28'-37' Old Bertrams

[go boater]

Hello All:

Newbie here. I've found lots of great info on this site over the past few years and finally got around to posting and appreciate your advice.

I happen to be fortunate enough to be in a position whereby I can consider purchasing a used bertram flybridge and have noticed many available on the market. My thought is to find a solid boat that has been or can be rebuilt up to current standards without paying the price of new. There are many to choose from at various project stages $5K - 50K with another 50-100K to invest in the next 2 years and I'd like to ultimately open up the salon like a 37 Billfish but have the solid feel of an old bert.

Painting, glasswork and mechanical jobs will be performed by a yard. I can do many of the carpentry and systems updating myself.

I want to go all out on a top notch finished product- what are your thoughts on what model would be my best bet? What is the maximum safe hull speed (calm water) of a 31, 35 or 37 Bert with how big of motors can be stuffed into her belly?

Understand that I don't have an unlimited budget but want something that can asthetically look like a dream at the dock when I am done and still sh^t and git under power and favorable conditions. Oh yeah, I'm thinking a heavy old berty can get me home if it gets nasty with my family on board.

C'mon lets hear it. Thanks.

[Sea Draggin]

Pretty sure Bill Whiticar bought one year before last and uses it every day.

I recently read an article about a classic bertram club in Morehead City, with a few folks there that specialize in them.

..........


I went and found the article before posting. It references a Taylor Boatworks in Morehead City and a John McCallum. Based on the article, he should be able to answer about any question you might have.

[Fritz]

a 28 hull he is trying to get rid of and I know he would welcome the chance to put her back together with some willing.

[TeamRowdy]

We redid a 31 1973. We put 370 cummins in it. The boat went from Whitaker, to American Custom Yacht. The boats name was "ROWDY". It cruised at 34 knots and topped at about 40.
The boat was a tank, and very dry due to the speed.
Good Luck

[Questsportfishing]

we have a 28' converted to outboards... I sportfished with a
54', 46' a 31. 38, and they are easy to rebuild even..(they have room.. I always seen 1 in abaco called sea wings the owner had a set of hino engines in her and she was also very fast and very dry. my hats off to those old guys who built them in the first place!

[go boater]

We redid a 31 1973. We put 370 cummins in it. The boat went from Whitaker, to American Custom Yacht. The boats name was "ROWDY". It cruised at 34 knots and topped at about 40.
The boat was a tank, and very dry due to the speed.
Good Luck

Wow. Man I wish I could go for a spin in that baby! I have yet to find someone who stuffed a set of monster motors in a 33 35 37 or 38 foot convertible bert. I like the lines of the 31 a lot however the growing family indicates needing slightly more space on board than what a 31 can offer me - there's also a huge difference between the 31 and 33 convertible boats.

[TeamRowdy]

Rowdy was a Rocket the boat is for sale to see it. Look for a 1973 31 Bertram in Mobile AL.

[Lobo Marine Products]

Hey goboater, i was doing the same thing you did...looking for the 28 bert to refit, although when i was looking i found my current project a 29' phoenix, low hours on the motors and overall good condidion. So i picked her up used her over the season. Hauled her out, and took her to the sticks (home). My plans are based over a two year span with volvo-yanmar swaps in two or three years. Although this year we stripped the bottom and redoing that. Putting a hardtop on and removing all the old crap that was mounted to the bridge, adding a custom center rigger, all lights are being converted to LED, Underwater lights as well are being installed, new interior curtains and cushions are being done now.

Once we get the top lined up and mounts in place the building goes up and prep for paint begins.

considering glassing the front in and adding a transom livewell.


All for less then 35k. thats estimated.

So far the investment in materials and custom items made i am in about 12k!

[Capt.Troy Crane]

Goboater,
I purchased a 1973 35 Bertram four years ago. I totally gutted the boat and set it up for charter fishing and it has served me very well. These boats were built when the thought process was "more is better" lots of cloth and resin. She takes a head sea like a battleship.

A great, dry ride for me. She is built like a TANK. I have a set of B series Cummins in mine, they are only 300hp each but I get a good cruise out of her for what I do and run it 500 off the top. In my business I am looking for longevity and these are the ticket for me. You can put the higher horse power b's in one with no problem, I think they go up to 480hp now and they will fit fine.

Good luck !!

Troy

[Sea Draggin]

Looking good Troy. I'm hoping to book you for a day sometime after you get done with striper fishing.

I know what you mean about the head sea. The Bluewater Lady is 42 @42,000lbs. There were a few days I was glad to have that under me for the ride home.