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Vince Luciani

OK guys I pulled the boat today and took some pictures. You can see that my rudders do extend past the transom. Also, my shafts are slightly offset to allow removal without pulling the rudders. This was the stock setup for my boat. Even though I have repowered I made no changes to the running gear e...

Vince Luciani

No trim tabs on mine.

Vince Luciani

OK guys I have been meaning to jump in the post for a while. I have a 1968 Sportfisherman model (with optional bulkhead installed) and I have had less than ideal steering since I have had her. My problem is making "sharp" turns (subjective defination of sharp, let's say speeds say above 18 knots or ...

Vince Luciani

Vince Luciani

No email here.

Vince Luciani

Jack, I had similiar problems with black algae. I fixed it by adding another filter and algecides. Check out my posts from the past. The Biobor has worked well for me also. I know that there are pros and cons to the system that I installed, but I am happy to report that I have not experienced any fu...

Vince Luciani

Not any better in the southern canyons! I fished the Poorman's over the weekend. No tuna. One white marlin and some mahi.

Vince Luciani

Walter, I got them online at Designated Engineer. I've attached the link below. They were $75. You are correct that you need to use an open end wrench and the adapter does come with the gauge. The drag pointer eliminates the need to watch the gauge as the engine is running. First time I purchased fr...

Vince Luciani

Hello gang, I am happy to report that I believe that I have gotten a handle on my fuel problems. I listened to all the advice about filters (racors vs. spin ons) and fuel polishing, etc. I went with a dual filtration system (like recommended by Tony Athens) but kept my racor 900â€™s as primary filte...

Vince Luciani

Here are the pictures of the pickups. The last picture is where I removed the screens. Wayne, I didn't get a chance to try your bleach idea because I read your post after I had done my work and cleaned up. I ran the boat on Sunday for about a 3 hour trip. It was pretty rough on Sunday morning and al...

Vince Luciani

Bruce, You might be right about the "snakeoil" thing, but I figure it can't hurt (other than cost me more money). I am kind of spooked right now because what I didn't report in my first report is that on my last offshore trip I ran in from 65 miles and my filters/screens decided to plug and my engin...

Vince Luciani

Good advice Bob! It's definately possible that I have something other than algae. I'll give you some more background. It's a real sensitive subject here to accuse the Marina (it is run by the state of delaware) where I get the fuel from. However, I ran 3 offshore trips (approx. 70 miles offshore eac...

Vince Luciani

By the way, in 12 years I've never added anything to my fuel. After my problems started I suspected algae so I treated with Biocide. I am aware that the biocide probably killed the algae and created the crud. I just don't know right now how much of it is in my tank.

Vince Luciani

Bob, I never had a problem until July 5 of this year. I checked my tanks 3 years ago when I repowered. They were clean as a whistle. I wasn't going to take any chances with the new engines! I've never had even a hint of a problem in 12 years. Now I'v been battling this problem since early July. I wa...

Vince Luciani

Well the bad fuel demons finally got me good! I will spare you the gory details but I picked up a bad load of fuel over the July 4 weekend and I haven't been able to rid myself of problems since. I limped home on 2 offshore trips and stalled out in the inlet on one of them (that's a story in itself ...

Vince Luciani

I used awlgrip 545 primer, no high build. I did the major smoothing with epoxy and microballons. I didn't have any compatibility problems between the awlgrip primer and the interlux perfection. I had done it before (awlgrip primer and interlux top paint) so I knew it would be OK. Hand sanding with a...

Vince Luciani

I finally have some installation pictures for you. I could use one more coat of paint. The paint is Interlux Perfection Snow White brush applied with roll and tip method. Iâ€™m still trying to figure out my method of holding down the lid. I like the idea of having a removable lid. I might have to st...

Vince Luciani

Thanks guys for the compliments. No problem Capt Patrick. I'll post some pictures of the hot wire cutter tomorrow. It's pretty simple. Search the RC model airplane sites and you'll find tons of info. Brewster, the weight is as follows: Inside dimensions = 45"x22"x10"= 9,900 cu. in. 9,900 cu.in. x 1 ...

Vince Luciani

Capt. Patrick, â€œImitation is the sincerest form of flatteryâ€ or something like that. I wanted to build a livewell/fishbox and I borrowed most of your design concepts. However, I went about the construction with a whole different approach. Instead of making molds and foaming later, I started with...

Vince Luciani

Thanks guys for all the good points. Your posts have helped me think a little clearer. My crew is getting older (bad knees, backs, etc.) and its getting harder for them to do the stand up fishing especially when its rough. Also, mostly trolling these days and i like the chair to hang onto while rock...

Vince Luciani

Guys, I am considering installing a fighting chair on my sportfish model. I am interested in getting some pros and cons for those who have installed chairs on their boats. Also, would like to hear from those who removed them. I know that the cockpit is pretty big on our boats but I am wondering if a...

Vince Luciani

Guys,

I have about 400 hours on my engines. I leave the boat in the water from April 1 to December 1 every year. Normal season I get about 175 hours. Bob, good tip on cleaning out bottom bowl. That was the bad one since water sits in it all the time.

Vince Luciani

Itâ€™s been 3 years since my repower with the Cummins 330â€™s and Iâ€™m tackling the maintenance of the afercoolers for the first time. All in all, it wasnâ€™t that bad a job. These pics are of the starboard engine aftercooler. Things looked pretty clean when I took it apart except for the salt buil...

Vince Luciani

Adam, I saw your post about looking into boats with Detroit diesels. Contact me if you want any personal experience. I ran with detroits for about 10 years before I repowered with 330 hp Cummins. In a nutshell, the detroits are slow (17 knots),loud and dirty (leak oil terribly) but are cheap to main...

Vince Luciani

Capt Patrick, Happy 10th Anniversary! I believe I was one of the early members. Fate (or destiny?) led me to this website at its start which roughly coincided with my purchase of B31. I have to say that I couldnâ€™t have done it (own an old 1968 Bertram) without you. Though I am not as regular poste...

Vince Luciani

Thanks guys for the replies. Bob Lico it appears that if i were to install a macerator pump it would be right where the rudder arm is located. I'm not sure if it would fit. Bob H., i didn't like the idea so much of installing the macerator "upslope" especially when the boat is running. I like JP's i...

Vince Luciani

This is a timely post for me since I am just getting started building my fish boxes. I have a question for you guys installing a macerator pump. Where are you fitting the pump. I'm trying to make my boxes about 52" long, but the rudder arms are right where I would mount the macerator. I can't move t...

Vince Luciani

David, I know where you are with your decision. I ran 4-53's for 8 years before I repowered with Cummins 330's. The thing that got to me with the old Detroits was the messy bilge. I just couldn't control the "oil slingin". Whenever my bilge pumped I was fearful of getting fined. Also, being from the...

Vince Luciani

UV and Kevin,

Thanks for the replies. It's reassuring to hear about your experiences. UV, I would describe my vibration as "scary" at times. But things are smooth as silk in forward so I figured things were OK. Thanks for the "reality check".

Vince

Vince Luciani

Hello everyone, Itâ€™s been awhile since I last posted, but the repower (completed July 2007) has been awesome. Iâ€™ve got about 300 hours on the Cummins 330â€™s and everything has been great. A true testament to doing things the right way (i.e., following the advice of Capt Pat and others on this b...

Vince Luciani

Looks good Wayne. Those stone masons do good work. (I should know my crew who are all stone masons helped me with my entire repower). One question. Will your deck be removable? It looks like its screwed down permanatley and that you will be glassing over the screws? I am debating whether I go this r...

Vince Luciani

Scot, I went with marine plywood encapsulated (top and bottom) with 1708 biaxial fabric and epoxy. It's held up well for the first season. Debated about using the Coosa, but decided on the marine ply. Time will tell if it was a good decision. I still toy around with putting back my teak deck. I have...

Vince Luciani

Hello Wayne, Your pics bring back memories. Aluminum sounds pretty heavy duty! I guess you have you considered the structural fiberglass framing? I went with the 2"x2"x1/4" fiberglass sections. The stuff is easy to work with and very strong. I made both mechanical connections and epoxied connections...

Vince Luciani

Frank, I ran detroit 4-53's for over 10 years in my bertram. I repowered last year with Cummins 315 hp engines. Obviously, the boat performs quite differently now. I liked the detroits, but the biggest problem for me with the engines was the oil leakage. I just couldn't get a handle on it. Yes, the ...

Vince Luciani

I repowered last year with the Cummins 315 hp Remans. I couldn't be happier!

Vince Luciani

Mikey and Rawleigh, I got them also. I replaced mine with stainless steel.

Vince Luciani

Thanks guys. I found my problem and it was in the ignition switch as you suggested Uncle Vic. In my case, it was the fuel gauge that I had wired to the ignition switch, not the switch itself. John, it appears that I may have gotten lucky regarding the circuit board. It doesn't appear to be damaged. ...

Vince Luciani

It appears that my gauge wiring got slightly wet in last weeks rain. (I'm embarrased to day that I do have some leaks around my gauge panel) When I started my engines yesterday after 4 dains of wind driven rain, I got a low voltage alarm on the starboard engine and I know that I don't have low volta...

Vince Luciani

Mikey,

I got the 6BTA 300hp, zf220s trans 1.5:1 trans, 1.5" shafts, 3 blade 21x23 medium cup nibral props. 3000rpm, 32 knots wide open.

Vince Luciani

Vince Luciani

Hello Mike, I've got Lee Tournament riggers with the 8' bases. I got the bases used from a friend. The outriggers are 19' single spreaders. I think they look great and work great also. I don't have any problems with excess whip. The bases are very strong and operate very nicely form the bridge. THe ...

Vince Luciani

Walter & Wayne,

Thanks. I am going to try my tower guy. I didn't know they could bend them back so well. I've seen some that were bent back that didn't look so great. If I can't bend them back so well I'll give Lee a call. Thanks guys.

Vince Luciani

Hello everyone, I'm happy to report that Eiremar was out yesterday on her first offshore trip. The boat ran great and evidently the fish like the sound of those Cummins engines as much as those Detroits. On a slow day for most of the fleet, we caught our limit of bluefin on the troll off the DE/MD c...

Vince Luciani

Mikey, I'm running the 330 Cummins with the ZF220A, 1:5 to 1 ratio transmissions. I installed nibral, 3 blade, 21X23 props with a medium pitch. The props were used and given to me by a buddy. They measured slightly less 21" diameter becasue of some prior reconditionings. Everything seems to be OK. O...

Vince Luciani

True story! The first time I took a pistol (.38 Special) on a shark trip we got tired watching the gulls diving and stealing our chum. So I pull out the pistol and whack the bird on the first shot! I've been out countless times since then and have never been able to nail a bird since. I've burned ma...

Vince Luciani

Thanks guys. Scot, I did install the water fitting to the stuffing box packing gland, but not the lantern ring. The tech checked my packing gland with a heat gun sensor after running at wide open and the temperature registered at 84 degrees. I was happy with that.

Vince Luciani

Well I know one thing Wayne, they are not afraid of hard work. They can fish too!

Vince Luciani

All I can say is â€œWOWâ€! I finally had my performance inspection by Cummins on Monday (7/2). Everything checked out perfect and was well within the Cummins specs. The inspection was very thorough. The technician installed gauges and temperature sensors at several locations and monitored other com...

Vince Luciani

I've been following this thread closely since I am ready to paint my new decks. I had solid teak decks, but I opted to go back with epoxy/1708 biaxial fabric (on both sides) over marine 3/4" plywood. It appears plenty strong and watertight. I may bandsaw and plane my teak planks and laminate them to...

Vince Luciani

Thanks again Bruce for the heads up! Looks like I'll be changing those. I made quite a few of those kind of mistakes.

What breaks down in the valve Bruce? The plastic?

Vince Luciani

Matt, Try these net sources: Bronze Bolts, etc. - Boltdepot.com Fuel gauge sending unit - Isspro.com Copper bonding strip - Consumers marine electronics Valves - Home Depot, Lowes ( i used 1/2 " ball valves) I just went through alot of what your'e going through. Hang in there. It will be worth it wh...

bertram31.com

Search found 163 matches

Re: Shaft and Rudder alignment

Re: Shaft and Rudder alignment

Re: Shaft and Rudder alignment

Re: Follow up on mass email

Re: Mass Mailing

Fuel Problem Update w/Pics!

Fuel Pickup Screen - Remove or Leave in Place

Thinking outside the (Fish)box - Livewell Construction

Fighting Chair Pros & Cons

Cummins Aftercooler Maintenance

Cavitation in Reverse

Wet Gauges leave my Cummins dead in the water

Props

Eiremar Maiden Offshore Trip/Outrigger Pole Repair Question

Eiremar Performance Results and Thanks to All!!!!