Donzi 26 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 is the longer of the two at 38,5 feet overall. The Donzi 26 ZF 2006 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 12,5 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 is rated to a maximum of 1 050 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 26 ZF 2006 tops out at 400 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 26 ZF 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 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 has the larger fuel tank - the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 has the bigger tank at 318 gallons, versus 180 gallons on the Donzi 26 ZF 2006. That 138-gallon difference translates to roughly 414–690 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 and Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 and the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 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 26 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013

Donzi

Donzi 26 ZF 2006

2006

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Donzi

Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 26 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 26 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 050 hp, the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 has a 650-hp advantage over the Donzi 26 ZF 2006's 400-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 Open 2013 carries 318 gallons versus 180 gallons in the Donzi 26 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 ZFX Open 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 26 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 ZFX Open 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 38,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Donzi 26 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.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail26.00 ft

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

Length - Feet26

Length - Feet38.5

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Meters11.73

Length overall - Inches312

Length overall - Inches462

Beamnot available

Beam9 ft. 5 in. (2.87 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.87

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches113

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 5 in. (1.65 m) With T-Top 8 ft. 8 in. (2.64 m) With Arch: 9 ft. (2.74 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.74

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches108

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise22℃ Z-Tech

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail25 in. (0.64 m)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.64

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches25

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.91 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail10,200 lbs. (4,627 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg4626.64

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.10200

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters11.73

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal180

Fuel tank capacity - Gal318

Fuel tank capacity - Liters681.37

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1203.76

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Horsepower400 hp

Horsepowernot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeoutboard

Drive typeOutboard - Triple

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail318 gal. (1,203.76 l)

Engine maxnot available

Engine max1,050 hp (783 kW)

Operational Info

Water capacity12

Water capacity28 gal. (105.99 l)

Holding tank capacity - Gal12

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters45.42

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Headnot available

HeadIn console with fresh water shower, sink and Porta-potti

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeDonzi

Modelnot available

Model38 ZFX Open

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2013

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Donzi 26 ZF 2006 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 is the longer of the two at 38,5 feet overall. The Donzi 26 ZF 2006 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 12,5 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 is rated to a maximum of 1 050 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 26 ZF 2006 tops out at 400 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 26 ZF 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 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 has the larger fuel tank - the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 has the bigger tank at 318 gallons, versus 180 gallons on the Donzi 26 ZF 2006. That 138-gallon difference translates to roughly 414–690 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 and Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Donzi 26 ZF 2006 and the Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 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 26 ZF 2006 full specs ← Donzi 38 ZFX Open 2013 full specs