. Stainless Marine sea strainers and Livorsi aluminum battery boxes are in good reach as are all the trim pumps on the compartment bulkhead. Normally, I’d gripe about the battery switch being under the hatch, but it’s a manual hatch, so a dead battery won’t prevent it from opening.

Vertically installed aluminum L-angles provide a solid foundation for the motors and you can get between the engines without a problem. About the only thing I saw that could use improvement was that some of the limber holes had a rough finish and could chafe hoses and wires. This was Hull No. 1 and Donzi said that won’t be the case on future models, but check it out. What will always be the case with the 38 ZRC is that it can post the big speed numbers and remain drivable.

Extra Point: Quarter canopies create a wind rush between them that beats up middle backseat passengers. Donzi solved this with a 3″ tall acrylic piece that bridges the gap.

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