| Donzi 38 ZR Competition | | Print | |
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Still Stunning In more than a few ways, Donzi’s 38 ZR Competition is the most sports-car-like boat we’ve ever tested. It’s fast, nimble and sleek. Its creature comforts consist of bucket seats, and it has no trunk. With five buckets and a couple of stowage lockers in the deck (think of it as a long hood), it’s a little more roomy but not much more than the average sports car. But in terms of the way it drives, looks and feels, it’s as much Porsche as powerboat. 
For 2008, Donzi Marine redesigned the 38-footer’s bottom with four steps. According to a company representative, the new running surface made the already slippery-fast model even faster. Not having run the original hull with twin Mercury Racing HP700SCi engines like those in our test model this time around, we can’t verify or refute that claim. But we can say that the latest incarnation of this knockout model was definitely fast for the power and handled masterfully. PERFORMANCE The four steps on the 38 ZR Competition’s hull alternated between short and tall. Also incorporated into the bottom was a modified V-pad keel, four strakes and wide chines. As it had been for the original model, the 38-footer’s handling manners were excellent. Exhilarating to drive, the boat carved hard through every maneuver our test drivers could conjure up, and at all times it felt securely planted. It didn’t slip or wash, hook or catch. In fact, the 38 ZR Competition was one of the best handling offshore V-bottoms we tested during the 2008 Performance Trials. The boat also delivered the same smooth ride in rough water as its predecessor. Anyone expecting to take a pounding because the 38 ZR Competition is a sit-down model will be pleasantly surprised at the softness of the ride in poor conditions. The boat’s well-padded and fully embracing bucket seats had a lot to do with that, but the hull itself also carved smoothly through bad water from all directions. With its engines cranking out 5,300 rpm, the 38 ZR Competition reached 112.5 mph. By any measure, that’s a nice accomplishment for a V-bottom weighing 8,700 pounds. Hering 39"-pitch five-blade propellers were on the NXT1 drives, which had 1.49:1 gear reductions. Even with tall propellers, the setup proved strong overall. Cruising a comfortable 4,000 rpm, the boat buzzed along at 83 mph. Time to plane with the tabs down was 5.8 seconds, and from a standing start the boat reached 77 mph in 20 seconds. It accelerated from 30 to 50 mph in 5.2 seconds, went 40 to 60 mph in 6 seconds and ran 40 to 70 mph in 8.5 seconds. Both of our test drivers did have one complaint: The steering wheel partially blocked their view of the gauges. INTERIOR By design, the cockpit of Donzi’s 38 ZR Competition is cozy. It offers just enough space for five form-hugging bucket seats. But that doesn’t mean occupants will feel stuffed inside the cockpit. Legroom at each position was excellent. Grab handles were provided at all three buckets in the aft section of the cockpit. If there was such a thing as a “least favorite” seat in the boat, it was the center bucket in back, because there was minimal wind protection between the quarter-canopies. Without question, there is a “best” seat in the boat, and that’s at the port-side helm. Getting into that seat required athleticism thanks to the steering wheel, but once our drivers were planted in the bucket they felt locked in and ready to rock. The important gauges were Monster models from Livorsi Marine, and the throttles and shifters came from the same manufacturer. There also was a Mercury SmartCraft screen. Even with all that, there was enough space left over on the dash for a GPS unit if a buyer wanted it. One of the few options in the 38 ZR Competition was a five-person intercom system. At roughly $7,800, that upgrade didn’t come cheap, but buyers who have the means would do well to consider it. It sure beats passengers who have to scream at one another when the boat is at speed. As for cockpit stowage, it will be limited to the size of the pockets in each passenger’s clothing. The builder did incorporate two lockers in the boat’s deck, and they were large enough to accommodate overnight bags and safety gear. WORKMANSHIP That the 38 ZR Competition felt solid in rough water had a lot to do with its construction. Laid up with vinylester resin and multidirectional fiberglass, the hull and deck were tabbed together and bonded with a powerful adhesive called methyl methacrylate. Vacuum-infused foam coring was used throughout the hull. Foam coring also was applied by hand in the deck. The stringer system and bulkheads were constructed of composite foam. Hardware was limited to six retractable cleats and a deck rail. Boasting excellent clarity, the quarter-canopies fit the deck without gaps. Opening manually, the engine hatch was finished on the underside with smooth white gelcoat, as was the sanded bilge. The engines were installed on Mercury Racing mounts and roughly finished L-angles (a bit uncommon for Donzi) through-bolted to the stringers. To protect and route the majority of the wiring and cables, the builder used PVC tubing fiberglassed into each side of the engine compartment. All four trim pumps were installed on the firewall. Stainless-steel boxes housed the batteries. OVERALL When it comes to the fun factor, Donzi’s 38 ZR Competition is off the scale. For the driver and passengers, it provided an exhilarating yet confidence-boosting ride. For those who want a traditional cockpit with stand-up bolsters, a bench seat and a cabin, there’s the 38 ZR. For pure performance lovers, the 38 ZR Competition is just about perfect.—Matt Trulio Click to enlarge.
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