Click for Glendinning Click for JetForums Click for Perko Click for YF Listing Service Click for YF Listing Service

Bertram Closing Merritt Island Facility?

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by Trinimax, Sep 15, 2014.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Trinimax

    Trinimax Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2010
    Messages:
    237
    Location:
    Trinidad and Tobago Yacht club
    I saw an article online today stating that Bertram will be leaving the merritt island factory and that a company will be coming in to build yachts for ocean alexander. Does anybody know the facts behind this or the full story of what's next for Bertram.
  2. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    The company coming in is quite speculative from the local officials. They are hopeful, but that company is considering locations from Florida to NC. Still I'd say Merritt Island is a high probability for them. Just they haven't committed yet.
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    So is ferretti pulling the plug on Bertram?

    After so much fanfare about the move to Merritt...

    The company in talks to use the facility is ocean Alexander, according to reports in the press.
  4. RER

    RER Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2009
    Messages:
    1,532
    Location:
    Newport Beach CA
    That would be the bigger question for me also. Where's Bertram going? ...although I think I can guess.
  5. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
  6. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Bertram operates somewhat independent of Ferretti, although still under the Ferretti umbrella. It's a little unclear...
  7. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
  8. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    One other thing that may impact this is that the move to Merritt Island was planned prior to the current Ferretti ownership. You might say they just bulldozed the Merritt Island plant. (Ok, for those who don't know, Ferretti is owned now by a Chinese bulldozer manufacturer). It will be interesting to see what happens. Could we see Bertram built in China? Closed all together? Italy? Miami?
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I was just speaking to someone who is dealing with one of the last Bertram's built there and it's 2 legal pages long list of warranty issues to fix. The doors have been shuttered at the factory for several months and nothing has been going on there. He basically stated they're not in business, until they start producing boats again....... if they do...... But he is just a Captain trying to get the boat fixed......I went by the factory at the end of June, by water and there was absolutely no sign of any activity there then, nothing.
  10. RER

    RER Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2009
    Messages:
    1,532
    Location:
    Newport Beach CA
    Bertram hasn't posted anything on their facebook page since June 27. There had been regular activity prior to that. The last post was Happy National Sunglasses Day.
  11. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Amazing how there has been no public article about the health or status of Bertram that I've been able to find. No questions to Ferretti. Haven't even gotten a "no comment" as I can't tell anyone has asked for a comment from them. Yet it's public that someone else is considering their facility.
  12. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    The bigger question about the Merritt Island Plant would center around the dockage in the basin that was carved out previously by Sea Ray. It appears that local officials where very upset when this occurred, and in response they did not issue permits for SR to have the docks finished, i.e. with the appropriate protection from the concrete docks, nor were they allowed to use them for long periods of time (24 hours+).

    Did Bertram ever resolve this issue and/or are the new owners aware of this "special" circumstance regarding the much maligned "manatee" basin???
  13. Trinimax

    Trinimax Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2010
    Messages:
    237
    Location:
    Trinidad and Tobago Yacht club
    I knew that Bertram was supposed to debut there new 60 that was designed by Robert Ulberg at the Fort Lauderdale boat show this year. I wonder if that is still happening. From the preliminary drawings it looks like a decent boat.
  14. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    No doubt the new Bertram 60 will have the Ulberg design 'stamp' below the waterline. The question - will she still look more Convertible than hardcore SF?

    Viking and Hatteras have definitely swung to the hardcore SF look, it will remain to be seen if the host of Italian designers can "catch" this look & feel.

    Kind of like designing a US muscle car, not exactly the Italian's expertise (not to be confused with their Ferrari and other supercar dominance).
  15. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    About 2 years ago, I put Loren Schweizer onboard the latest iteration of the Bertram 54 that supposedly had the hull reworked/tweaked by Ulberg. Loren went on a sea trial then called me immediately afterwards asking... "is this same Bert 54 that YF declined to review previously, citing a wet ride? I said no, this was a new boat". Loren said... "then decline the review on this one too". It was the wettest boats he'd ever been on. Keep in mind, Loren's been on more Bert's than Dick himself. He worked for Bertram for 15 years, then another 20 years as yacht broker specializing in big sportfish boats.

    Accurate assessment. It's actually been a thorn in the side for Ferretti Group USA in working with Zuccon International and Ferretti Corporate. They want to keep Bertram US designed and built. That was the reason for bringing in Ulberg. It's been like fighting a giant Marlin with the bite of a Great White.
  16. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Wooah

    Help me understand this; Bertram Miami was closing/is closed. Bertram Merritt Island opened, may have built some boats, then locked up/closed.

    Bertram is still showing (or a broker?) a 60sf at upcoming shows but can't service what they just sold..

    This is not what good-ole-boys need to hear.

    Sorry to think the legend has faded. Maybe time for the bullet on what's left.
  17. ychtcptn

    ychtcptn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2005
    Messages:
    490
    Location:
    Lighthouse Point, FL
    Hopefully someone will buy the name, and not take any of the molds and current designs and start from scratch! At this time I think the name is the only thing worth a few bucks.
    Should be interesting to see what they say at FLIBS, maybe a bothersome internet journalist can get them cornered for some answers?:D
  18. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Does the name really carry any value now? It wouldn't be the same people who built the name nor the same boats. Plus the name has really been damaged by the last few years. It would be interesting to see what one got from focus groups regarding the name. I just know in the past when I've seen tests of formerly great names that had been greatly tarnished, they've been very disappointing. It's easy to reverse years of good reputation but very difficult to reverse bad.
  19. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I have heard the same things. The good. I've heard that the boat is more stable and doesn't roll around on the troll like the early ones. The bad is that I've heard that it is a wet boat also.

    Biggest problem I see, is Ferretti likes to use one very large fuel tank at the front of the engine room bulkhead to quiet down the master stateroom. On a SF this setup doesn't work because a SF likes the fuel weight or general trim of the boat much further aft generally. The fuel tank at the front of the engine room seems to make the trim too far foward and a wet boat because of it.
  20. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Never been on a new Bert like this. Does the bow come up like the old SFs? Would fish & ice (maybe a few beers) in the aft box help? Keep the M-inlaw aft or on the dock help?

    I ask silly questions because I don't think any of their other lines are considered wet. Would think because of good design and engineering.

    Did the B#$%d step child (Bertram) miss out on proper forethought and design?