bertram31.com

STraenkle

Bruce, sent you a PM, they are great engines.

STraenkle

OK, so here is my story, ethanol.... Blew both 454's , was going thru a divorce and 3 kids that wanted to go to college with an ex wife that never worked in here life.. short on money. Bought 2 running take outs with ZF gears from a sea ray that went diesel. they are 496 MPI Mag HOs, at 425 HP each ...

STraenkle

Unfortunately I will not be able to go, they are full and have no space left. Would have been fun, one of my daughters was flying in to go, but we will find something else to do I am sure. Hope everybody has a great time.

STraenkle

Dug, you should show up too, it would be fun.

STraenkle

Well I will be there and hope that makes 16, that would be the most for years. Neil you going? sorry I just saw your post on the other thread. There are a lot of people that can make the trip, even from Newburyport it is only a couple hours. I hope some more people chime in, it has been a long time ...

STraenkle

Thanks Tony, I will look at Marathon area. Like to find something, but not sure how many rentals are back. Too bad about Knight Key, as a college student in Melbourne, we went to the keys every year and Knights Key was affordable and a lot nicer than most of the camp sites we found. Had some great t...

STraenkle

I wanted to head down there over Christmas with my girls. Not sure how it has recovered since the hurricanes. any information would be great. Use to say at Knights Key, back in the college days, but I hear that is gone.

STraenkle

Bruce, you are correct about Rev limit is 5,000 according to sticker on the engine, the rev alarm buzzer goes off and backed it a touch to get the 66% throttle, I have a software program that plugs into the engine and records everything. I always knew the 1 3/8 40 year old shafts were an issue. I th...

STraenkle

Trying to decide whether going to 1:1.5 ratio and keep the 1 3/8 shafts aquamet 22, or go to 1 1/2 inch and keep the 1:2 gears and get bigger wheels. I could only go to 66% of throttle according to the engine's computer at 4,900 RPM. not sure of the cost of changing the ratio.

STraenkle

Thanks Tony, I have gas 496 with 450 ft lbs of torque, but running 2:1 ZF, Knew I was pushing too much. but snapped shaft after 7 years. Trying to find out how much a conversion to 1:1.5 costs, but dam that thing jumped out of the water. Would send anyone not hanging on over the stern.

STraenkle

Just wonder about people with 250+ HP Diesel engines, basically 500+ Ft lbs of torque (assuming 2500 RPM engines) at crank, are you guys running 1.5:1 or 1:1 gears and 1 1/2 inch shafts?

STraenkle

Sorry I did not reply, but found the issue. The lower compression was due to this engine has a pull start option, so with throttle at idle, the compression is low to allow pull starting, when at off idle, compression was 150 PSI. The issue with the engine was apparently a common one with Honda engin...

STraenkle

I bought a 50 HP Honda 4 stroke for the whaler, but it is running like crap. Starts, but I have to hit the choke to get it going, sounds great, then sputters and basically dies. so a little back ground... I have a leak down tester, strange results. Shows 2% loss on Cyl 1 and 3, dry and cold motor Cy...

STraenkle

Dug, Send me a pm or email and see what works for you to pick it up. Just need a real pick up, 6 or 8 foot bed, weight is not an issue, just width.

STraenkle

Dug, my boat is a 1975, so it is the 230 gallon tank with the gel coat on the inside. the fuel return is easy to add, just t off the vent. Been in the garage for what 6 or 7 years. Going to sell the house this spring, so as they say "everything must go". You would want to clean and flush it, It has ...

STraenkle

Dug, you have diesel, why go aluminum? If you want, I still have my original fiberglass tank, I saved it in case they ever came up with a coating the would allow it to take E10 gas. Just a thought, fiberglass doesn't rust, expand, and this one costs you $0 and shipping costs nothing, your only 40 mi...

STraenkle

ianupton wrote:Inching closer to bedding the transom and stringers.

I thought for sure that said "itching closer......"

STraenkle

John, I actually have the 496 Mag MPI HO (425 HP) in my 31. Got a great deal on the engines as running take outs from a diesel conversion, 16k for both with ZF gears and 250 hours on the engines. Tight fit height wise. Had to push the motors as far back as possible and remove the sound barrier and c...

STraenkle

Well, pressurized the oil cooler with a garden hose at 60 PSI, not a drop leaked. So now I have a spare oil cooler. Took all the plugs out and starboard side of the port engine blew water all over the place when I cranked it. Took the exhaust off on that side, water poured out of the exhaust, plugs ...

STraenkle

I would never change the oil without using a new oil filter. So that is 4 filters so far. The last change I used the 5 min oil flush to clean out everything. and thin the oil to get as much out as possible, still had the issue. Carl thanks for the offer on the compression tester, I have one and will...

STraenkle

As a foot note, last year was a very bad year for the motors, put in a new fuel tank which caused many issues, I don't believe it was the fiberglass tank, assured it was Ethanol rate rated, but all the crap that was in the tank after getting it, after flushing the tank and fuel lines dozen of times,...

STraenkle

First I want to thank everyone for the time they took to help. Great site isn't it? I have been traveling the last few days, but still am not sure what is wrong. Yes closed loop coolant "fresh water" system. Use the red coolant that Mercury says to use. I have been hoping it was just going to take s...

STraenkle

Thanks for the ideas, but not a drop of oil in the fresh water side. The engine are not old and tried, hooked the computer up and they show 60% throttle at 35 knots kicking the rev limiter at 5000 RPM, yes I know way underpropped, but 33% throttle and 25 Knots worked for me. They are scary fast acce...

STraenkle

I don't think it is a head gasket. Coolant level is unchanged and does not have any oil in it. I am fairly sure it the raw water in the oil. Engine runs perfectly, has power all the way to red line at 60% throttle, 5000 RPM and 35 to 36 knots.

STraenkle

So I was running the boat the other day and the oil pressure alarm went off. Limped back on 1 engine. The port motor had chocolate milk for oil. I figured it was the oil cooler because the coolant side was still full. Got the new oil cooler and replaced it. Changed the oil, still chocolate milk, cha...

STraenkle

As I said in an earlier post, I am very saddened by your news, you have touched so many lives in such a positive way, that words can not do it justice. You have had a great life Capt. Pat, we should all be so lucky to have people from around the world speaking from their hearts. That is the impact y...

STraenkle

It was many years ago I did the moldy carpet removal. Tried the sanding, but seemed to just swirl it around and gum up the paper. Acetone did nothing, but as I recall, mineral spirits softened it up just enough that a 2 inch chisel could make large balls of goo that could be separated from the hull....

STraenkle

I am truly sadden to hear that news. I met you at several of the rendezvous and enjoyed talking with you about the boats we all love. Your legacy will continue, not only with this site, with the memories and the amazing work that you have done on these boats. Your tips and insight are helpful beyond...

STraenkle

I had cockpit controls in my 31 when I got it. Had Throttle, gears, and a simrad autopilot mounted on the starboard engine cover. I took them out after the first season. All I could see was someone in the cockpit bumping into them while underway and accidentally pushing an engine into neutral, or dr...

STraenkle

Sure Obama Care would cover it, you just have to prove you can't afford the boat, then he will buy you a new one because it would not be fair if you didn't have a boat when others do and pay the medical bills, but only if you can prove you were too stupid to realize petroleum vapors can ignite. So S...

STraenkle

Nav, not to offend, but I think Mike might have been using just a tad of Sarcasm. Simple math of the energy usage of a fridge, size of panel, latitude..... not beyond his gray matter by any stretch of the imagination. Not everything needs to be analyzed, that's all.

STraenkle

Yup, I remember Timmy telling the story, but his recollection was slightly different, the first time he told the story to me when he was almost sobber, I asked again after his 6th or 7th drink and the part about "he might have been a tad hung over" crept into the story. I remember going Tuna fishing...

STraenkle

Stephan, RLDT covers all 31's, no matter the power, according to Timmy aka Thuddd (by the way, at least three 'd's are required in the pronunciation, the number of times he bounced according to Timmy) , just like UV and the Hyena boats, who by the way, gave Timmy the name thuddddd. I miss them both ...

STraenkle

Dan, next time your see Timmy, tell him I said hi and I'm still down on the cape. Hell if you can get him to Greenport, I may make the run there.

Scott

STraenkle

Haven't heard the term RLDT for quite a while, wonder what happened to Thudddd. wonder if his Hat is still a planter. Quiz for the new guys if they can guess what RLDT stands for.

STraenkle

I don't know anything about those lifts, but 12,000 Lbs. is really close to what my 31 FBC weighs when getting launched, not much of a safety factor. With full fuel, a little rain, etc, well over 12K.

Depends on engines etc., but your call.

STraenkle

That is a really hairy looking inlet, don't think many blow boaters are making that run in those conditions. Holy Crap, as Dug would say....

STraenkle

Well I have been reading this thread for a while, I think one thing that has not been mentioned is, not what the "product" sold for new, but what is the "product" worth after life expectancy has long gone by. People bought their new Bertram 31's for 15 to 25 k, 40 to 50 years ago, maybe given the ti...

STraenkle

Yep, -7 F or -21 C

Last May when he put in the boat, he had to push the icebergs out of the way. Guess that is why his location is Frozen Tundra and I thought Mass was cold.

STraenkle

Sure that one of those bags to smuggled did break?

Sorry how old is the tank? You have copper lines to the motors?

STraenkle

Or just get the PSS dripless and be done with it.

STraenkle

You guys should contact Sean. He keeps his 33 SF, Island Time, right there in Melbourne Harbor right in front of Ichabod's, on the same dock as the fuel. He lives about a 1/2 mile up Melbourne ave there. Knew him in College. Smart guy and will help in any way. However if you think guns should be kep...

STraenkle

Cool to look at the old 1973 motor boating magazine, I love the ad about 6 pages up, tag line is "Bayliner...If you can find a better boat, buy it!", Ha, now that is funny.

STraenkle

Navatech, Looks like dripless to me, shaft log is just as crooked as mine were, but looks like the same PSS I have now.

STraenkle

Ok the site is a little slow, but I wish I had a video of this. Had the boat hauled yesterday morning, it is only about 3 miles from the ramp to the house. So 7 am get the boat on Brownell Hydraulic trailer with a semi pulling it. I am right behind the boat and the driver is avoiding low hanging bra...

STraenkle

Man I can feel that itchy fiberglass dust from here. What did you take out EFI 454s?

STraenkle

I did mine with a rented mini excavator. Worked great, lots of control over position and I did mine outside, so the fork lift would no have worked well in the dirt.

STraenkle

Well at least the vessels name is fitting for a ad the starts off, "must sell!!!!!"

STraenkle

Just be thankful it was not a family going out fishing and had no way to avoid a butt head going 148 MPH in the fog. Oh, and if this hero wanted to raise $250k for cancer, just donate the cost of the helicopter, plane, fuel, etc. that stupid stunt cost, not to mention the repair on the boat cost.

STraenkle

Stephan wrote:Geez. It really did buff right out...

This one made me fall off my chair.

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