Donzi??

[Leedo Lanes]

Anyone out there a convert from Donzi?? I was wondering what the comparisons are like between a Donzi and a checkmate. I am always shocked to see the resale values placed on Donzi's and want to know if they are really "The best" in quality or is it all hype?? I love my Checkmate, but got into quite a fight with a Donzi guy as to why Checks are better!! Give me some firepower guys...

 

[JW]

Donzi is a slow hull. It takes a LOT of horsepower to make one as fast as a Checkmate. Donzi is supposed to be good in big waves, and that's about it.

 

[JUPITER PULSARE]

GUYS, YOU NEED TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. THE EARLY DONZI SUITE 16'S, HORNETS, 2+3'S WERE ALL DECENT BOATS IN THEIR DAYS. THE DONZI RAGAZZA LINE OF BOATS SIMPLY SUCKED. THE LATE STEVE SIMON CAME ABOARD DONZI AND TURNED THINGS AROUND. THEY STARTED PRODUCING QUALITY OFFSHORE PERFORMANCE BOATS BUT NOTHING IN THE SMALL LAKE ROCKET ARENA SUCH AS THE PULSARES. THEY ARE USING STEP HULL TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR OFFSHORE BOATS AND ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING A VERY RESPECTABLE F2 RACE BOAT. CHECKMATE BUILDS A VERY BROAD VARIETY OF BOATS AND FOR A SMALL MANUFACTURER THEIR PRODUCT HAS ALWAYS SHOWN QUALITY. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SPEED YOU HAVE TO COMPARE TO EQUAL LEGNTH BOATS WITH EQUIVALENT POWER. THE STEP HULLS WILL ALWAYS OUT ACCELERATE AND HAVE MORE TOP END SPEED THAN A TRADITIONAL V-HULL BUT TURNING CAN BE COMPROMISED.

 

[jrumon]

I have owned 3 Donzi's... a 1969 16' ski-sporter (351 Holman-Moody/Volvo), a 1976 18' Classic 2+3 (LT1 350-350HP/Merc TRS), and a 1990 22' Classic (454-365HP/Cobra)....favorite was the 18'... the 22' was fast but Cobra drive was nothing but problems! All were fun boats and hulls were built VERY well...fast but takes power to get there...great rough water boats designed by offshore origanator Don Arrownow back in the 60's and his "Classic's" (16,18,22) are still in production today...nice boats!!!

Years to watch out for (avoid) are 1987-1990 when OMC took over the company and introduced that Razza line...and used a lot of OMC Cobra stuff...what JUNK!!! In 1990, PROLINE took over DONZI production and quality went WAY UP...and returned Mercruiser as the powertrains... boats were better built than they ever were before but spendy $$$$$.

Donzi's are sweat boats, but you get quality and more bang for your buck with Checkmate!!!

 

[Leedo Lanes]

Hey Jim,

What is your dream boat?? Both in a larger, and smaller size? (Small being about 18ft)?

I definitely love Donzi, and it is great to hear someone with experience give me some reasons why they aren't as great as the owners think they are!!

 

[jrumon]

Leedo... Donzi's are a Great boat too...but most of the time "snobby" people own them. The 18 being one of my favorites...classy, fast, attention getter, the sound, the handling, etc... Yes...JW is correct in saying a 22 checkmate will out run a 22 Donzi (given the same power)...my 22 Donzi ran 76MPH on radar with that stock 365HP 454 and Cobra (yuck) outdrive. My 18 Donzi ran with the 350/350HP LT1/TRS nose-coned ran 73MPH radar. Say what you will...Those classic design Donzi's are way cool!!!

I've been a performance boater for 25+ years and have had about 30ish go-fasts of every variety as well as building motors/setting up/ and rigging performance boats for others.

My fast toy last year was a 23' Warlock World-Class Series Offshore with a 532HP (dyno) motor/bravo with cone...boat saw 84-86MPH on GPS...killer high quality boat with great performance (thats why Warlock leads Factory ! Offshore racing). Stupid me listened to my wife and I "gave it way" last fall... She wants a bow-rider for the kids (we have 4 under 9 years old)...I want fast still, she wants room, I get a compromise!

I'm thinking of a 21 Pulsair with a 330X but not sure if the $$$$$ is in the family "budget"...Hard to justify $45K for something I get to use 25 hours a year... Before I drop $45K...I'm going to end up with a 24 Skater or 25 Motion Cat for $30ish (that will be my divorce settlement)!!! Realistically...I'm looking for a used 21 Checkmate 2100 Pulsair (with or without motor)that I can put a 300x on that I have a line on...I'm aiming for total investment of about $20,000ish ($10K hull, $10K motor, plus misc.)?

There is a lot of great boats out there... Checkmate's are well built and a good value in comparision to some of the West-Coast customs. I just look a lot and grab a good deal when I can... add it to the toy box and play with it until the next one comes along (never bored).
Jim.

P.S. My dream boats...
SMALL- Custom rigged 18' Donzi with all-aluminum ZO6 vette motor and Bravo XR...
PRACTICAL- 21 Checkmate BR with 300X...
MEDIUM- 28 Skater with twin 300X's...
BIG-37 Talon with 1400HP Gentry Turbo's w/SM6's

WE CAN ALL DREAM!!!

 

[Riley]

I've owned both a 1999 18' Donzi, and a 1990 Checkmate Strobe (same boat twice!) I've got to say both brands have there positives, it's all in what you want.

The Donzi was a rock solid, classic design that did just about everything well. As stated before, it's a heavy hull for its size, but they are awesome in any kind of wave. The downside is that the deep V of the Donzi will be slower than a pad hull like a Checkmate, given equal power. The quality of build on my Donzi was very, very good. Practicality, well, that's another story!

Just about everybody on these boards knows the positives of Checkmate. Great looking, fast and practical boats! I liked my old Strobe so much I bought it back last year, after I sold my Donzi.

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong either way. The "cool" factor might have to got to the Donzi, just because of the mental image the name generates among the boating public. In the real world, the Checkmate is the way to go if you like going fast, and taking a couple of friends along for the ride.

For what it's worth, the Donzi website www.donzi.net has a lot of really nice people, and a ton of information regarding engines, outdrives, etc. It's worth taking a look at.

 

[DonziGirl]

As you can probably tell from my name, I love Donzis. My family at has owned a 1968 16' ski sport ( what they call a sweet sixteen now), an 18' and two 22's. We're down to a 1996 18' and a 2001 22'. I really like those little boats. The 18' has been my favorite by far to drive. It's a blast! The little ones also handle rough water extremely well for their size. As far as the bigger Donzi's are concerned, I've only driven the 28' ZX. It handled fairly well but felt light in the water. I never got into anything rough with it.

I just bought a 1983 25' Checkmate (last night) so I'll let you know when I get it how I think it drives

 

[slpcamaross97]

I like both boats but for the cash i spent on mine i could not touch a Donzi i live the Classic look but like a boat with a bit of a window the sweet 16 boats are nice but no window and im not a big fan of red either.

But it dont really matter what brand of boat anyone has its just matters if you have a good time on it thats all that matters a boat is a boat some may be faster and better looking but it really dont matter because we are all boaters.

and if i had my dream boat it would be a Cigarette Cafe Racer. FYI (ill have one in 4 years once my uncle is done with his) That is the top dog boat un less you get into the Top Gun 38'

 

[Adam L.]

I have owned 3 Donzi's... a 1969 16' ski-sporter (351 Holman-Moody/Volvo), a 1976 18' Classic 2+3 (LT1 350-350HP/Merc TRS), and a 1990 22' Classic (454-365HP/Cobra)....favorite was the 18'... the 22' was fast but Cobra drive was nothing but problems! All were fun boats and hulls were built VERY well...fast but takes power to get there...great rough water boats designed by offshore origanator Don Arrownow back in the 60's and his "Classic's" (16,18,22) are still in production today...nice boats!!!

Years to watch out for (avoid) are 1987-1990 when OMC took over the company and introduced that Razza line...and used a lot of OMC Cobra stuff...what JUNK!!! In 1990, PROLINE took over DONZI production and quality went WAY UP...and returned Mercruiser as the powertrains... boats were better built than they ever were before but spendy $$$$$.

Donzi's are sweat boats, but you get quality and more bang for your buck with Checkmate!!!

My buddy has a 1987 18' classic with a 350, 300 tempest mercruiser that he bought new. No OMC parts at all.

 

[DonziGirl]

and if i had my dream boat it would be a Cigarette Cafe Racer. FYI (ill have one in 4 years once my uncle is done with his) That is the top dog boat un less you get into the Top Gun 38'

That's what my boyfriend wants. He has a 28' Cigarette SS right now and wants to move up but can't bear to part with his.

 

[Chris]

To me anything that floats is fun.

Unless it's a Baja of course!

 

[DonziGirl]

Within the last couple of years I've ridden on a LOT of Bajas simply because a couple of my friends work there.

 

[Chris]

Within the last couple of years I've ridden on a LOT of Bajas simply because a couple of my friends work there.

They're actually not that bad. But they're mass produced chopper gun boats and that's why I don't like 'em. But hey, we've got to have someone to pick on, and they're an easy target.

 

[cooperider]

But hey, we've got to have someone to pick on, and they're an easy target.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

 

[happy]

i'll put an old 250. 280, 290 volvo drive against a merc any day of the week and watch em walk away.. i'm not fond of the omc stringer drive.. and refuse to work on one.... the cobras, and sx cobras, as well as the volvo sx's.. are a damn fine drive.. and hard to beat.. and head to head.. merc has nothing to offer to beat the sx... or even the old volvo penta drives.. unless you go to the ssm's or #6 drive..

not alot of us down here in the gulf waters run in bathtub water... so boats gotta take some chop... and on the lake i run on... *my lil skimate*... the big yachts will run ya over... <<< happen to be fast enough to get out the way...))) but she doesn't like a 4' wake off a cruiser... (((( i get swamped)))

 

[msmile]

donzi

When I was a kid on the Mississippi river checkmates were the deal. We went to a lake once a summer. The local rich boy had a 16 donzi that went around 65 mph, which was fast for the time. It was a rough lake and the donzi was well suited, but I don't think it would run with the checkmates on the river at the time with the tower of power or omc either. When the v6's came out they were way faster. I always tried to talk my dad into a checkmate but with 7 kids he never could see it.

 

[Anthem of the Sun]

I've been a Formula fan for years, but I just recently bought a 22 Donzi, and now I want to sell all my other boats, and just concentrate on the 22. There is something about them. It's kind of like a Harley, they aren't the fastest, but they have the "soul". Right now, I still own a Checkmate Mx14, a Formula 20Sc, a 302 Formula SR1 Kaama Drive, and a Donzi Minx. I'm trying to cut back on the fleet so I can sink more money into the 22. I love that boat.

 

[Anthem of the Sun]

This picture will show you how much I loved my Formula's. It's my girlfriend's tatoo of the Formula emblem.

 

[Anthem of the Sun]

My Donzi Minx. It's a 1987, and all Mercruiser gear. Omc didn't take over Donzi until 1988.