Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2005?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2005 is the longer of the two at 45,0 feet overall. The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2005?

For trailering, the Donzi 45 ZX 2005 has the edge at 16 lbs dry weight versus 102 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013. 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 2005 is rated to a maximum of 2 550 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 45 ZX 2005 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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 measures 113" wide, compared to 111" for the Donzi 45 ZX 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 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2005?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2005 has the bigger tank at 405 gallons, versus 318 gallons on the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013. That 87-gallon difference translates to roughly 261–435 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 and Donzi 45 ZX 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 and the Donzi 45 ZX 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 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2005

Donzi

Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013

2013

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Donzi

Donzi 45 ZX 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 vs Donzi 45 ZX 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 45 ZX 2005 measures 45,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 6,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 at 38,5 feet (2013). At 102 lbs and 16 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 2 550 hp, the Donzi 45 ZX 2005 has a 1 500-hp advantage over the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013'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 2005 carries 405 gallons versus 318 gallons in the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013. 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 2005 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 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 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Donzi 45 ZX 2005 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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 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 ZFX Cuddy

Model45 ZX

Model Year2013

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 5 in. (2.87 m)

Beam9 ft. 3 in

Beam - Meters2.87

Beam - Meters2.82

Beam - Inches113

Beam - Inches111

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 - 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. (0.64 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)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters1.19

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches47

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

Weight - Detail16,000 lbs. (7,258 kg)

Weight - kg4626.64

Weight - kg7257.47

Weight - lbs.102

Weight - lbs.16

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. (1,203.76 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail405 gal. (1533.1 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1203.76

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1533.09

Fuel tank capacity - Gal318

Fuel tank capacity - Gal405

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard - Triple

Drive typeI/O

Engine max1,050 hp (783 kW)

Engine max2,550 hp (1901.54 kw)

Operational Info

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

Headnot available

Water capacity28 gal. (105.99 l)

Water capacity40 gal. (151.4 l)

Headroomnot available

Headroom6 ft. 3 in

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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 vs Donzi 45 ZX 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2005?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2005 is the longer of the two at 45,0 feet overall. The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2005?

For trailering, the Donzi 45 ZX 2005 has the edge at 16 lbs dry weight versus 102 lbs for the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013. 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 2005 is rated to a maximum of 2 550 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Donzi 45 ZX 2005 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 ZFX Cuddy 2013 measures 113" wide, compared to 111" for the Donzi 45 ZX 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 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 or the Donzi 45 ZX 2005?

The Donzi 45 ZX 2005 has the bigger tank at 405 gallons, versus 318 gallons on the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013. That 87-gallon difference translates to roughly 261–435 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 and Donzi 45 ZX 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Donzi 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 and the Donzi 45 ZX 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 38 ZFX Cuddy 2013 full specs ← Donzi 45 ZX 2005 full specs