bertram31.com

Ironworker

Preston,

My home base is in Spanish Wells which is in North Eleuthera. We generally fish a couple of miles from the dock but will occasionally venture out to a max 40 mile range.

Ironworker

Yes. I have had good results with it. You have to follow the instructions pretty closely.

There is an article in Practical Sailor if you're interested. It favorably compares to PropSpeed and is a little cheaper.

Ironworker

I understand enjoying light tackle, my thought is using a heavier leader to possibly make it less attractive to the billfish. I've actually caught blue marlin and tuna while high speed trolling for wahoo. My general HST rig for wahoo is 3' of 900# 49 strand cable through the lure, 25' of 250# mono ...

Ironworker

I thought about upping my rigging and I guess that will be the solution. When I high speed troll for wahoo, I'm running some pretty heavy tackle but for dolphin fishing, I like to go light. My favorite way to catch a dolphin is on a spinning reel. On Saturday we got 5 wahoo cutoffs even though I has...

Ironworker

I'm catching plenty of dolphin, thats not the problem. Its just that I could catch more if we weren't wasting time and tackle with bill fish.

I expected that there was not much that I could do to detune it for bill fish. I guess its just a curse that I'll have to accept as a Bertram 31 owner.

Ironworker

Even though my boat is not quite finished, I was able to pick a weather window in March to get her to the Bahamas. I've spent most of the time working on the boat for the last 4 weeks, but I did get to fish her for three days. My problem is I'm catching too many bill fish. So far two Sails and one M...

Ironworker

Check out this website for diagrams

https://www.pysystems.ca/resources/diagrams/

I'm shocked (pun intended) that anything worked.

Ironworker

#2 awg is too small. It should be 2/0 maybe 1/0 could handle it but I'd go with the 2/0. I am a fuse fanatic. Nothing worst than a boat fire. These are the batteries that I'm using with my Cummins QSB 5.9 diesel engines. They are powerful and have high voltage tolerances which are very similar too a...

Ironworker

Joe, I use 300 amp fuses on a battery terminal like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019ZBTV4?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_22&=&crid=2NT5PSWSAO3FV&sprefix=blue%2Bseas%2Bbattery%2Bfuse&th=1 All battery circuits are fused based upon wire size and load. Keep a couple spares around. My rule of thum...

Ironworker

Bahia Mar, take a look at the photos of the Reel Cowboy. I was inspired by some of the things he added. The spray rails or perhaps I should say widened chines are great! My boat has a very dry ride on the FB and in the cockpit.

Ironworker

You may want to check out Florida Marine Tech. I've bought Cummins Parts at a fraction of the price of Cummins. Also they have diesel mechanics. I haven't used them yet but will give them a try based on my experience in dealing with the parts guy Bob.

They are in Rivera Beach, FL

Ironworker

Get yourself a multitool and some good carbide tipped blades. For fiberglass work you may as well buy Harbor Freight tools. They last as long as the name brand tools with the glass dust. Depending on the type and weight of the floors you can build new floors about as easy as doing extensive repairs ...

Ironworker

There are a couple of threads here on how to post pics. Its not the normal process on a typical board. First you have to email them to yourself. Then post them on a sharing board such as dropbox. Then share the link in the picture format link above the post. Lastly you've got to edit the link from d...

Ironworker

My 62 with 440's and 160 full gas tank came in at 14K years ago at last marina. I know they measured weight with the hydraulic gauges on the travel lift, we have the same setup on our lift...but I wonder how accurate those gauges really are, I use 'm as a ballpark at best. Very interesting! My rebu...

Ironworker

Steve,

I wouldn't trust a 8500# lift for that boat even stripped. My rule of thumb is 30% higher lifting capacity than load and if its my boat I'm going with 50% higher than load.

I had my boat weighed after it was painted. With full fuel it was right at 14,000#s IIRC. Its a 1969 model

Ironworker

Its a couple of days since I made the run over to Spanish Wells so here is the update on my mechanical issue. I did a test run on Wednesday and my starboard engine would not make full power and I got a low turbo boost error. I pulled the air filter and the turbo spun freely so I suspected a sensor. ...

Ironworker

My brother has used this guy for his Cummins: Ron Marguin, East Coast Marine Service Diesel, 561-371-0595. My brother lives in Stuart and go referred to them from A&J. Did good work. BTW, I called Ron and left a message. He never returned my called. He at least is better than the other guy who lied...

Ironworker

A few pictures would help.

You are making a wise decision to open up the floor IMO. Be prepared to find some rot.

Ironworker

Please post some "before" pics.

Ironworker

I think on of the added benefits of surge tubes is a little quieter exhaust.

Ironworker

I haven't used these guys but they are working on my neighbors 42 Bertram with Cummins. Wolfe Marine Services Logan Wolfe 561-262-8028 Edit - I want to profoundly apologize for listing this this guys information. I would not recommend him under any circumstances. Here is what happened. I had an issu...

Ironworker

My mufflers are run outboard of the stringers. Its a tight fit. I found some online that were oval shaped that would fit. However, I ended up splitting my original mufflers, doing some repairs and reglassing them with High Temp epoxy. They work great and are quite. I used the inboard area to add som...

Ironworker

Kevin wrote: ↑Feb 23rd, '24, 22:43 Rick I made a run down there yesterday and saw a 31 that was on the east side of the icw in the water. Light blue color in the water. Sharp looking boat. Is that you?

That is me!

Ironworker

Kevin,

Its sounds like we are in the general area. My boat is docked on the ICW just north of the PGA bridge. Stop by sometimes.

Ironworker

Building a mold or glassing in place??? Here is a consideration Mine was glassed in place by a shop before I got the boat. The front looked great but the back of the glass was unfinished. My boat came with a piece of furniture with rolling doors that was built by a true craftsman in Pt. Pleasant, NJ...

Ironworker

The two halves of my boat are different. The pilasters are different as are the windows.

Visually its not an issue but its a PITA to rebuild one

Ironworker

Yup Coosa can't be very strong. There ain't much glass in it by the looks of it. I am hoping that 1/2" structural fiberglass will be stronger than even the plywood. JJ B26 coosa is very strong. Frankly I'm surprised just how strong it is. Is it as strong a marine plywood at the same thickness, no. ...

Ironworker

Coosa B26 vs Plywood. I thought long and hard about it but in the end, I wanted to eliminate the wood. I removed plenty of rotted wood from my boat during the demolition including the rudder backing and some or the strut backing materials. I laminated coosa sheets together with additional glass to a...

Ironworker

Before you get too far down the road of buying new struts, I'd suggest you consider building a mock up of what you're attempting to do before you start epoxying stuff. I used my regular bertram struts and was able to end up with a 11 degree shaft angle. I could have forced some stuff to shave off an...

Ironworker

Kevind767 wrote: ↑Feb 8th, '24, 11:33 Dropbox would be great.
I used to have the boat at a friends house just north of Prosperity and Northlake, but won’t be down that way in the foreseeable future.

Wilco, I'll get some photos together and get them uploaded

Ironworker

Ironworker, Would love to see your setup. Kevin, You're a fair ways from N. Palm Beach but you are welcome to come see it in person. I hope to be taking the boat to the Bahamas for 3 or 4 months in March. Another option, I'll be happy to upload some photos to dropbox if you would prefer that.

Ironworker

Those pics bring back memories. Are you doing all the work yourself?

Ironworker

I listened to a podcast where this guy discussed the incident and his book.

Ironworker

Engines are Cummins QSB 5.9 380 HP

Props are ACME 20 X 26 #8 CUP

Gears are ZF220A with 1.75 ratio.

I will post some performance data as soon as I can get the boat back together enough to run her.

Ironworker

Well my shoulder has healed enough that we got back started on the boat yesterday. NOW my problem is being stopped by all the boaters cruising on the ICW shouting at me about how great the boat looks, asking various questions and taking pictures. We had a 100 footer, back up so the guy at the helm c...

Ironworker

Make life easy for yourself. Decide what type of New external alternator regulator that you want first. The wakespeed 500's are well known and supported. You can get them through Dragonfly. Ask them which would be your best alternator. Which ever way you go, you are likely going to want to upgrade t...

Ironworker

I went the easy way and purchased a Vitrifigo DRW180A. Its a two drawer fridge/freezer. Either drawer can be either a fridge/freezer. It runs on both/either 12V DC or 120 AC. For anyone looking at Lithium batteries, the new guys one the block are Epoch. They are selling a 470 amphour battery for aro...

Ironworker

I upgraded my Cummins OEM alternators to a couple of Balmar XT 250 DF4-SP with a couple of the Wakespeed 500 external regulators. Which are charging 1080 amphours of batteries. If you're interested in going this route you're welcome to check out my installation. I don't have a generator, but I have ...

Ironworker

Thanks Franz, Thats the general area I'm looking at. The photo gives me a place to start.

Ironworker

Those pics evokes some memories!

Ironworker

Carl, my comment was for Rick. I know that your configuration doesn't allow for a rope and pulley system. Hinging on the outboard side of the box is not an option for me. Hinging on the gutter has all sorts of problems and I'm beyond rebuilding boxes and gutters. Its going to be fishing season shor...

Ironworker

I thought about those. I just don't know how the electric motor would hold up in the salt environment. I also wondered if there was a fail safe that I could open the box if the motor failed?

Ironworker

Is there a better idea than struts to assist with opening the boxes?

Ironworker

Thanks for the photos. That is an interesting way to hinge the box. I'm a little past that since I've hinged on a curb on the floor but my boat will likely never be finished so perhaps in the future.

Ironworker

Thanks Franz.

I weighed the force to lift my covers today and its 60#s at the initial lift. I haven't weighed the mid point force yet but will do so. I would prefer to use only one strut on each box to minimize obstructions of the engine compartment.

Ironworker

Rick, Why don't you install two stainless eyes, one on the box and the other on the pillar (or wherever you think best), and pass a rope and pulley. When you're done, you remove the rope and pulley and you are left with only two permanent stainless eyes... I thought about a rope and pulley system b...

Ironworker

I'm sure its going to take some trial and error on my part but I'm planning on making it happen. On the new Bertram 35 the box cover lifts are motorized. I'm going to stick with the gas filled shocks that are manual.

Ironworker

If someone has installed gas struts on their engine boxes, I'd like to get some info on the size of struts, lifting capacity and location, please? I'm trying not to recreate the wheel is someone has already done the mental math. I recently had shoulder surgery and I need a little help in lifting the...

Ironworker

Hey Guys she is a wreck right now with old gasser Mercruisers but not sure which model. I am just trying to discern if the 6.7's will actually fit albeit with complex mods. Will they? Anyone tried before? JJ JJ, You will need to rebuild the engine beds. Thats not a big deal but it is going to more ...

Ironworker

JJ, I looked at the 6.7's hard when I repowered. For a variety or reasons I went with the 5.9's. Read the owner's manual first. The 6.7s are not supposed to be idled for long periods of time i.e., trolling speeds. There is also more unnecessary stuff to break. They are also bigger. Of course there a...

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