[ArcanisX]

Guys, we had an interesing line of discussion, but it kind of got tangled. I had some free time last evenings and entertained myself to Youtube speedboat crash compilations (not unlike one posted here).
I'm way more boating enthusiast then professional (plus non native speaker so forgive my lameness with terms), but to my untrained eye, there are far enough crashes to call the following scenario a pattern: something happens with high speed planning, and the boat plunges into the water at enough angle that upper hull sides and foredeck area, normally never touching the water, take the brunt of impact akin to a needle's tip. Then, by the moment it emerges from the water spray, the whole forward area is catastrophically damaged/torn apart, and the hull/deck bonding is gone opening "crocodile's mouth", something remotely resembling the sight of Berthram on the photos.

Most of those speedboats are really light, so they pop back up above water and slow down almost instantly. I imagine would it be heavier, like, say, our Berth here, it could keep going semi-submersed just a little bit longer, with water pressure extending damage along the sides of a hull pretty much like what we see... For those of you with better idea, does this scenario seem plausible?

[Capt Bill11]

Originally Posted by Scott Pearson

Someone is not telling the whole story about what happened. Call me crazy.... Buy the looks of all the pictures I would have to say maybe an on board explosion of some kind.

You're crazy.

[Henning]

Originally Posted by SHAZAM!

No doubt it was a mistake but as you can see in the YouTube videos I posted it wasn't that bad when we left, by the time we got into the real nasty stuff it was too late to turn around.

You got lucky, hopefully you learned from that run and don't decide to do it again as an Arctic front is pushing south. We only have 2 weeks of winter here, a week in Dec and a week in Jan. Best to leave the boat in the Bahamas for an extra week.

[Capt Bill11]

Originally Posted by SHAZAM!

No doubt it was a mistake but as you can see in the YouTube videos I posted it wasn't that bad when we left, by the time we got into the real nasty stuff it was too late to turn around.

I thought the video was shot AFTER things had calmed down?

"Here's a sampling of what we were going through, mind you I was able to take this video because things had calmed down enough where I was able to actually pull the phone out and record what was going on..."

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by ArcanisX

For those of you with better idea, does this scenario seem plausible?

After looking at the extent of the damage, it is perfectly obvious that this incident is the result of an improperly calibrated tractor beam.

[Henning]

Originally Posted by Marmot

After looking at the extent of the damage, it is perfectly obvious that this incident is the result of an improperly calibrated tractor beam.

The captain was probably trying to pocket some fuel money so he heaved a grapnel onto the back of a passing freighter...

[CaptTom]

Just received this afternoon an update regarding the situation from Mike Myers, President of Bertram Yachts.

"Dear Bertram Dealers, Employees, and Friends,
As I have stated previously, I am committed to providing you with solid, factual, up-to-date information on the Bertram 630 incident of November 6th.
And, as I have done on my previous five (5) communications to you on this matter, I will not offer idle speculation or unsupported opinions.
At the same time, I believe it is my responsibility to correct misinformation that is presented as fact. Some of the statements below bring into question the motivation of the parties making the statements.

For example:

• The caption accompanying underwater photographs posted on one website claims that the images were taken from a video of the boat shot on November 11, just a few days after the sinking. These photos - depicting dramatic damage to the sunken boat - have been used to cast doubt on the possibility the sinking was caused by a collision and to support a number of negative theories about the quality of Bertram yachts. The FACT is the sunken boat was not even located until two weeks later on November 24 by a crew contracted by the owners. It was found 1.5 miles from the point of its sinking. Between the date of the incident and when the images were captured after November 24 there was a significant tropical storm in the area with very strong winds and violent currents with the strength to toss such a wreck about and move it some distance from where it sank. We cannot know exactly what happened down there during those two and a half weeks, but it is very likely that much of the damage we see was inflicted AFTER the boat sank and had nothing to do with the sinking in the first place.

• Many of the statements made by one local poster to the website are entirely FALSE. We believe this poster is misrepresenting the facts because -- we also believe -- his family owns a Miami-based boat building company. Specifically his assertions concerning the source of the hull coring material and that Bertram subcontracts the lamination of its hulls are entirely FALSE as are numerous other statements he has made as “fact”. His statements must be viewed with great suspicion in light of our belief that he has not disclosed that he is in the Sportfish Yacht manufacturing business and is a minor competitor of Bertram.

• The damage to the yacht depicted in the underwater photographs (taken AFTER 11/24) is totally inconsistent with the detailed description of the sinking boat provided by the captain during an interview after the incident (which occurred 11/6).

As I had stated in my previous update – although there is overwhelming evidence that the boat did strike a buoy marking an artificial reef (through the laboratory match of the bottom paint on this boat and the paint on the buoy) we do not know what brought down this vessel so we will not speculate.

We will continue to carefully gather the facts and provide updates as the facts emerge. Bertram continues to remain totally confident in our product and stands behind all of the boats currently in owners’ hands and those under construction.

As always, if you have any questions on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Michael W. Myers
President
Bertram Yacht Inc.
(305) 633 - 8011"

[CaptainSilva]

^^^Lawyerspeak.

[PropBet]

It's actually comical. YMMV.

[Bayside Bert28]

Well ... that settles it then.

[K1W1]

Hi,

Given the foregoing this must mean that there is a Farm of Sunk Bertrams out there just waiting to be videoed.

They should as previously suggested fess up and either accept responsibility or continue to bad mouth ( possibly via some supposedly non connected members of YF) everyone and everything except themselves which will no doubt do wonders for their future business.

[jbk4001]

Originally Posted by PropBet

It's actually comical. YMMV.

There are a few “comical” things here….

1) The first thing that is “comical” (IMHO)is that people are expecting more! Bertram has (and will continue to) release updates on the situation. One would think that 5 press releases in this amount of time are more then acceptable.

2) The second “comical” (IMHO)thing is I have logged over 1000 hrs on a 630 (some of them even on the one that went down) in seas that most people only read or dream about. That being said, we have had no issues at all.

3) The third “comical” thing (IMHO) that was said was about hull # 1 for the 570. You remember a few pages back, the one that came back (to Bertram) with the big holes in it where the exhaust was “originally” as posted by our friend…… Funny thing is, that was my owner’s boat, I was on all sea trials with that boat, and that never happen! Now that’s funny!!!!

4) The last “comical” thing (IMHO) is the statement about the boys at AA Mabru doing all of the fiberglass work on the 630 line because funny thing is I was present for the build for our 570 & 630 and never saw them do it!


Regarding the sinking of this boat from all angles……..there is nothing comical about it…… Oh I forgot…….. (IMHO)

[jbk4001]

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

Given the foregoing this must mean that there is a Farm of Sunk Bertrams out there just waiting to be videoed.

They should as previously suggested fess up and either accept responsibility or continue to bad mouth ( possibly via some supposedly non connected members of YF) everyone and everything except themselves which will no doubt do wonders for their future business.

"Fess up" to what? That a Bertram sank and they have and will continue to offer information openly about it? I think they did that already? Don’t you?

[jbk4001]

Originally Posted by Capt J

If the boat did hit a barge or other large object, the damage would be on the hull way below the waterline, not a foot above the waterline. When the 63' Bertram is running at cruise the front 1/3 of the hull is out of the water.......

Capt J how many hrs have you logged on a 630?

[Kafue]

Originally Posted by jbk4001

There are a few “comical” things here….

1) The first thing that is “comical” (IMHO)is that people are expecting more! Bertram has (and will continue to) release updates on the situation. One would think that 5 press releases in this amount of time are more then acceptable.

2) The second “comical” (IMHO)thing is I have logged over 1000 hrs on a 630 (some of them even on the one that went down) in seas that most people only read or dream about. That being said, we have had no issues at all.

3) The third “comical” thing (IMHO) that was said was about hull # 1 for the 570. You remember a few pages back, the one that came back (to Bertram) with the big holes in it where the exhaust was “originally” as posted by our friend…… Funny thing is, that was my owner’s boat, I was on all sea trials with that boat, and that never happen! Now that’s funny!!!!

4) The last “comical” thing (IMHO) is the statement about the boys at AA Mabru doing all of the fiberglass work on the 630 line because funny thing is I was present for the build for our 570 & 630 and never saw them do it!


Regarding the sinking of this boat from all angles……..there is nothing comical about it…… Oh I forgot…….. (IMHO)

Okay Jbk4001, assuming you are telling nothing but the truth, which I am sure you are (no reason to doubt!) then it is VERY GOOD NEWS FOR US ALL!
Bertram owners can be a somewhat comforted that it was perhaps just an isolated incident.
Employees & shareholders can get some sleep.
And a Builder with a great following lives to improve and grow...

But, in all 5 press releases much of the same "guff" has been stated.
The "minor competitor" who made those posts openly admitted his occupation.
Bertram 54's, 31's etc etc have done many many thousands of hours without this issue, so while it is good to hear you have done some hard sea work in a few it does not change the fact this is a) not an isolated incident for a Ferriti Bertram and b) it should not have happened at all.
Bertram have not been open and I wonder if Mike would "As always, if you have any questions on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me."