Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 is the longer of the two at 38,5 feet overall. The Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 comes in at 33,0 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011?

For trailering, the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 has the edge at 102 lbs dry weight versus 795 lbs for the Donzi 35 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 Cuddy 2011 is rated to a maximum of 1 050 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 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 35 ZFX 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 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 Cuddy 2011 measures 113" wide, compared to 11" for the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007. 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 35 ZFX 2007 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 has the bigger tank at 318 gallons, versus 269 gallons on the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007. That 49-gallon difference translates to roughly 147–245 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 and Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 and the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 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 35 ZFX 2007 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011

Donzi

Donzi 35 ZFX 2007

2007

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Donzi

Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 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 Cuddy 2011 measures 38,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 5,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 at 33,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 tips the scales at 795 lbs — 693 lbs more than the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 at 102 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 1 050 hp, the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 has a 450-hp advantage over the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007'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 ZFX Cuddy 2011 carries 318 gallons versus 269 gallons in the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007. 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 Cuddy 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 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 35 ZFX 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeDonzi

Model35 ZFX

Model38 ZFX Cuddy

Model Year2007

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 2 in. (2.79 m)

Beam9 ft. 5 in. (2.86 m)

Beam - Meters2.79

Beam - Meters2.87

Beam - Inches11

Beam - Inches113

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 - Detail5 ft. 5 in. (1.64 m) With T-Top 8 ft. 8 in. (2.63 m) With Arch: 9 ft. (2.74 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.64

Bridge clearance - Meters2.74

Bridge clearance - Inches104

Bridge clearance - Inches108

Deadrise22℃ Z-Tech

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail25 in. (0.63 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.58

Draft [drive up] meters0.64

Draft [drive up] inches23

Draft [drive up] inches25

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

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches35

Draft [max] - Inches36

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

Weight - Detail10,200 lbs. (4,625.7 kg)

Weight - kg3606.06

Weight - kg4626.64

Weight - lbs.795

Weight - lbs.102

Length - Meters10.2

Length - Meters11.73

Length - Feet33

Length - Feet38.5

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

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

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

Length overall - Meters10.16

Length overall - Meters11.73

Length overall - Inches4

Length overall - Inches462

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail269 gal. (988 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail318 gal. (1,203.73 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1018.28

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1203.76

Fuel tank capacity - Gal269

Fuel tank capacity - Gal318

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeOutboard - Triple

Engine max600 hp (447 kW)

Engine max1,050 hp (783.3 kW)

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity2

Sleeping capacitynot available

Water capacity15 gal. (56.8 l)

Water capacity28 gal. (105.99 l)

Headnot available

HeadHead - Enclosed in console with fresh water shower & sink Head - Porta Potti in console

Storagenot available

StorageBaitwell: 28 gal. (105.99 l)

Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 vs Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 is the longer of the two at 38,5 feet overall. The Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 comes in at 33,0 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011?

For trailering, the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 has the edge at 102 lbs dry weight versus 795 lbs for the Donzi 35 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 Cuddy 2011 is rated to a maximum of 1 050 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 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 35 ZFX 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 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 Cuddy 2011 measures 113" wide, compared to 11" for the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007. 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 35 ZFX 2007 or the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011?

The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 has the bigger tank at 318 gallons, versus 269 gallons on the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007. That 49-gallon difference translates to roughly 147–245 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 and Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 35 ZFX 2007 and the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 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 35 ZFX 2007 full specs ← Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2011 full specs