The "i" and other silly question

[CBIsailor]

So I have been looking at Yachts and noticed a weird (for me) occurrence...some boats such as the Jeaneau 36, have a normal 36 and a a 36i. What does the "i" mean?
Second 'ive seen boats that instead of two digits they have 3 digits. Like a 330 Hunter (just an example), it doesn't seem to be 330 ft so what does that 3 mean?

 

[sailcruiser]

Usually the 330 is a 33 foot boat. Some may be in meters. I don't know much about Jeanneau's but typically that is a different keel (shoal or deep?), cabin layout or rig difference like a tall rig. Some are even going to 2700 for a 27' etc. Maybe the highest number wins? . SC

 

[wetass]

I think i is for infusion or closed mold where they suck the resin into a two sided mold. Keeps the fumes down and makes a nice finish on both sides. Supposed to be a more consistent and save money in the long run. Take a look at the high production runabouts next time your at the boat show, they have been doing it for a while - You'll probably be able to pick them out since they will have a nice finish on the inside too.

 

[Joe]

A boat review from Cruising World, April 2007 issue

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36i: French Injection
This injection molded performance cruiser has the performance and aesthetics to match it's high tech build technique.

As far as 330........ uh.. it means whatever the manufacturer wants it to mean.

 

[tkanzler]

Manufacturers sometimes used models numbers with the extra digit like H340 to distinguish a new model from an earlier one, like the older H34 which was a very different boat. Hunter used the three digit with a zero on the end moniker in the late 90's forward, but I don't know when they went back to the two digit model numbers. Lots of manufacturers do things like that, probably for the same reason.

 

[WayneH]

Tartan increased the size of their numbers when they re-made the venerable Tartan 37 into the deluxe Tartan 3700. I think they also moved the decimal point in the price tag over two spots at the same time.

 

[Salty]

The 3 digit allows for the actual overal lenght of the boat (LOA) in some cases. With the the Oday 322, the LOA is 32ft 2in.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sometimes it's to differentiate between two different boats from the same builder. Catalina 38 was a great older boat. The C380 is a newer one, completely different hull design and interior.

The best way to figure this and other apparent anomalies out is to go to the boat builder's websites or Google the phrase if the boat is out of production.

 

[Ron20324]

I think i is for infusion or closed mold where they suck the resin into a two sided mold. Keeps the fumes down and makes a nice finish on both sides.

...And that's why our Honda 2000i generators have such a nice case