Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2006?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2006 is the longer of the two at 45,0 feet overall. The Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 comes in at 38,5 feet, making it roughly 6,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2006?

For trailering, the Donzi 45 ZX 2006 has the edge at 14 lbs dry weight versus 102 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011. 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 45 ZX 2006 is rated to a maximum of 2 700 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 tops out at 1 050 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 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 45 ZX 2006 is certified for 13. 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 ZF Cuddy 2011 measures 113" wide, compared to 111" for the Donzi 45 ZX 2006. 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 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2006?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2006 has the bigger tank at 409 gallons, versus 318 gallons on the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011. That 91-gallon difference translates to roughly 273–455 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 and Donzi 45 ZX 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 and the Donzi 45 ZX 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 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2006

Donzi

Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011

2011

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Donzi

Donzi 45 ZX 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 vs Donzi 45 ZX 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 45 ZX 2006 measures 45,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 6,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 at 38,5 feet (2011). At 102 lbs and 14 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 2 700 hp, the Donzi 45 ZX 2006 has a 1 650-hp advantage over the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011's 1 050-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 45 ZX 2006 carries 409 gallons versus 318 gallons in the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011. 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 45 ZX 2006 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Donzi 45 ZX 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 45 ZX 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 45,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeDonzi

Model38 ZF Cuddy

Model45 ZX

Model Year2011

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 5 in. (2.86 m)

Beam9 ft. 3 in. (2.82 m)

Beam - Meters2.87

Beam - Meters2.82

Beam - Inches113

Beam - Inches111

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 - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.74

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches108

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise22℃ Z-Tech

Deadrise24℃ Z-Tech

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail32 in. (0.81 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.64

Draft [drive up] meters0.81

Draft [drive up] inches25

Draft [drive up] inches32

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

Draft [max] - Detail47 in. (1.19 m) (triple)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters1.19

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches47

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

Weight - Detail14,000 lbs. (6,350 kg)

Weight - kg4626.64

Weight - kg6350.29

Weight - lbs.102

Weight - lbs.14

Length - Meters11.73

Length - Meters13.72

Length - Feet38.5

Length - Feet45

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

Length overall - Detail45 ft. 0 in. (13.72 m)

Length overall - Meters11.73

Length overall - Meters13.72

Length overall - Inches462

Length overall - Inches54

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Fuel tank capacity - Detail409 gal. (1,548.6 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1203.76

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1548.23

Fuel tank capacity - Gal318

Fuel tank capacity - Gal409

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard - Triple

Drive typeI/O

Engine max1,050 hp (783.3 kW)

Engine max2,700 hp (2,013.39 kW)

Operational Info

HeadEnclosed in console with fresh water shower & sink

HeadEnclosed head with shower & vanity

StorageBaitwell: 28 gal. (105.99 l)

Storagenot available

Water capacity28 gal. (105.99 l)

Water capacity40 gal. (151.4 l)

Headroomnot available

Headroom6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m)

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail10 gal. (37.9 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters37.85

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal1

Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2006?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2006 is the longer of the two at 45,0 feet overall. The Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 comes in at 38,5 feet, making it roughly 6,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2006?

For trailering, the Donzi 45 ZX 2006 has the edge at 14 lbs dry weight versus 102 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011. 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 45 ZX 2006 is rated to a maximum of 2 700 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 tops out at 1 050 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 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 45 ZX 2006 is certified for 13. 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 ZF Cuddy 2011 measures 113" wide, compared to 111" for the Donzi 45 ZX 2006. 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 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2006?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2006 has the bigger tank at 409 gallons, versus 318 gallons on the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011. That 91-gallon difference translates to roughly 273–455 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 and Donzi 45 ZX 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 and the Donzi 45 ZX 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 38 ZF Cuddy 2011 full specs ← Donzi 45 ZX 2006 full specs