Click for Westport Click for YF Listing Service Click for Northern Lights Click for YF Listing Service Click for Westport

Sad Photo

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by SplashFl, Nov 30, 2021.

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

    SplashFl Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2021
    Messages:
    425
    Location:
    S. Florida _ Bertram 46
    Heard she had not run in ten years; just rotting away and last evening went down.

    Wet Boat.jpg
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Shame to let ole Bertrams go down like that.
    Kind of hurts the innards.

    From the looks of the dock and house, could be some sad stories in there.
  3. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2008
    Messages:
    2,111
    Location:
    Sardinia
    The other boat is also worryingly listing to port. Or is she sitting on the bottom?
    It looks like there wasn't a lot of water under the Bertram either...
  4. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2010
    Messages:
    634
    Location:
    Malta
    Always sad to see such a machine go down.

    Also a 54 is always an easy machine to sell not only in the USA, so I cannot understand why not sell it?
  5. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    that is the one thing I never understand. I see so many owners stop using a yacht, and instead of selling them, they just let them rot into garbage.
    Liam likes this.
  6. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Often situations like the one that appears in the photo were preceded by something serious within the family such as serious illness or a death in the family. I've see many boats and homes neglected under those circumstances. Sometimes one can't face and be honest with themselves as to what is taking place. Sometimes it's just holding onto memories.

    The house adjacent to us when we moved here in 2012 was much in that situation. A family had built it in the early 60's. The children moved on and the father died in the 90's. The mother held on. She had the major things kept up but inside and out the house was still in the 60's. However, she refused to sell and move, too many memories. We never met her as it turns out she was in the hospital and then long term rehabilitation and while it was obvious to everyone else she shouldn't return to the house, she held on and refused to listen to son or daughter. We had no way to contact any of them, until a couple of years later the daughter was clearing the house out of personal belongings and getting ready to sell it. The mother was finally going to move to her home but she said she might as well have stabbed her mother with a knife as selling the home and she knew her mother was not going to ever really recover. By this time the house needed so many renovations and upgrades to even be marketable, the value of the property was basically the value of the land. To the mother it was still perfect like it was when the family lived there. It was actually livable, but every room plus the outside needed something done to it.

    I knew a man in NC who bought a boat and put 20 hours on it, kept it in dry storage so it was like new. His plan was to take his grandkids waterskiing but he had an illness first and then even as he recovered, it never happened. Finally 9 years later someone got an incredible deal on the boat and the grandfather was so sad at the loss of his dream.
  7. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2007
    Messages:
    645
    Location:
    smithfield, VA
    It looks like some fire officials are there assessing the situation. I know a family that had a house in pompano on the miracle mile south of Gallant Lady’s dock. They owned a jet, a yacht, etc. But the owner even when he was not demented did not want to maintain the jet (that he flew in), the boat that he bought brand new, and the house that he bought. He also had 2 cigarette style boats put in dry storage for years that never moved. Had people that wanted to buy them and said no. Last I heard the 2 cigarette style boats have extensive termite damage. It is amazing to me how emotional reasons motivate very smart people to do some really dumb things.
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    My father passed this last March. Going thru his house and shop, I did find some sad stories that were just full of memories.
    I'm still having ,,,,,

    So, I can understand some things. So please excuse my next post.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I have one last project in me. If anybody gets a contact to talk to, I would like to negotiate the removal/possession of that Bertram.
  10. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I hope someone does have some knowledge or contact for you. No one shepherd's and values Bertram's better than you do.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Thank you for your thoughts.
  12. SplashFl

    SplashFl Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2021
    Messages:
    425
    Location:
    S. Florida _ Bertram 46
    I heard she was towed to Bradford yesterday.
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Rats. That just blew my budget with them involved.
    Thanks for the open ear.
    ,rc
  14. retiredguy

    retiredguy Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2021
    Messages:
    82
    Location:
    InTransit
    Just wondering, isn't that the eventual fate of every boat?
  15. RER

    RER Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2009
    Messages:
    1,532
    Location:
    Newport Beach CA
    Well, in general the end of life for fiberglass boats is unglamorous and a problem in need of a solution. Although I think it’s a bit premature for this particular boat and a shame to see it apparently suffering from such neglect.

    Fiberglass boat production has passed the 50 year mark with many old boats ending up neglected. And many more will follow. Wood boats deteriorated. These boats don’t.

    (I’m assuming) this Bertram was still in the possession of it’s owner, however the issue of neglect and abandonment is a growing problem that’s sure to get worse as the fleet continues to age out of its useful life.
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2021
  16. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I'd still call Bradford and they might be able to put you in touch with whoever had it brought there, likely the insurer. It could be that they started work and feel it's still got great value or that they feel it's a salvage boat now. Worth a call.