Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZR 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZR 2005?

The Donzi 38 ZR 2005 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 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 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZR 2005?

For trailering, the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 has the edge at 4 800 lbs dry weight versus 8 370 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZR 2005. 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 ZR 2005 is rated to a maximum of 2 000 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 38 ZR 2005 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 23 ZF 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 98" for the Donzi 38 ZR 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 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZR 2005?

The Donzi 38 ZR 2005 has the bigger tank at 239 gallons, versus 140 gallons on the Donzi 23 ZF 2006. That 99-gallon difference translates to roughly 297–495 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and Donzi 38 ZR 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and the Donzi 38 ZR 2005 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 38 ZR 2005

Donzi

Donzi 23 ZF 2006

2006

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Donzi

Donzi 38 ZR 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZR 2005: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZR 2005 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 ZR 2005 measures 38,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 14,0 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 38 ZR 2005 tips the scales at 8 370 lbs - 3 570 lbs less than the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 at 4 800 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 2 000 hp, the Donzi 38 ZR 2005 has a 1 700-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 38 ZR 2005 carries 239 gallons versus 140 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 38 ZR 2005 is rated for 11 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 38 ZR 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 38 ZR 2005 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 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

Model38 ZR

Model Year2006

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.82 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.49

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches98

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

Bridge clearance - Detail58.8 in. (1.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.59

Bridge clearance - Meters1.5

Bridge clearance - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Inches58.8

Deadrise22℃ Z-Tech

DeadriseVariable

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (0.56 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches18

Draft [drive up] inches22

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

Weight - Detail8,370 lbs. (3,797 kg)

Weight - kg2177.24

Weight - kg3796.57

Weight - lbs.4800

Weight - lbs.8370

Length - Meters7.39

Length - Meters11.61

Length - Feet24

Length - Feet38

Length - Inches3

Length - Inches1

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

Length overall - Detail38 ft. 1 in. (11.61 m)

Length overall - Meters7.39

Length overall - Meters11.61

Length overall - Inches291

Length overall - Inches457

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail28 in. (0.71 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.71

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches28

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail140 gal. (530 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail239 gal. (904.9 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters529.96

Fuel tank capacity - Liters904.71

Fuel tank capacity - Gal140

Fuel tank capacity - Gal239

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine max300 hp (223.71 kW)

Engine max2,000 (1,901.54 kw)

Operational Info

HeadPorta-potti enclosed in console

Headnot available

Donzi 23 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZR 2005 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZR 2005?

The Donzi 38 ZR 2005 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Donzi 23 ZF 2006 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 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZR 2005?

For trailering, the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 has the edge at 4 800 lbs dry weight versus 8 370 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZR 2005. 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 ZR 2005 is rated to a maximum of 2 000 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 38 ZR 2005 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 23 ZF 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 98" for the Donzi 38 ZR 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 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZR 2005?

The Donzi 38 ZR 2005 has the bigger tank at 239 gallons, versus 140 gallons on the Donzi 23 ZF 2006. That 99-gallon difference translates to roughly 297–495 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and Donzi 38 ZR 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Donzi 23 ZF 2006 and the Donzi 38 ZR 2005 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 38 ZR 2005 full specs