Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008?

The Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 is the longer of the two at 33,0 feet overall. The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008?

For trailering, the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 has the edge at 48 lbs dry weight versus 795 lbs for the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008. 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 35 ZFX 2008 is rated to a maximum of 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 is certified for 10. 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 23 ZF 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 11" for the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008. 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 2006 or the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008?

The Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 has the bigger tank at 269 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Donzi 23 ZF 2006. That 255-gallon difference translates to roughly 765–1275 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 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 2006 vs Donzi 35 ZFX 2008

Donzi

Donzi 23 ZF 2006

2006

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Donzi

Donzi 35 ZFX 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 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 35 ZFX 2008 measures 33,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 at 24,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 tips the scales at 795 lbs — 747 lbs less than the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 at 48 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 has a 300-hp advantage over the Donzi 23 ZF 2006'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 35 ZFX 2008 carries 269 gallons versus 14 gallons in the Donzi 23 ZF 2006. 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 35 ZFX 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 33,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 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

Model35 ZFX

Model Year2006

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam9 ft. 2 in. (2.79 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.79

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches11

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

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 2 in. (2.18 m) With Arch: 7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m) With T-top: 8 ft. 8 in. (2.64 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.59

Bridge clearance - Meters2.64

Bridge clearance - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Inches104

Deadrise22℃ Z-Tech

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail23 in. (0.84 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] meters0.58

Draft [drive up] inches18

Draft [drive up] inches23

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

Weight - Detail7,950 lbs. (3,493 kg)

Weight - kg2177.24

Weight - kg3606.06

Weight - lbs.48

Weight - lbs.795

Length - Meters7.39

Length - Meters10.2

Length - Feet24

Length - Feet33

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches4

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 3 in. (7.39 m)

Length overall - Detail33 ft. 4 in. (10.2 m)

Length overall - Meters7.39

Length overall - Meters10.16

Length overall - Inches291

Length overall - Inches4

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (1.14 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches35

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail140 gal. (530 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail269 gal. (988 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters529.96

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1018.28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal14

Fuel tank capacity - Gal269

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeOutboard - Twin

Engine max300 hp (223.71 kW)

Engine max600 hp (447 kW)

Operational Info

HeadPorta-potti enclosed in console

Headnot available

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity15 gal. (56.8 l)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008?

The Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 is the longer of the two at 33,0 feet overall. The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 9,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008?

For trailering, the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 has the edge at 48 lbs dry weight versus 795 lbs for the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008. 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 35 ZFX 2008 is rated to a maximum of 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 is certified for 10. 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 23 ZF 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 11" for the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008. 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 2006 or the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008?

The Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 has the bigger tank at 269 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Donzi 23 ZF 2006. That 255-gallon difference translates to roughly 765–1275 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and the Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 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 2006 full specs ← Donzi 35 ZFX 2008 full specs