Can anyone give me first hand info on the 31 Bert, ride in rough seas, headsea, following sea performance, how does she drift. A buddy of mine is thinking of making a move from a 30 Marlin, would there be a considerable difference?
Thanks
Has your buddy ever had yearnings for belonging to a cult?
They were the best of the best in their time. The 32 blackfin improved upon the teenie weenie one man bridge. They can be wet in a few different seas. They can take any punishment you and the mighty sea can throw at it. Its got a great big huge cockpit for a 31 ft boat. You get instant membership into a cult.
I ran them for a couple years and as mentioned above a great little boat,as long as you don't blow out the front windows they will bring you home in anything.The bridge model tends to beat you up a bit if it gets a tad nasty...the old Bahia Mar rides better because you are running the boat from a little further aft,basically sitting on the engine box.The 454 engine boats like the gas.There are a few out there with Yanmars,very nice application.
owned a flybridge model for quite a few years,originally a gas boat,i converted it to diesel.
the ride,it's a wet boat,but it's a tank.your buddy has a 30 marlin-a grady,yes ?? nite and day difference on the ride,the bertram will ride much better...
the older cat powered bertrs,the ones with 3208's,these rode the best,due to the weight of the engines...can't beat a 31 bertram-it's a classic,it will only appriciate in value...
Everyone has forgot to mention how these boats are known fish raisers.....hard to beat these boats for bringing fish into the spread, they are proven all over the world for a multitude of fish. As stated above, they can be wet in certain conditions, but they are tanks and the ride will pay for itself in most seas. If you can find one where the guy fiberglassed in the front windows now your really talking....otherwise I would recommend doing it yourself, as mentioned they can get blwon out in rough stuff, and I feel look better without the windows forward.
ran a 31 bahia mar for close to 20yrs
they do like to run fast, downsea they are the devil track straight and run quick
head sea is marginal,honest 4-6ft head sea will see a 9 knt run to destination, rolls at drift because of the deep v
the pre 1974 models are built like tanks, very thick all fiberglass construction, with twin diesels they are very economical to run
a lot of good things about these boats, lots of fishing room,
not too big.easy to maneuver
this boat brought us back from the canyons on a number of occasions where the conditions were severely bad
one ride in particular 13 hrs to make 70nm but I tell you it was very bad, at night, seas so big you looked out the front window
into the bow lights and twist your head straight up to see way up there the top of the next wave, one of those mornings were you wish the sun didn't come up because you could then see how rough it really was, the boat got us home in one piece,
other boats that night had their bridge enclosures ripped off
very ugly
did I mention 'GREAT' little 'WET' boats? and yes there is a cult out there that will suck you in if you own one... but there are way worse things in life than that!
I cant imagine fishing and boating today without the 31 bertram then?
It is the original legend as far as I am concerned. I dont know if sea nile ever sold his in delaware? But that was the best of the best. I did see an aluminum seat overhang behind the standard helmseat on a 31 bridge like you see up on towers. It made the bridge livable for more then one. Last year I saw one converted into a fishing workboat with winch and pole arm. Then there was a guy on line that was putting out boards on a 31? Other people said it was a sin! I thought it was a neat Idea. when ever you squeeze more usable years out of a boat by modernizing or improving. Its like the fountain of youth Idea for boats.
Selling Thumb-Dingers to every White Boy in Town...and his sister too.
as all have stated, a Great Boat
my dad and I ran a 1972 31' Bert' (MARAUDER) for many years outta' OCMD, never once it it let us down and it raised alot of fish, I'd own another one but damn have they gone-up in price
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