R-29 CB Model Changes

[idratherbeboating]

I'm trying to figure out changes/tweaks to the design of the model over the last few years of the command-bridge edition. E.g. is there a way to distinguish a 2017 boat from a 2018 model other than HID?

Is there a list of the minor tweaks/upgrades made over the years to the base design since the launch? If so, I'd love to see it so I can then leverage your parts department and consider similar upgrades...

 

[spierp]

I'm not aware of a list, but I know they went from a 260HP D4 to 300HP from 2017 to 2018, respectively.

 

[idratherbeboating]

Any idea why the HP increased? Are there folks with the 260HP engine wishing they had more oomph?

 

[Rocky]

I have a 2018 R29s with the 300 hp D4. I know that I have never wished for less HP.

That applies to boating, trucks, cars, lawn mowers, table saws, blenders, etc......…. 😀

Rocky

 

[Hydraulicjump]

I'm with Rocky. More HP is always welcome on a semi-displacement hull (absolutely not true for displacement hulls). It is that hop up onto plane and then cruising on plane that the extra HP helps out on.

I have the earlier engine (heck, I have hull #1 which started out as an S and transitioned to a CB demo) with 260HP. I have always noticed that the hull runs its very best (based on feel, mostly) at WOT (on my boat 3500 approx, more if very clean hull and prop), instead of the 90% WOT cruising rpm recommended by Volvo. This "runs better" is just feel, with no real data to back it up. But I often find myself wishing I had a bit more HP so I could run the boat at fast cruise at a hull speed that really shows off the very advanced hull design. So I recommend the higher HP.

And I am a scientist by trade, so I am embarrassed to say all of this is intuition, with no objective data to back it up. The alternative hypothesis is that I have so weighed the boat down with stuff over the years that the poor thing waddles along and just can't get to the speed that works best with the hull design.

Jeff

ps: gotta say, we love the boat. We adored our classic 27, but the features on this boat have made us enjoy it so much more.

 

[Dcsqatar]

I believe I purchased the first 2020 model 29S last June. I had been expecting a 2019! I was told that the only differences between the 2019 and 2020 29S models were latest (8612) Garmin chartplotter and upholstery color (maybe fabric too?) changes.