ditty22

Well im lookin at getting my first boat and one of the 2 im looking at is the donzi 22zx. Iv done some searchs ,but im not that boat savvy so some of the terms and such mean nothing to me. what can you guys tell me about this boat ,is it reliable ,what are its faults? Whats with this stepped hull deal that im reading can make ur boat spin out? Fyi the other boat im thinking of getting is a baja 23 hammer or outlaw cuddy! thanks again ditti

cuda

I'd take the Donzi. I'd love to have one now that I boat mostly on the river. They quit making them with big blocks because there were "claims" they would spin out too easy. I'd take one with either a BBC, or an SBC. Good looking boats.

BOSS245

I don't know much about the 22zx. I've seen a few around where I boat, and they seem very nice. I think what you buy will depend on what type of water you are going to run in. The Baja Hammer is 21 1/2 ft and weighs about 3,300. It has a relatively flat deadrise..19 or 20 degrees, I think. On flat water it is very fast, due to the bottom. I wouldn't want to be in it when the water's rough. The Outlaw is another story. You didn't specify, but there is a 24 and then the 25. Either way, it is bigger, heavier and has a 24 degree bottom. Awesome in rough water. Also, it has a cabin with a door. The Hammer has a crawl space with a permanent opening...no door. There are a ton of used Outlaws out there. Good luck, and buy what you like the best.

Reckless32

If it's the step hull version they are very prone to spinning out if you even think about making a turn with trim down. Had one locally that passed thru two different guys who both had spin out experiences. One of them was actually caught mid-spin out in a digital photo by my brother on Lake Cumberland during the first Awakening of the Horses gathering a few years ago. Looked like a jetski spinning around on it's nose. Otherwise a solid boat except the cuddy door is very small. Swivel seats took a whupping in the rough waters around here.

ditty22

Im mostly going to be using the boat in the St. Croix river in Minnesota and a few other lakes!

vette131

the 22zx is a nice boat that feels big for it's size. make sure the trim limiters are installed & use common sense. i know three people that have them & love em. it's a sporty boat that handled well the times i've driven.

cuda

You have to crawl in the cuddy of a 24 Outlaw too.

BOSS245

My point was that it has a door. It is not a crawl through opening like the Hammer, which is a "play pen" without a true door. The Outlaws, both 24&25 have small facing seats and a berth.

Donzi Corleone

I owned one a 2001 22ZX with a 350 mag. It was awesome and it delivered in every poker run I ran in. Everybody would swear I had a 502 in it. It had open exahust and to this day it was a great boat. Sometimes I wish I still had it with the cost of insurance now. You might want to look at a beefier outdrive. I had the alpha 1 and you better not touch that motor with that drive (upgrade). Never ever had a scary moment, and people always wanting to talk about the speed. The 22ZX had back then, and maybe still does the nicest lines around. Very sleek and throaty. GREAT STARTER boat.......I hate the winshields they put on the 26 & 28 zxo models. The flat zr's are great looking. Do the Donzi your resale will be better then the Baja.

tiufb

I have had my 22ZX for almost 5 years and am very happy with it. It did throw me out, so be careful of your trim setting when turning, and be sensible. It does quite well in rough water for it's size, and is solidly built. Mine has a 350 mag with a procharger, and runs 80 on GPS.