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Scared to bertram

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by Rick375, Aug 30, 2016.

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  1. Rick375

    Rick375 New Member

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    Aug 30, 2016
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    Location:
    Newburyport, Ma
    This is my first post. I came to this site because we are considering buying a vintage bertram in the near future. Currently we own a 1987 31' pacemaker. She has been a good first boat for us. We got caught in a thunderstorm that came out of nowhere and kicked up 4-6 foot seas in minutes. We were heading into the storm and wind back to the river with no enclosure on the bridge. Hail and rain made it impossible to see so before it got to the point that we couldn't turn around we did and had an awful time in a following sea which ended us on a sandbar. Since that time I have been obsessed with finding a hull that can handle rough seas. I know there is not a great hull for all perposes but I just want to feel safe especially since we will be coming through the mouth of the Merrimack which I hear can be rough. Seems like all the research I do takes me to bertram and hatteras. My pacemaker has a modified v hull with a keel, a similar design to hatts. I have never been on a deep v hull to experience it. I might take a charter on a bertram next summer to see how it feels. I have been told they are pretty rocky in a side sea. I'm excited to learn the history of bertram and the stories. What we will be looking at are boats in the 33 to 36 range in the 80,000 dollar range. Any suggestions or info is welcome. Great to be on this site.
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    35' CABO would be an ideal choice..... I wouldn't touch a Bertram in that size range......honestly they can keep their spongy decks and sloppy wiring. The 36' Hatteras SF was a good boat, but slow....very slow.....
  3. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    A Blackfin in that size range will also give you the ride you are looking for. The deep-vee's really shine when they are trimmed up (bow up) and the speed is matched to the sea conditions, they will take bigger seas than you expect with very little drama. Much better than a modified-vee in that size range.

    The Blackfin's tend to have a little more beam for their length and a lower profile with engine boxes in the cockpit, ala Bertram 31 style, which helps with limiting excessive rolling in a beam sea, although all boats in this range have this issue, especially with a Flybridge and no engine boxes.
  4. Rick375

    Rick375 New Member

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    Aug 30, 2016
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    Thanks guys for the info. Are the express sport fish style boats a little more stable? I've heard that with their lower center of gravity they wouldn't tend to be as tippy. It also seems like the captain can be in on the fishing and socializing a little easier.
  5. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    An Express without a tower (but most likely a soft or hard top) will have a lower center of gravity and less windage, and therefore should be more stable in a beam sea. Add a full tower and isinglass enclosure and there is probably little to no difference.

    The owner/operator certainly is closer to the action, which is nice when fishing short handed, but you lose having a decent salon with great natural lighting. Being close to the cockpit is the main advantage in my opinion, but you sacrifice other features that only a Flybridge will provide.

    My personal drawbacks to a SF express in the 33 - 36 range is the reduced visibility at the lower helm when running to and back from the fishing grounds, too much exhaust blowback at the him with a three sided enclosure (experienced this on a few Tiara's) and the cave like accommodations below. I personally like running long distances from the flybridge as well as docking in tight quarters, simply on better visibility.
  6. Breckster

    Breckster Member

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    Aug 22, 2013
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    Location:
    Bay City
    We own a 37 Bertram w/Detroits. A great little sea boat for the Great Lakes and the sloppy conditions that prevail there. On the hook it is just as stable as our friends former 44 Sea Ray sun dancer. It is a 1986 year model and I must say that I think the wiring and overall construction of it is "top notch"; it reminds me of a Boeing
  7. Trinimax

    Trinimax Senior Member

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    Trinidad and Tobago Yacht club
    You could most likely get a decent 37 bertram for the upper end of your price range. I have fished extensively on one down here in the southern Caribbean, and she handles head seas pretty good and large following seas amazingly well. Coming through an inlet with some steep following seas she surprised me with how good the tracking was. The 37 bert will burn a good bit more fuel than your pacemaker though as she is pretty heavy for her size.

    good luck with your search
  8. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    smithfield, VA
    I used to own a 42 Bertram my. It loved a head sea. You would fight the wheel some in a following sea but nothing scary. I did not have issues with wiring or wet cores during my ownership.
  9. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    That is the beauty of the Bertram deep-vee, with the right trim they eat up head seas.

    Following seas become a bit more difficult as the fuel burns off in the main fuel tank typically located under the cockpit.
  10. Breckster

    Breckster Member

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    37 in a following sea, as Trinimax mentioned, is excellent! The only point of attack they she pales is a quartering following sea as far as I can see....
  11. jhm466

    jhm466 New Member

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    Jan 6, 2014
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    Austin, Texas
    My family had two Bertram 35's, a 1976 and a 1984. Both were rock solid. The 1980's models had a fiberglass deck and more creature comforts like extra flybridge seating. We definitely found ourselves in some sloppy weather but always felt secure about the boat underneath us. Never experienced the issues Capt J mentions.