Donzi 23 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 14,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007?

For trailering, the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 has the edge at 48 lbs dry weight versus 102 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 is rated to a maximum of 825 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 tops out at 300 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 is certified for 11. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 measures 113" wide, compared to 102" for the Donzi 23 ZF 2005. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 has the bigger tank at 325 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Donzi 23 ZF 2005. That 311-gallon difference translates to roughly 933–1555 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 and Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 and the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 are built by Donzi. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Donzi 23 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZFX 2007

Donzi

Donzi 23 ZF 2005

2005

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Donzi

Donzi 38 ZFX 2007

2007

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 23 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 measures 38,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 14,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 at 24,0 feet (2005). At 48 lbs and 102 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 825 hp, the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 has a 525-hp advantage over the Donzi 23 ZF 2005's 300-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 carries 325 gallons versus 14 gallons in the Donzi 23 ZF 2005. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 38,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeDonzi

Model23 ZF

Model38 ZFX

Model Year2005

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam9 ft. 5 in. (2.86 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.87

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches113

Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 7 in. (1.96 m) w/Arch 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 5 in. (1.64 m) w/ T-Top 8 ft. 8 in. (2.65 m) w/ Arch: 9 ft. 0 in. (2.74 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.59

Bridge clearance - Meters2.74

Bridge clearance - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Inches108

Deadrise22℃ Z-Tech

Draft [drive up] - Detail18 in. (0.46 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail25 in. (.63 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] meters0.64

Draft [drive up] inches18

Draft [drive up] inches25

Weight - Detail4,800 lbs. (2,177 kg)

Weight - Detail10,200 lbs. (4,626.64 kg)

Weight - kg2177.24

Weight - kg4626.64

Weight - lbs.48

Weight - lbs.102

Length - Meters7.39

Length - Meters11.73

Length - Feet24

Length - Feet38

Length - Inches5

Length - Inches6

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 5 in. (7.39 m)

Length overall - Detail38 ft. 6 in. (11.73 m)

Length overall - Meters7.44

Length overall - Meters11.73

Length overall - Inches293

Length overall - Inches462

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (.91 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail140 gal. (530.0 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail325 gal. (1,230.26 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters529.96

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1230.26

Fuel tank capacity - Gal14

Fuel tank capacity - Gal325

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max300 hp (223.71 kw)

Engine max825 hp (615.20 kW)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Operational Info

Headnot available

HeadHead- Enclosed in console w/fresh water shower & sink Head - Porta-potti in console

Donzi 23 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 14,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007?

For trailering, the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 has the edge at 48 lbs dry weight versus 102 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 is rated to a maximum of 825 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 tops out at 300 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Donzi 23 ZF 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 is certified for 11. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 measures 113" wide, compared to 102" for the Donzi 23 ZF 2005. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007?

The Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 has the bigger tank at 325 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Donzi 23 ZF 2005. That 311-gallon difference translates to roughly 933–1555 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 and Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 23 ZF 2005 and the Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 are built by Donzi. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Donzi 23 ZF 2005 full specs ← Donzi 38 ZFX 2007 full specs