Bertram 50 - Opinions

[JD5652]

My father-in-law had a 1988 50 Bertram with the 8v92 Detroits it cruised 23kts topped out about 29kts and burned 55/60 gal per hr.

I ran a 54 with 10cly 820 mans and it was a great package,It burned about 60 gals total per hour.

I ran a 50 bert 3 state,2 head, gal/up with the mans for a while figure 70-80 an hour.

Now I understand why the tankage on Bert 50 is 1050 gallons....doing a little more research today as well and it seems the Viking and Hatt 50 are right there at about 60 gal/hr as well.

I really like the Bert 50 but I'm gonna have to rethink this with that kind of fuel burn and a relatively slow cruise......

Back to the drawing board.....

Thanks for everyone's input!

[fightingcouch]

i have ran on a 46 Bertram from the mid 80s the hull is defiantly a tank but the fuel the old Bertram's burn today with the older engines is so much $$$$ your better off looking at something a little newer for the price you will be burning fuel with a boat that old and then most likely redoing most of the boat gets very expensive and are better off money wise buying something a little bit more newer.
My buddy just recently just purchased a older 29 black fin his original plan was to just fix the boat up and put some TLC into it he is now tearing up the entire boat stripping every thing off putting new diesels in it, ripping up the whole cabin re griping the entire boat, every thing redone the boat is going to look awesome but buy the time he spends all this money into the boat he could've bought an entirely new boat brand new that is bigger, But you cant beat the old hulls from back in the day.


Blake Conlin
tightlinzzzzzzzz

[southshore30]

JD, I have been running a 50' Bert for two years and it is an awesome boat in many ways, and many ways a headache. The boat is a 1989 with 8v92's with 250hrs after majors. It is the three stateroom galley up layout. To give you a real life accurate speed figure I will start by telling you that last spring while the engines were being majored the hull was soda blasted, barrier coated and the new bottom paint sprayed on to give a super smooth finish. We almost always run the boat at 1950 rpms and we are usually doing 21-22 knots with tanks that are full. For a conservative estimate while travelling we estimate fuel @ 75gph while real life fuel burn is more like 65. The motors are designed to run at 2050rpms but will probably only last you about 2000hrs. Most mechanics that we have talked to say the life of the motors lasts quite a bit longer running at 1950. That said, the hull is awesome. Runs great in a head sea and unbelievable in a beam or enormously huge following sea. This past spring I ran it from St.Augustine to Murrells Inlet with a 25 to 35knot breeze behind us and with a little help from the wind and a little from the Stream we averaged 27 knots and it was a very comfortable ride. My boss is absolutely in love with the hull and thinks he will probably repower with new motors and a total refit instead of moving up to a new Viking. I think that with more power and a single genny mounted in the engine room it would run nicely. The odd thing about this boat with this power is how well the boat responds to the trim tabs. The more the better, even in a calm sea. The speed increase is about three knots!
I see you are in Moorehead city in the winters. The boat is located in Beaufort this winter if you want to take a look at her. Pm me and or call me and I can ask any other questions you have, not a problem.

Captain Ty

[JD5652]

Thanks guys!

Capt. Ty-

I should be back in MHC within 2-3 weeks. My good friend Capt. Mike Marro is at Beaufort Town dock aboard the HC Canyon, a 52 Hatt, for the season and I have been staying with him this year.

I'll give you a shout when I come into to town.

[jrzcape]

JD Had a 50"Bertram new 1993 with 8v92@865hp?835? and ran 26-27kts @2050 burning 70+or- gph.This is a great sea boat,a real tank.Got caught in 14'seas once breaking into the cockpit occasionaly and had to open the transom door to get the water out,but the boat held up good.My boat weighed 59,000lbs loaded.the fuel burn is about what a new 48-50 with c-18 cats at 1015hp burns and is much faster over 30 kt cruise. That bertram still holds a spot in my heart as that is were i found my awesome wife she worked for bertram. good luck Wayne

[jrzcape]

JD, I have been running a 50' Bert for two years and it is an awesome boat in many ways, and many ways a headache. The boat is a 1989 with 8v92's with 250hrs after majors. It is the three stateroom galley up layout. To give you a real life accurate speed figure I will start by telling you that last spring while the engines were being majored the hull was soda blasted, barrier coated and the new bottom paint sprayed on to give a super smooth finish. We almost always run the boat at 1950 rpms and we are usually doing 21-22 knots with tanks that are full. For a conservative estimate while travelling we estimate fuel @ 75gph while real life fuel burn is more like 65. The motors are designed to run at 2050rpms but will probably only last you about 2000hrs. Most mechanics that we have talked to say the life of the motors lasts quite a bit longer running at 1950. That said, the hull is awesome. Runs great in a head sea and unbelievable in a beam or enormously huge following sea. This past spring I ran it from St.Augustine to Murrells Inlet with a 25 to 35knot breeze behind us and with a little help from the wind and a little from the Stream we averaged 27 knots and it was a very comfortable ride. My boss is absolutely in love with the hull and thinks he will probably repower with new motors and a total refit instead of moving up to a new Viking. I think that with more power and a single genny mounted in the engine room it would run nicely. The odd thing about this boat with this power is how well the boat responds to the trim tabs. The more the better, even in a calm sea. The speed increase is about three knots!
I see you are in Moorehead city in the winters. The boat is located in Beaufort this winter if you want to take a look at her. Pm me and or call me and I can ask any other questions you have, not a problem.

Captain Ty

Capt TY- If you gain speed with tabs you need a larger diameter propeller,(more lift in the stern) as long as you have proper clearance from the hull bottom.More lift=less wetted surface=less resistance=less fuel?=more speed.If you should decide to experment and need help give me a call i have all the formulas to calculate tip clearance,tip speed,e.t.c. Hope this sheds some light and is helpfull. Wayne

[anthony]

JD Had a 50"Bertram new 1993 with 8v92@865hp?835? and ran 26-27kts @2050 burning 70+or- gph.This is a great sea boat,a real tank.Got caught in 14'seas once breaking into the cockpit occasionaly and had to open the transom door to get the water out,but the boat held up good.My boat weighed 59,000lbs loaded.the fuel burn is about what a new 48-50 with c-18 cats at 1015hp burns and is much faster over 30 kt cruise. That bertram still holds a spot in my heart as that is were i found my awesome wife she worked for bertram. good luck Wayne

This is what I like. JC man giving good, unbiased info on another boat and not shamelessly promoting his product on threads that have nothing to do with it. I have seen an increasing amount of what I would almost consider "spamming" lately and this gentleman just earned a lot of respect from me. Thanks for your contribution, sir.

[southshore30]

JD, I am not down there full time. I live up on Cape Cod. We are keeping the boat down there on the Beaufort docks this whp.inter to fish. I think we are on the dock just in front of the HC Canyon. I should be back down the second week of Feb. to take the boss' son fishing. Give me a call if you have any more questions 508 423 5126.

Jersey, thanks for the info and the offer. The props are the original design that came on the boat from Bertram and I am not sure if there is more tip clearance or not. I have heard from other captains around the dock who have experience on the 50 that the tabs are quite necessary. The more speed we have, the less tabs required which I am sure you probably know anyway. In Florida running north in the stream very little tab needed as we are doing 27-28knts. These 8v92's are 735hp. We have talked on the phone before I think. You called me about 2 years ago. My name is Ty Anderson and I own a southshore30 called the Ty One On. I think you were on Nantucket when you called me and I think we were talking about the Jersey Devil out there with the solid windshields located in the boat basin. Glad to see your business is doing so well. I'm a huge fan of the boats. Very pretty hulls.

Captain Ty

[Waveguide]

I had a 1995 50' with 12v71's 900hp's after lots of prop tuning and soda blasting the boat would touch 31knots on the pins @2400rpm. At the manufactures recommended 2100rpm the boat would run 27knots = 80gph. The rpm recommended by most including my self would be 1950rpm @ 24-25knots. fuel burn was about 70-75 per hour. the 50 Bert is a great sea boat, fishes well and is very roomy. It does however burn a lot of fuel. Mine weighed in at 62,500lbs. Hope this helps. Rob

[g_max_2003@hotmail.com]

[QUOTE=Waveguide;292074]I had a 1995 50' with 12v71's 900hp's after lots of prop tuning and soda blasting the boat would touch 31knots on the pins @2400rpm. At the manufactures recommended 2100rpm the boat would run 27knots = 80gph. The rpm recommended by most including my self would be 1950rpm @ 24-25knots. fuel burn was about 70-75 per hour. the 50 Bert is a great sea boat, fishes well and is very roomy. It does however burn a lot of fuel. Mine weighed in at 62,500lbs. Hope this helps. Rob[/QUOT

Hey jd here is a review of a bertram 50 and this gives some fuel burn numbershttp://www.seamagazine.com/boattests/DM_article.asp?id=120