28' Bertram ...

[Questsportfishing]

ADVERTISE HERE

For those who fish with me or know me, I re-build and re-power boats also. The first 28 I rebuilt is a 1973 hull and has a set of 225 four strokes on her and will top out at 39.8 'Knots' with regular aluminum 14 1/2 X 17 wheels and she is always loaded with stuff and people. She cruises at 27 to 32 very easy with a load of people also. Rebuilding these rigs gives you the option of doing what ever you like to the boat in regards to fuel, water, fish boxes and storage. I have done 7 of them now and the learning curve is made a lot easier due to I own and run my own. We use our boat all the time for fishing, diving and just plain goofing off. The flybridge makes not only a great place to drive from but doubles as a small tower and can seat 4 people. my boat holds 236 gallons of fuel and holds 42 gallons of water. I have done 1 that also holds 422 gallons of fuel. The boat handles seas and is functional and solid. I just picked up another hull, a 1985 model and can build at any time to your specs. The way I like doing these hulls is I deliver the boat to the new owner ready for power in the range of $28,000.00 and you buy your power so it goes in your name, your warrantee kinda thing.. I recomend yamaha 225-250 four strokes to suzuki 250 four strokes. the custom bracket I have built for me is a deep vee - displacement bracket and does help hold the weight of 1 engine and the v will help you back up and not look like a piece of styro foam on the water. Bertram did build about 14 of these boats in house with sea drives a long time ago but never came to a level playing field with omc so there were not many made. The boats go from 16 - 24 knots to a easy 32knot cruise. Anyway if your interested I have a slot open. Our boat is always here and you can see lots of changes from the start till now. they can be trailered and end up about 12,500 full of fuel, water and gear.

[seapower]

Have you given any thought to an CumminsMercruiser 4.2 Diesel I/O package? Just a thought. I don't think the cost of 2 4 strokes would be that far off target. Frank,SeaPower

[seapower]

I'm talking about a single engine application over a twin. Frank

[Questsportfishing]

one of the rigs I did was for the yanmar 230's.... still the boat was inboard and only 25 knots.. the volvo 140's do better and gear can be played with but always back to shafts, whhels and slower... the 4 strokes yes are a bit heavier but when matched with the big bertram hull they dont smoke or vibrate

[Bligh]

I always thought that the 28 would be a great boat to convert to a OB w bracket. I own a self converted 233 formula with a 250 yam on the back. Just like you said an inboard or inboard outboard with same HP is considerably slower. What did you do with all the empty space space where engines were?Pictures didnt show?I always thought the 28 needed more weight aft drifting. Does she rock less drift fishing?

[Questsportfishing]

I will take some pics today. I installed another big fuel tank in the middle line, and two low profile saddle tanks for water outside of the fuel tank.. the two water tanks are y'ed together to make 1 tank. I also installed a 18 gallon waste tank to the outside port side with macerator and pumpout system along with the bait pumps. I also installed 7 dive tank racks down there and two dive tank holders under the salon floor. (yes we like to go diving..) to the starboard side we built in a nice insulated fish box and the two house batteries..and still there is storage. the main engine batteries are under the aft starboard deck. and potside under the main deck is plenty of room for anything else. the day bench inside leaves us a fwd locker with access from the v-berth back for our own clothes and personal stuff, the aft side of the day bench by the back bulkhead window is all the electrical, fuses and the inverter, plus storage for extra spin on filters and fuel filters. when I first got the boat I did all the structure first and one thing you have to do is see if you can break it... see if you need changes... so we use it! we do get better than 1 mpg on this rig. and you can load it with people and stuff..

[go boater]

May sound like a silly question, but is the boat structurally safe with the OB setup? Aside from the bracket, what more was done to support the power on the stern?

I used to have an OB powered CC with 250's and noticed that there were many gelcoat cracks and cracking in the aluminum support bracket that mated to the transom ...

I like what you're doing, just more info please on how safe this is and the best / biggest engine setup that could be used. I LIKE IT!!!

[Questsportfishing]

the structure of the 28' Bert first off is pretty strong. I used the strut, shaft log and rudder post area in the hull that was already beefed up and added a extra stringer and tied it into the new transome I built. I also added to all existing stringers. the boat was also glassed fwd on each side about 6' to handle the twisting that you have under power while turning. the main bulkhead was beefed up and all the old engine room stringers re-inforced also. the boats have fiberglass tanks so you have to install new ones.

[roger birt]

capt'n,
My home e-mail is rnbirt@comcast.net for the pictures. Also what do you get for the $28K on a renovation?

Roger

[Lobo Marine Products]

Must say very intresting projects...Refitting a 29' phoenix. Have you encountered any bertrams with soft spots on the front window area??