Bertram 50/54

BrandName · 06-15-2006, 12:37 PM

I recently purchased a 1990 50 Bertram with MAN power. If there are any other forum members with similar boats please share your knowledge on this thread. I am looking for any "inside" info on maintenance or performance related issues.

apsblog · 06-15-2006, 01:06 PM

Stephen, I had this pic of your boat on my computer.

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CTdave · 06-15-2006, 04:08 PM

Welcome aboard! I own a 1989 50 Bert. I bought it a year ago in Pittsburgh PA of all places. I'm not quite sure why the guy wanted a 50 Bertram with a full tower up there but hey, to each his own. I had a Capt. take it down the river system to Mobile AL & then I ran it down to FL & then up the east coast to CT. I did a bunch of fishing in Stuart FL last winter & just returned home to CT again.
My boat has detroit 8V92's, 735hp a piece. Both are fresh and I cruise at 22+ kts at 1900rpm. I assume your cruising alot faster with the MAN's?
After owning an older 42' Post, I just can't believe the ride of the Bertram. It can take alot more than I can. What HP are your MAN's? Cruise speed?
David Dall

CTdave · 06-15-2006, 04:11 PM

I almost forgot. I do have a tip for you.
Have you noticed that you will pick up 2 or 3 knots if you put your tabs almost all the way down? I hear it is common on the Hunt design Bertram hulls.

BrandName · 06-15-2006, 04:59 PM

I bought mine in Stuart! Well the MANs have about 800 or 820 hp. Not sure right at this moment. The big difference between the MANs and DD's is weight. Fully loaded with fuel, water, gear and about 6 people I can get around 24 knots out of her at 1850, or right around 26 at 1950. With the pins all the way down and about a quarter tank she has seen 34 knots, but I try to stay away from doing that! We looked at the Post and a lot of other boats in this size range but we kept hearing about the "Bertram ride". My part of the GOM is pretty rough and I am very pleased with the ride. And yes, I just figured out the trim tab "speed boost" last weekend, thanks for the pointer though.

Oh yea, do you have the galley up or down arrangement? We have the galley down with two staterooms, what we lost in sleeping space we more than made up for in the salon.

BrandName · 06-15-2006, 05:17 PM

I almost forgot as well, the picture above is my boat, the Brand Name.

Mauritz.

CTdave · 06-15-2006, 09:11 PM

I have the galley up, two queen births and a double bunk. I completely gutted the interior when I bought it & went with satin finish cherry. On the galley up, I took out the upper cabinet over the counter that seperates the galley from the salon. It gives the salon a much more open feeling. Do you have the washer/dryer? Mine was just forward of the bunk room on the stbd side. I removed the washer/dryer & built a nice big pantry for towels, cocktail glasses, linens etc. I have never needed on board laundry. Even on the longest trips, the marinas always have facilities.
Where was your boat in Stuart? I keep mine out on Hutchinsen Island. If you went out the St. Lucie inlet, my condo is the last building on the inlet on the left. Now that I think of it, you probably went across the Oceechobee like I did on the way back from Mobile. I actually got a speeding ticket in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, I got on plane about 20 yds before the end of a 5mph zone. Did you make the same mistake & go into Apalachicola? LOL yEEEEhAWWwwww! Not much to do there except the one bar/restaurant.

I have to run for now but I'll keep in touch. I need to re-size my pictures so I can post them.
Dave

BrandName · 06-16-2006, 02:39 PM

I bought the boat from ARB in Stuart, but I keep it in Rockport, TX. I did run the waterway on the way back to TX but I missed Apalachicola, it sounds a lot like Venice, LA. No speeding tickets here thankfully!

Mauritz

two-wheel · 06-17-2006, 12:43 PM

What kind of range have you been able to pull out of the MANs?

BrandName · 06-19-2006, 12:18 PM

I have not done the exact calculations yet, but the previous owner claimed to get somewhere around 500-550 mile out of her at cruise. We went offshore last weekend and were about 90 miles out and only burned about a quarter of each tank. If you are looking for a SF you should really look into finding a Bert with MANs. I looked at many, many boats all over the country and this was by far the best combination of price, performance, ride, and reputation for a used boat in my price range.

CTdave · 07-20-2006, 04:18 PM

Wow! My 50 holds roughly 1000 gallons & burns 55-58 gph at 21-22kts. That gives me a range of approx. 380 miles (nautical) and that would be dead empty. Are Man's that more efficient or are you calculating in statute miles?

geocash · 06-29-2007, 12:11 AM

Quick question - Currently I have a 46 Bertram and I looking on moving up to a 50. What type of cruise speed are you getting. I notice from the photos it looks like you have a full tower. Do you think this slows you down at all. I have seen other posts that claim a full tower takes 2 knots from cruising speed.

CTdave · 06-29-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geocash

Quick question - Currently I have a 46 Bertram and I looking on moving up to a 50. What type of cruise speed are you getting. I notice from the photos it looks like you have a full tower. Do you think this slows you down at all. I have seen other posts that claim a full tower takes 2 knots from cruising speed.

Thanks for the link, I've never seen that. It's interesting that they say the 50 has a cruise speed of 25-28. I've never seen one with 8v92's cruise more than 24. My 50 is happy at 23-24. There is no doubt that the full tower is taking a little speed away.
You would love a 50!

geocash · 06-29-2007, 02:35 PM

On my way this weekend to look at 89 Full Tower 3 stateroom with rebuilt motors. Also found another 2 stateroom with enclosed bridge rebuild motors that needs paint and rub rail but is otherwise clean. Wife is pulling for the enclosed bridge and guess which one I would prefer.