Difference between 3870 and 3888-gctid381340

[Guest]

My wife and I are shopping for a mid to late 80's 3870 / 3888. We are confused as to what the difference is between these two model numbers. Can anyone clarify ?

[mmichellich]

istapista wrote:
My wife and I are shopping for a mid to late 80's 3870 / 3888. We are confused as to what the difference is between these two model numbers. Can anyone clarify ?

In 1988 someone at Bayliner thought it would be neat if the year of mfg was in the model number, that did not last more than a few months. So those later were called 3888s, i.e. 1989, 1990, etc.

[kwb]

istapista wrote:
My wife and I are shopping for a mid to late 80's 3870 / 3888. We are confused as to what the difference is between these two model numbers. Can anyone clarify ?

Simple math says 18

I have heard lots of ideas on what the distinction is along with the above suggestion but from what I have seen the practical answer is - not much.

Later models got 210hp 4-bangers earlier models had NA 6's and colors changed along the way, windows went black from gray, and so on but now ~25yrs later all that really distinguishes one from another is the upkeep it has had over the years.

[Guest]

..Is it may have to do with what factory they came from and some model year changes. Significance? Very little that I have seen.

[Guest]

Not sure where you are at but there is a '92 3888 with 210 hinos in it in the BOC Mall. I had a '92 and it was a great boat with room to move around int the engine room. If you are on the east coast I think it is worth a look.

I am not affiliated with the boat or the brokerage.

[mmichellich]

Flyboy III wrote:
..Is it may have to do with what factory they came from and some model year changes. Significance? Very little that I have seen.

See post #2, that really is what happened.

[RinnyBeth]

nelie59 wrote:
Not sure where you are at but there is a '92 3888 with 210 hinos in it in the BOC Mall. I had a '92 and it was a great boat with room to move around int the engine room. If you are on the east coast I think it is worth a look.

I am not affiliated with the boat or the brokerage.

this is what we have, and with 2 teenagers and 2 adults we have plenty of room in it, PLUS 2 heads, bathtub/shower.. I love the full galley for long/short trips to cook.. the fly deck, cockpit and salon fits 6-8 people for mealtime.. the master berth you can walk around the side of the bed, storage is good with hidden places under the beds... the twin 210 hinos get up and go... love love love our boat

[Guest]

We are also looking at last 80's - early 90's 3870/3888 Motoryachts. We did ask the broker that same question? What is the difference between the years? He said the same as some in earlier posts, it just was a change in name that Bayliner made from one year to another. I believe it was the same thing for the 3270 and 3288. - Tom

[Guest]

mmichellich wrote:
See post #2, that really is what happened.

mmichellich wrote:
In 1988 someone at Bayliner thought it would be neat if the year of mfg was in the model number, that did not last more than a few months. So those later were called 3888s, i.e. 1989, 1990, etc.

I'd like to see some corroboration for that, because it is inconsistent with the empirical evidence. There are many, many 3818s out there, from 1988 and 1989 model years. How does one explain that?

When I was shopping, I looked at 3870s, 3818s and 3888s. The main difference was model year, and factory. My 1989 3888 had a BLB in the HIN, indicating it came from the plant in Arlington, WA.

BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, BYI, and BYQ came from other plants.

[mmichellich]

whiskywizard wrote:
I'd like to see some corroboration for that, because it is inconsistent with the empirical evidence. There are many, many 3818s out there, from 1988 and 1989 model years. How does one explain that?

When I was shopping, I looked at 3870s, 3818s and 3888s. The main difference was model year, and factory. My 1989 3888 had a BLB in the HIN, indicating it came from the plant in Arlington, WA.

BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, BYI, and BYQ came from other plants.

I did not think the 38s were made in that many different locations, I recall only two or three factories made the 38s?? Learn something every day.

[Guest]

mmichellich wrote:
I did not think the 38s were made in that many different locations, I recall only two or three factories made the 38s?? Learn something every day.

I wasn't very clear there. As far as I can tell, 38s were built in 3 plants. BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, BYI, and BYQ are other HIN codes for all of Bayliner, not just 38s.

Sorry.

[Guest]

245_Tom wrote:
We did ask the broker that same question?

A broker will always give you an answer. Not always a correct one, but you'll get an answer. I talked to several who were very poorly informed about the 38xx line and Bayliner's yacht line in general. I wish more of them would just learn to say, "I don't know".

[jmcannonball]

My 1990 had "3888 Motoryacht" decals on the side. they are not there anymore because the PO removed them but the ghost image is still visible.

[Guest]

If you are considering a 38 it is worth checking the diesel fill inlets. In about 1987 they changed these from flat to raised about 3/4 of an inch. This is an important design fix because all the flat ones are prone to have deck and rain water constantly slosh over them. Any slight looseness of the cap (or worse the loss of the O ring on the filler cap) dooms you to water in the tank - that is very bad.

[Guest]

Early 3870s came with Mitsubishi diesels or gas (Crusader I think) engines. Later 3870 diesels went to the 6 cyl Hinos and an increase in HP. There's a 3818 Model in there in around '87 and '88. We have a 1988 3818 (and the original paperwork that shows the Model number) and it has the 175 HP Hinos. Good engines but heavy. Because they are a sleeved engine they can be rebuilt in place rather than having to pull the engine out. Most of our boats are a long ways from needing this even after 25 years but still a good feature. After the 3818 they went to the 3888. If that designation happened in 1988 it was way late in the Model year becasue ours was one of the last off the line in the Plant it was built in. Most 3888's I've seen were 1989 or newer. Some(?) of the later 3888s went to the 4 cyl Hinos with turbochargers (I think) to get the weight down. Other than the power train and a few amenities, there's not a lot of change. It's still a good layout and, as long as they have been taken care of, a good boat. Everyone will tell you, make sure you get a good survey and mechanical inspection. There are some real dogs out there.