Based on a championship raceboat hull, Donzi's 38ZR tops out at 90 mph.
By Capt. Stuart Reininger
 There was a day last winter when Miami's Biscayne Bay was crisscrossed by plumes of white water. The rumble of numerous high performance engines carried across the flats like a roll of thunder. The go-fast boats weren't gathered for any particular occasion. The Miami International Boat Show had just ended, the weather was perfect, a gentle southerly breeze had kicked up a light chop and there was the bay, just waiting. Close to this impromptu gathering was Donzi's new 38ZR. If you were nearby, you could see its rooster tail behind a streak of hot yellow and fire engine red, low and flat to the water.
| At A Glance |
| Donzi 38 |
| Base Price (w/test power): |
$275,571 |
| Flat Out: |
90.3 mph |
| Engines: |
(2) 525-hp Mercury Racing gasoline engines |
The Donzi wasn't out there playing around; this was a sea trial, serious stuff. The fact that I was enjoying myself immensely while in control of the 1,050 raging horses stabled a few feet behind me was superfluous. Unfortunately, the Donzi representative with me wasn't so comfortable. He knew that I wasn't a graduate of "Donzi U, the hands-on training program with a professional driver from the Donzi staff. The driving school is offered to every buyer of a Donzi performance boat. The rep had every right to feel nervous. Over the years, I've punched in plenty of throttle time aboard one go-fast or another, but this ZR is beyond go-fast; it's pure performance.
This new model is the production version of Donzi's 38ZR Competition Race Boat. To date, the 38 holds five national championship titles and two world championship honors. While plowing furrows in the protected waters of Biscayne Bay, I kept my cool at the wheel, because at 90 mph you don't want to do anything foolish, like hiccup.
 During the sea trial, the boat topped out at 90.3 mph with the ZR's twin 525-hp Mercury Racing EFI engines, Bravo XR drives and four-blade props. But the Donzi rep was disappointed; he thought the boat could do better. So, the 38 went back to the factory, where it was re-propped with five-blade wheels. The modification squeezed top end up to 93.6 mph.
That tells you something about this boat builder. To Donzi, an extra mile per hour is like a minute saved by a marathoner; it's that important. That dedication to excellence extends to the way Donzi puts the ZR together. Beneath those cornea-peeling graphics lies a lightweight fiberglass laminate with a vacuum-infused coring. The glass-encapsulated composite stringer system boasts a full-length centerline keel stringer, something typically found only on raceboats. The hull-to-deck joint is glassed as well as chemically bonded. This ensures stiffness, which prevents the performance-destroying flexing that can plague this breed.
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| MUSCLE: Staggered Mercury Racing engines. |
Speeds in the 90-mph range aren't all that surprising with so much horsepower on the transom. But the Donzi's performance is distinctive for a few reasons. If you've listened to many go-fast boats at idle, you know the engines can be discordant; they sound like they need to be opened up to clear their throats. But performance boats aren't always racing. They're used for trips around the bay and cruises to dockside bistros where rough-sounding engines are annoying. The Mercury Racing EFI engines on the Donzi are as smooth at idle and mid-range rpm as they are at wide-open throttle. One reason is Mercury's SmartCraft PCM 038 microprocessor, which optimizes the fuel control for each cylinder independently, allowing them to run more efficiently at low revs. Then there are the Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads, designed exclusively for Mercury Racing, that contribute to the exquisite balance a high performance engine needs.
| Performance |
| LOA |
38'3" |
| Beam |
8'8" |
| Draft (down) |
3'0" |
| Disp. |
8,500 lbs. |
| Transom Deadrise |
22 degrees |
| Water |
10 gals. |
| Fuel |
210 gals. |
| Test Power: (2) 525-hp Mercury Racing EFI gasoline engines (staggered) turning four-blade propellers through Bravo XR drives. Power options include twin gas engines to 1,200 hp max. |
|
|
| RPM |
MPH |
Knots |
dB-A |
| 1000 |
8.2 |
7.3 |
75 |
| 1500 |
11.3 |
9.8 |
80 |
| 2000 |
18.5 |
16.1 |
91 |
| 2500 |
22.8 |
19.8 |
94 |
| 3000 |
43.5 |
37.8 |
96 |
| 3500 |
55.6 |
48.3 |
98 |
| 4000 |
65.3 |
56.8 |
101 |
| 4500 |
85.0 |
73.9 |
103 |
| 5200 |
90.3 |
78.5 |
105 |
Speeds measured by GPS in Biscayne Bay off Miami, Fla., in 10- to 15-mph winds and two-foot seas w/three people aboard, a half tank of fuel and no water. Sound levels measured at the helm in dB-A.
Standard Equipment (major items): Recessed air intakes; anchor locker; electric bolster seats at helm; cabin carpet; pull-up cleats; snap-in cockpit carpet; through-transom exhaust w/mufflers; color GPS/chartplotter; hydraulic steering; premium Sony AM/FM stereo w/six speakers.
Optional Equipment (major items): Air conditioning; anchor; battery charger; Quick & Quiet exhaust w/mufflers; fume detector; genset; ITS extension boxes; electric standup bolster seat w/stainless steel "T handles.
Warranty: Five-year hull warranty; one-year for major components.
Donzi Marine, www.donzimarine.com.
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The Donzi also has a great hands-on-the-wheel feel. On many go-fasts, the wheel takes on a life of its own when the boat is driven at high speeds. Regardless of the sea conditions, it constantly needs minute adjustments to keep the boat on track. That wasn't the case on the ZR. The wheel was as rock-solid at 20 mph as it was at 90. That's the result of an ideal hull/engine/drivetrain marriage. On the Donzi, there's a nice balance accorded by the staggered engine installation (it provides a lower, more forward center of gravity) and Mercury Racing's Integrated Transom System (ITS), which includes a built-in tie-bar attachment and integral power steering cylinders.
At the helm, the skipper is snug in one of two bolstered seats. The windshield artfully funnels the wind aft. At speed, passengers in the backseat might be surprised at how pliable their facial expressions can be. Then again, that pleated aft bench is very comfortable. There are handholds for all. The cabin, with its double berth, is great for a midday rest. Weekend outings are doable on the ZR, which also has a galley module, compact refrigerator and enclosed head with freshwater sink and shower and an optional vacuum-flush toilet.
The gear-heads among us will love the access to the machinery. Essentially, the whole aft deck (topped by a full-length sunpad) comes up on twin hydraulic rams. Even with all that space-jamming horsepower, you'll be able to get in there, crawl around and reach anything essential. The wiring and plumbing is routed, color-coded and chafe-protected.
This new ZR will wow them dockside. But if you're even thinking about fire-walling those throttles, first sit down with one of the nice professors from Donzi U.
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