Adding a bow thruster to a 3880.

R

rommer

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This was previously posted on boatered in ATC but I'm posting it here as a Regal modification...

Our boat was pulled out yesterday and after power washing and cleaning some barnicales the bow thruster man was supposed to show early this morning. Due to bad brakes he didn't show till almost 11:30 and didn't finish the job in one day as promised but it should be done in the morning.

It was very disturbing to see the 2 gapping holes put in the boat and I thought I'd share some pictures of the process.

Here is the boat after power washing and pre-drilling. As you can see Regal designed a place for the thruster.

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The dreaded hole saw of death!

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and

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Last chance to change our minds...

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TOO LATE!!

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Looking at the trailer hitch on the other side of our boat.

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From the inside looking out. I don't think she's gonna float right now.

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The current condition of our forward stateroom.

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Dry fitting a thruster tube or plugging the hole!

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Glassing her in...

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I didn't take any pictures of the wiring runs yet as I can't "handle" the current condition of the boat. (Think major structural damage! ;)

Should be finished by lunch tomorrow or so I'm told. Then 2 coats of paint and in the water on Friday.

All glassed in...

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Very yellow...

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Battery (AGM since it is in the main stateroom), fuse and charger.

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Battery switch

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A giant fan!

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This was the biggest headache. Trying to locate the joystick on the helm within easy reach while still being able to use the shifters. This is tight but both of us can reach this spot.

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Epoxy barrier coated.

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And finally, fresh bottom paint. (Paint is still wet so it looks very uneven)

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Second coat of bottom paint today and if all goes well I can try this baby out tomorrow!
 
Rommer- How did it go? The project looks painful, but I would hope the results are well worth it.
 
I've docked 3 times since install was done, the first time I singled handed it and had no help on the dock to grab lines. SWWWWEEEEEEETTTTTTTT!!!!!

Paint a big happy face on me!
 
That's great. I wondered how it was working out for you.
 
Hi Rommer,

It looks like a beautiful install.. It's nice to hear that you can now very easily single hand her at the docks... gotta love technology.. :)

Thank's for posting the pictures!!!
 
Rommer, the instal looks awesome and that sure is some nice glass work. Question, did you get medicated while they did the cutting? The end result is certinally worth the cuts, but, I think I may have fallen over watching the cutting. Good luck with the mod.
 
It looks like a factory install to me.. Looks great..

I could have used one of these for the first couple years we had our boat according to the Admiral..
I think I finally got the hang of it by now.. tee hee.....

If we get a bigger boat someday, I think this would need to be a mandatory option. :)
 
The Bow75 is a 6.3 or 6 HP thruster. I think a 10 HP would spin me around like a top!!!!

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. Watching the hole being drilled was both exciting and terrifying at the same time. The end result is fantastic thou.
 
John, did you apply protection to the prop? They have a tendency to foul awfully quick and reduce efficiency when not done properly. My marina "forgot" to apply last season and they actually hauled midseason at their cost to clean and apply anti-fouling.

Job looks great, we can hear you docking all the way here on the south shore....lol
 
Job looks great.
I do not think I could have watched them cut that hole in my boat. You have nerves of steel.
 
Gary

I use ablative bottom paint and had discussions on the issues of painting the props with several poeple. Not sure if I made the right choice but I felt the paint would just spin off since thats what it is designed to do. I raft out almost every weekend so I'll check it over the next few months and see how the blades are fairing....
 
John,

Nice job, best of luck. I don't see a zinc, if you have one get a spare for next year, also get a spare fuse. Last year my boat was on the dry for a month with no electric, when the dock hand put the boat in the water he tried the thruster with a near dead battery and blew the fuse, luckly I had a spare and did not have to hunt one down.
 
The zinc is behind the prop.

Thanks for the words of advise.
 
No problem,
Couple of questions though:

Do you have diesel, Dave is looking at 2002 3880 and they are saying some crazy speed about the boat that has diesel,like real fast?

Intresting info would be your cruise, GPH, and power.

PS.
As others would say " Nice Training Wheels" :)

Walter
 
My best top end is 38mph. I cruise between 28-31MPH burning mid to upper 20's

I have the 440 Yanmars. The 3880, now 4080 is small and light for her size but the interior room is awesome. Based on the thickness of the hull slug they cut out Regal didn't scrimp on the hull. (Got that from 2 different fiberglass guys). No major problems at all. Only 2 beefs are Regals insistence of using Faria gauges, LOTS of problems but excellent customer support and some leakage around the cabin windshield. We love her thou, perfect size for us and relatively inexpensive to operate.

Oh and if he does get this boat I have an excellent, simple genny exhaust modification which cuts down the noise dramatically!

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Is that exhuast under the swim platform?
The quoted me a cruise of 26 knots and max speed of 36 knots, so that is sort of what your saying.

I thought Faria was good guages, got them on my cruisers and except for a sticky tach now and then, they are fine.

The one I am looking at has the 440 Yanmars 6LY-STE-Turbo. It looks like a nice boat but I have to try and sell mine first!
 
" I cruise between 28-31MPH burning mid to upper 20's"

Are we doing math or do you have a fuel flow that gives you actual burn at cruise?

Walter
 
http://www.boattest.com/boats/220/overview.aspx Boatest shows the boat with the 440's burning 27 GPH at a cruise of 25 mph.
 
I'm doing the math and I have recent runs to "back up" the data. I've seen the boattest results but they just don't jive with reality on this setup. Look at the Yanmar fuel curves and you'll see what I mean. For example at 2500 rpm the engines feed on roughly 10 gph each. The extra 7 gph would produce a lot of smoke! What I'm saying is my actual usage is more inline with Yanmars fuel curves then boattest. BTW - Mack Boring does an excellent owners class on these engines. Recommend it highly.

26 knot cruise is believable, 36 knot top end is a bit of a stretch.
 
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