Donzigo
06-01-2006, 07:10 AM
I was responding to a question to one of our members and thought I would post my thoughts to the general forum. Feel free to disagree or add more. All of this has been posted before; but, there are many people who are new tot he board and might find it interesting.
I owned a 1987 Z-25 for 8 years and own a Z-33 for the last 4 years. They are sturdy, heavy, great rides in the ocean, and they are fun to own. Perhaps a little slower by today's standards; but, the ride makes up for it, IMHO.(And, yes, DREGZ, they aren't as collectable as the classics.) But, they are "head-turners" just the same, I alway get compliments every weekend at Shell Island.
OK, so, here's the skinny, you need to check the stringers out in any Z-boat (21, 25,33,) Donzi built from 1987 to 1990. The places to look are on the transom and around the outdrive and take the inspection covers off and tap the stringers, where they meet the hull everywhere you can reach. If you hear a hollow spot, you've got problems. The Z-33 had to have the front floor replaced, everything else is fine. But, I had $14,400 of stringer work done on my Z-25. We dis-assembled the boat and re-built almost the entire stringer system. If your stringers are good, then you need to know that if has NOT been replaced, the fuel tank will have to be replaced, no question about it, don't even try to talk me out of it. And, I'll even go so far to stick my neck out and say that if any person on this board has NOT replaced their fuel tank on one of these Z-boats from this era, you are "at risk"; and, I definitely wouldn'd let anyuone smoke on my boat. The reason: During the late 80's, the tanks were built by the company in Perry, Florida, (can't rememebr, ask George Carter), and they were built with slightly less thickness, than what they are today. Get this, when I replaced the 200 gallon tank in my Z-33, it was only 1/20th of an inch thick from corrosion, in places. The thickness of 1/8 inch would not be allowed today for a tank of that size. The tanks corrode on the bottom, from water intrusion into the fuel well, which does not drain out. (It's the way all manufacturer's have to build them, Federal code). Anyway, the tank will look great on the top, and even on the inside, should you look through the fuel sender hole; but, it will be corroded on the bottom. It only started out with 1/8th of an inch thickness; so, just a little corrosion will make that 1/16th of an inch thickness. It looks likes small craters in the metal. Anyone who has doen this job, will testify to this. Fuel tanks, if TOTALLT DRY, will last a number of years; but, if they are stored outside, or washed down, from salt water use, (as we do here in Florida), they will last no more than 10 years. They generally can be bought for $6 per gallon. I paid JTR, of Gulfport, Florida, $900 for the replacement tank for the Z-33, 140 gallons. (didn't go back with that 200 gallons). One more thing, have the tank painted and use large stainless steel valves on the new ones. Again, the old valves are not up to today's codes.
I have completely taken apart, retrofitted, and replaced every wire, gauge, upholstry, engines, outdrives, all mechanical parts of both boats. It's fair to say that I know the Z-25 & Z-33 boats as well as any person on the board.
Having said all this, if I haven' totally scared you, the boat is a neat "smile machine". I plan to own my Z-33 until I punch my ticket. In fact, my kids have told my that I am such a Donzi-addict, that my ashes will be attached to the front tip of the Z-33, and I will get the last "white knuckled" ride of my life, out to the "Whistler - marker 19", 19 miles off of Egmont Island, they'll play my favorite tune, Gato Babieri's "Europa" on the stereo, and leave me to swim with the dolphins.
I hope you enjoyed the read. (Don't mean to offend anyone)
I owned a 1987 Z-25 for 8 years and own a Z-33 for the last 4 years. They are sturdy, heavy, great rides in the ocean, and they are fun to own. Perhaps a little slower by today's standards; but, the ride makes up for it, IMHO.(And, yes, DREGZ, they aren't as collectable as the classics.) But, they are "head-turners" just the same, I alway get compliments every weekend at Shell Island.
OK, so, here's the skinny, you need to check the stringers out in any Z-boat (21, 25,33,) Donzi built from 1987 to 1990. The places to look are on the transom and around the outdrive and take the inspection covers off and tap the stringers, where they meet the hull everywhere you can reach. If you hear a hollow spot, you've got problems. The Z-33 had to have the front floor replaced, everything else is fine. But, I had $14,400 of stringer work done on my Z-25. We dis-assembled the boat and re-built almost the entire stringer system. If your stringers are good, then you need to know that if has NOT been replaced, the fuel tank will have to be replaced, no question about it, don't even try to talk me out of it. And, I'll even go so far to stick my neck out and say that if any person on this board has NOT replaced their fuel tank on one of these Z-boats from this era, you are "at risk"; and, I definitely wouldn'd let anyuone smoke on my boat. The reason: During the late 80's, the tanks were built by the company in Perry, Florida, (can't rememebr, ask George Carter), and they were built with slightly less thickness, than what they are today. Get this, when I replaced the 200 gallon tank in my Z-33, it was only 1/20th of an inch thick from corrosion, in places. The thickness of 1/8 inch would not be allowed today for a tank of that size. The tanks corrode on the bottom, from water intrusion into the fuel well, which does not drain out. (It's the way all manufacturer's have to build them, Federal code). Anyway, the tank will look great on the top, and even on the inside, should you look through the fuel sender hole; but, it will be corroded on the bottom. It only started out with 1/8th of an inch thickness; so, just a little corrosion will make that 1/16th of an inch thickness. It looks likes small craters in the metal. Anyone who has doen this job, will testify to this. Fuel tanks, if TOTALLT DRY, will last a number of years; but, if they are stored outside, or washed down, from salt water use, (as we do here in Florida), they will last no more than 10 years. They generally can be bought for $6 per gallon. I paid JTR, of Gulfport, Florida, $900 for the replacement tank for the Z-33, 140 gallons. (didn't go back with that 200 gallons). One more thing, have the tank painted and use large stainless steel valves on the new ones. Again, the old valves are not up to today's codes.
I have completely taken apart, retrofitted, and replaced every wire, gauge, upholstry, engines, outdrives, all mechanical parts of both boats. It's fair to say that I know the Z-25 & Z-33 boats as well as any person on the board.
Having said all this, if I haven' totally scared you, the boat is a neat "smile machine". I plan to own my Z-33 until I punch my ticket. In fact, my kids have told my that I am such a Donzi-addict, that my ashes will be attached to the front tip of the Z-33, and I will get the last "white knuckled" ride of my life, out to the "Whistler - marker 19", 19 miles off of Egmont Island, they'll play my favorite tune, Gato Babieri's "Europa" on the stereo, and leave me to swim with the dolphins.
I hope you enjoyed the read. (Don't mean to offend anyone)