682gold

Hello all!! I currently have a 2000 Fountain 38 Lightning with SxS motors,. I am looking at newer boats and I really like the look of the ZR's. Which is most like the size of my 38? 35 or 38 ZR? Are the rides going to be similar or are they two different animals? Thanks for the info in advance.

4bus

38 zr is going to be the size you want, donzi also counts the molded swim platform. Believe it or not the zr will have slightly less head room than your current 38.

Performance should be similar. The designer of the zr series for donzi was a former fountain employee

Scott B

38, If you don't want a cabin, the 38ZR Comp is the way to go IMO.

Tom A.

I have been in both the 35zr and 38zr many times. Here is some stats and my basic opinion.

The 38 Zr should really have been called a 39 based on it being 38' 8" with an 8' 8" beam and 9500lbs.
The 35 Zr is 35' 3" with an 8' 6" beam and 8500lbs.

A 35 will run/handle as well as a 38 Zr up to about 85mph. After that the 38 really comes into its own. The 35 w/ 525s runs 90mph+ and becomes a hand full above that speed. The 38 w/ 525s runs just under 90 but solid as a rock. It runs solid and true well past 110mph with bigger power, and the balance and handling is awesome. The cabin on both is the same, the extra 3 feet comes in the engine bay for the stagger. Headroom sucks but if you are not doing any serious camping out on it, it is fine.
Just for another option, the 43 has more cabin space, slightly more headroom but less speed due to its size and weight. The 43 is 42' 10" with an 8' 10" beam and 13000lbs.
Overall, the zr's ride real nice. Slice through any chop without any real hard slam or slap. They fly very straight and true and don't need a lot of driver input to run smooth.

The 38 Comps are really second to none but come at a cost of no cabin and purpose built cockpit. I love mine! Donzi really did their homework on these boats. There is a reason a 10 year old ZrComp won the European title last year among a fleet of much newer boats!

I have been on a couple of Fountains and have to say in both handling and rough water a 35 Donzi and a 38 Donzi will outrun a 38 Fountain with the same power.

To me one of the best engine & boat combos ever made is the 38 Zr with 700's. Stock, it runs 110 and with only minor tweaking you can see 115. Great speeds with a very reliable driveline.

Speed Comparison:
35 - 496s = 80
35 - 525s = 92ish
38 - 525s = 89ish
38 - 700s = 110ish
43 - 700s = 102ish
43 - 1075s = 120

slorider

How fast is a 35 ZR with Merc 600 sci with xr its shorties ?

robert246

I have a 38 ZR for sale 700 NXT 's. Very clean and well maintained boat

Tom A.

It will run well into the 90's as there is a 35 with 710 Ilmors that runs well over 100.

As I have said before, be VERY careful over 90mph in that boat gets progressively looser the higher above 90 you go.