Donzi 32 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006?

The Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Donzi 32 ZF 2005 comes in at 32,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006?

For trailering, the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 has the edge at 76 lbs dry weight versus 837 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006. 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 Competition 2006 is rated to a maximum of 2 000 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 32 ZF 2005 tops out at 600 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 32 ZF 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 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 ZR Competition 2006 measures 98" wide, compared to 11" for the Donzi 32 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 32 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006?

The Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 has the bigger tank at 239 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Donzi 32 ZF 2005. That 210-gallon difference translates to roughly 630–1050 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 and Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 and the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 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 32 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006

Donzi

Donzi 32 ZF 2005

2005

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Donzi

Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 32 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 32 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 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 Competition 2006 measures 38,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 at 32,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 tips the scales at 837 lbs — 761 lbs less than the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 at 76 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 Competition 2006 has a 1 400-hp advantage over the Donzi 32 ZF 2005's 600-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 Competition 2006 carries 239 gallons versus 29 gallons in the Donzi 32 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 ZR Competition 2006 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 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 32 ZF 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeDonzi

Model32 ZF

Model38 ZR Competition

Model Year2005

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 2 in. (2.79 m)

Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.82 m)

Beam - Meters2.79

Beam - Meters2.49

Beam - Inches11

Beam - Inches98

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 2 in. (2.18 m) w/Arch 7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m) w/T-Top 8 ft. 8 in. (2.64 m)

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

Bridge clearance - Meters2.64

Bridge clearance - Meters1.5

Bridge clearance - Inches104

Bridge clearance - Inches58.8

Deadrise22℃ Z-Tech

Deadrise22℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail28 in. (0.71 m)

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.71

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches28

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [max] - Detail43 in. (1.09 m)

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

Draft [max] - Meters1.09

Draft [max] - Meters0.71

Draft [max] - Inches43

Draft [max] - Inches28

Weight - Detail7,600 lbs. (3,447 kg)

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

Weight - kg3447.3

Weight - kg3796.57

Weight - lbs.76

Weight - lbs.837

Length - Meters9.78

Length - Meters11.61

Length - Feet32

Length - Feet38

Length - Inches1

Length overall - Detail32 ft. 1 in. (9.78 m)

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

Length overall - Meters9.78

Length overall - Meters11.61

Length overall - Inches385

Length overall - Inches457

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail290 gal. (1,097.8 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail239 gal. (904.9 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1097.77

Fuel tank capacity - Liters904.71

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel tank capacity - Gal239

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine max600 hp (447.42 kw)

Engine max2,000 hp (1,901.54 kW)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)

Water capacitynot available

Donzi 32 ZF 2005 vs Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006?

The Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 is the longer of the two at 38,0 feet overall. The Donzi 32 ZF 2005 comes in at 32,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006?

For trailering, the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 has the edge at 76 lbs dry weight versus 837 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006. 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 Competition 2006 is rated to a maximum of 2 000 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 32 ZF 2005 tops out at 600 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 32 ZF 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 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 ZR Competition 2006 measures 98" wide, compared to 11" for the Donzi 32 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 32 ZF 2005 or the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006?

The Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 has the bigger tank at 239 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Donzi 32 ZF 2005. That 210-gallon difference translates to roughly 630–1050 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 and Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 32 ZF 2005 and the Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 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 32 ZF 2005 full specs ← Donzi 38 ZR Competition 2006 full specs