[AG_ONE_Bert54]

Hello Bayside Bert28, I just bought a Bertram 54 1990 . I was browsing the internet for pointers on how to start the rebuild job and I came across your project and thought you might be of great help to me. This Bertram has been sitting for 5 years in a wet slip here in Puerto Rico. The owner bought a bigger newer boat and the Bertram became the ugly duck. For the last 5 years it hasn't been use they only warm the engines up every few months. The engines had a mayor over haul before it was stopped been used it has only been run 5 hours since the rebuilt.
All the instruments are old they need to be replaced, the bottom needs to be done the shaft and propellers are in good shape. All the toilets macerators and hoses need to be replaced, all the engine hoses and clamps need to be replaced + a ton of other things.

Do you have any advise for me? What should I do first? Where should I start???

[Bayside Bert28]

I suppose the best single piece of advise is to develop a good working relationship with the contractors working on your boat. In my case, I was out of town and there was to a large extent a financial free-for-all and lots of sub-standard work with the Orange Beach AL contractors. It's a long story but my boat is now home and I have an excellent working relationship with my local contractors. After spending $250k with the primary contractor in Orange Beach, AL, they left me broken down half way home until I was ready to give them another bottomless credit card authorization (which I did not). I had my boat repaired by another authorized Detroit Diesel shop and was on my way.

I purchased one new Galley Maid mascerator ... replaced one of the three with the new one last week and sent that one for rebuild to Galley Maid. I will switch out the remaining two with rebuilds from Galley Maid as I receive them back. There is nothing worse than potty smell on the beautiful boat.

The boat is now in the shop finishing up the remaining 10% of the work. Mostly electronics .. lighting, KVH system etc. It's really an amazing machine and we had a wonderful time with it in Maine during the month of August. I'll be moving it down to Maryland for the offseason in mid-October.

What engines do you have? I'll PM you with my contact information.

Danny at High Tide Marine has been very helpful with regard to obtaining parts and general advise.

Mike

[AG_ONE_Bert54]

Thanks for the advise! I sent you the pictures of the boat by email. Im in the process of doing a couple of quotations with different contractors here in PR. It's scary!!! I did one restoration before to a smaller boat and I was screwed by a couple of contractors before.

How much did you paid for the new Galley Maid macerator? And how much is to rebuild the old ones?

BTW It has 12v92 engines they were refreshed in 2005 and have about 5 hrs. I have not done a see trial because the shaft seals are in really bad condition but they start in a heart beat and sound great. Apparently they began painting them but they never finish. One of them shows sings of superficial rust which tells me that at some point there was a hose or something pouring salt water on it.

Arturo

[Bayside Bert28]

The new mascerator was approx $1150. I expect the rebuild to be in the neighborhood of $650. Will let you know.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by AG_ONE_Bert54

Thanks for the advise! I sent you the pictures of the boat by email. Im in the process of doing a couple of quotations with different contractors here in PR. It's scary!!! I did one restoration before to a smaller boat and I was screwed by a couple of contractors before.

How much did you paid for the new Galley Maid macerator? And how much is to rebuild the old ones?

BTW It has 12v92 engines they were refreshed in 2005 and have about 5 hrs. I have not done a see trial because the shaft seals are in really bad condition but they start in a heart beat and sound great. Apparently they began painting them but they never finish. One of them shows sings of superficial rust which tells me that at some point there was a hose or something pouring salt water on it.

Arturo

I would run them easy the first ten hours and run them now.......run them around 1000 hours......then after 4 hours slowly bring them up to around 1400 for 10 minutes......then up to cruise speed......then back down......It's not good to let them sit.......

The best thing when doing a refit is to get prices for each and every step of the way and do 1-3 projects at a time start to finish and see how the contracters work is and where the prices come in at........get a quote ahead of time.....and also do everything in the proper order......

There is another guy on here, forgot his screen name who had a 54' Bertram and did an interior refit on, and is located in San Juan, PR. He could probably point you in the direction of the best people to use based upon his experiences..........DOES anyone remember his screen name?

[K1W1]

Originally Posted by Capt J

There is another guy on here, forgot his screen name who had a 54' Bertram and did an interior refit on, and is located in San Juan, PR. He could probably point you in the direction of the best people to use based upon his experiences..........DOES anyone remember his screen name?

Hi,

If I am not mistaken that would be YF Member MANNY

Hello everybody proud owner of 54bertram.

[54' Bertram]

Welcome Paul,
what was the name of the Bertram you purchased? age? condition? we all want to know everything, including what you would like to do to your new lady.
Tom