bertram31.com

CamB25

Thanks Yannis. The Bertram is back in my driveway...neighbors are loving it I'm sure. I've redesigned and fabbed a new "curb" for the center console cap. The old one was way too tall and uneven. Glassing has been almost impossible in this heat. I am on the boat at 5:30am on glass days to beat the he...

CamB25

http://www.wcvb.com/news/wicked-tuna-st ... s/34378374

Dirt Bag!

CamB25

Thanks, guys. Looks like I will go with the larger Fortress FX-11 for the bow and the little brother for the stern. I checked my old Danforth and it has a broken weld, so that one is now lawn art!

CamB25

Joe - your video prompted my post. I was trying to zoom in on the anchor to guestimate the size!

CamB25

What size anchors are the B25 folks using? I have a Danforth 12H that came with the boat (probably the only part that will be re-used!). The Danforth/Fortress style works very well on the sandy bottoms in North Carolina, but the 12H is going to be too heavy for my first mate (wife). Fortress FX-7 or...

CamB25

Looks good. I'll need one of everything for the B25 over the next year. I'm relatively local - No Va.

CamB25

We had the same sort of event down here in the DC area. First time I've "run for cover" in this house. Of course I was in my garage fiberglassing something for the Bertram at the time (no big surprise!) Glad to hear you have the juice back on. We didn't lose power (underground wires), but lots and l...

CamB25

I can't imagine an extra 250 lbs on the transom will make any difference at all to the trim of the boat. That's like adding me and cooler of beer to the boat. A careful check of the transom core is probably in order to ensure it is still solid (I assume they used a plywood core like on the B25s). Yo...

CamB25

Terrific! I love the before and after shots!

CamB25

I'm having problems logging on as well, both with IE and Firefox. The site accepts the login and opens the "post reply" page, but never posts the message. As soon as I hit submit the site directs me back to the login screen. I found a work-around by checking the "automatically login" box below the u...

CamB25

Mark,

Try reading the Awlgrip manual...not a light read, but provides the "by the book" process requirements for all their products:

http://www.awlgrip.com/support-and-advi ... dance.aspx

CamB25

Congratulations! Great name!

CamB25

scot wrote:Cam,

I doing more work than I need to do!

This is my theme song...

CamB25

Scot -

I always lay with the biax up. I find it is easier to wet out and no loose chop to deal with. I end up with hedgerow-like weave grooves as the surface - hot coat with epoxy or fairing compound to fill the weave. Relatively light 80 grit sanding after cure finishes out well.

Cam

CamB25

I watched that the other day...tried to estimate the man hours...lost count at 1 million.

CamB25

John,

Looks like nice work to me, and I know who to call if I need to borrow some spring clamps!

Will the Azek board hold screws? I might want to use this material for as a backer for some hull liners.

Love your tag line!

Cam

CamB25

+1 for the Festool. I have the RO125. works great for sanding (not grinding). I use the Granat disks from 36 to 80 for general material removal and fiberglass prep. Brilliant disks for finishing work and wood.

I use the Festool hose connected to my cheap Jet dust collector - works great!

CamB25

Worth a try, but I would not consider the sale of the existing running gear as part of my project budget. I had dreams of selling the 1975 Volvos in my boat. I was only able to sell the bare engine blocks for a measly $400, and I had to scrap the outdrives.

CamB25

I don't think there is much difference other than the flybridge mounted to the hardtop. Might be more fun to make a tower with a second control station rather than grafting a flybridge. Frees you up to be creative with the design.

CamB25

ARRRRGH!!!!

CamB25

Everyone seems to wimp out when it comes to getting rid of the cabin during the conversion...I know why! :)

CamB25

Based on the pictures, it appears to be a full hull extension. I wish I hadn't seen this...gives me bad ideas. Looks much cleaner, more integrated, than an Armstrong bracket. And allows the use of a transom door. Those inline 6 Verados weigh approximately 650 lbs each. About 150 lbs more (each) than...

CamB25

WOW! They completely redesigned the transom...looks like a euro-style transom that many boats are wearing these days. That's serious work!! Well done!

I would love to see more pictures of the transom/bracket if he has any!

Cam

CamB25

If you are looking for a simple but good looking finish, skip the birch and by a sheet of okume plywood and a can of teak oil. Works well for interior finishing

Cam

CamB25

That's what I was envisioning. I would extend the raised area as far forward as possible for extra headroom in the berth. I have a sawz-all if you need to borrow one!! ha!

CamB25

The problem with the pilot house conversion is you lose the head or the sink area - replaced with the helm station. Here is one with a bracket and single 250: https://www.flickr.com/photos/101180929@N07/sets/72157641485413045/ if you really want to go custom, and close in the stock windows, just cut...

CamB25

Might make an interesting "pilot house" style conversion. Cut or unbolt the "roof" and build up a new roof *taller) and cabin wall. Something like this: http://www.steigercraft.com/miami.html

A/C blasting while you cruise to the fishing grounds.

CamB25

The express is somewhat "homely" looking...I think the main culprit is the enlarged brow over the front windows, the "hat line" that runs along the roof line, and the extended wings aft. You might be able to cut the entire roof off and graft a FB roof/helm assembly and have an "instant" flybridge mo...

CamB25

Bob...all this is just self-manipulation (can't spell masturbation),,,,smokey burn-out video will do ALL the talkin'. All we have is an engine on a stand....get 'er done!

very jealous,
Cam

CamB25

Looks nice! Is the hull color blue, or just the transom? Engine hours?

CamB25

That's a lot of power from a SBC. Be sure to post a video of your smokey burn-outs!

CamB25

Thanks, Rocket. After 5.5 years it is still very much a work in progress. It's evolved into more of a sculpture than a boat project. A series of mini-projects. The only time I get frustrated is when I focus on being done, rather than enjoying the journey.

I damn sure hope it floats!

CamB25

That's a good idea! I molded the bottom surface to drain to the center and there is a mini-sump in the center/rear of the liner. Thanks! I'm thinking (dangerous)...3/4" end of day drain, 2 ea 1.5" overflow drains in the rear about 3/4 height of tank, 2 ea. 3/4 inputs (high/low), maybe a recirc pump,...

CamB25

I've finished modifying my center console to shrink the lounger down to an insulated cooler seat. The cooler is large ~ 30 gallons. I used a male mold to make the liner - gelcoat surface. I was thinking that it might double as a live well (another design afterthought!). I have reasonable access all ...

CamB25

If it were me, I would not use coosa due to the labor required to glass and fair prior to painting (and it's overkill for strength). I would make a sandwich of 2 pieces of smooth FRP wall panel epoxied to a 5lb divinycell core. The smooth FRP will be ready for primer and paint with a simple sanding....

CamB25

As for weight, I don't think there will be a measurable difference between the resins and a minor difference with the 8 oz chop. You could use peel ply and vacuum bag the hatch to pull excess resin out of the lamination. Other than that, I do t know how to dramatically reduce the qty of resin in a h...

CamB25

I would think that thickened poly would be fine to bond the core to the old skin. I would skip the "milled fibers" as I don't think they serve a purpose in this application. In fact, why not use some construction adhesive and call it a day - West Six 10, or even a poly-based "home depot" adhesive. Y...

CamB25

Outboards work. Mine will have twins. The cost doesn't change...

Bottom line is you can buy any number of decent running B25s for at or below the cost of a re-power. $25k buys a lot of Bertram!

The numbers are only funny if you've never done it before.

CamB25

Looks like a decent canvas...where's the trailer? The transom core and shape look odd to me. Different than my 63. Might be that he hasn't completely removed the core. Here's a shot of mine with the new wood core in place, then after glassing and bonding. http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz62/cams...

CamB25

Something like this might be a better first project...and easier to tow.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boats-sale- ... 0-obo.html

CamB25

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/boa/4785673512.html Any advice? I know you don't want to hear this, but set out a detailed plan for the project before you begin looking for a boat. Start with your use case(s) and design the boat to satisfy these needs/desires. Then estimate the project price (we ...

CamB25

I think you'll do more than $1000 worth of damage to the truck trying to tow it 1300 miles. I recommend finding something closer to home.

CamB25

I put my extra capacity (130 gallons total) forward to avoid burying the stern. The stock boat CG is about 10 feet from the transom, twins on a bracket will push it aft. installation photo: http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz62/camsbertram/photo1-1.jpg I would love to hear your thoughts on the mer...

CamB25

Very nice, Ian. That paint looks like a sage color in that light. Some sort of accent stripe on the raised cap might be nice...give you something to do over the winter! Ha!

Cam

CamB25

The seats in my F150 FX4 are one of the few that do not aggravate my sciatic nerve problem. Super comfortable for my regular 6.5 hour runs to Wilmington. I have always had comfort problems with Chevy seats...maybe because I'm a Ford guy? I'm also quite impressed with the 4x4 ride quality on this tru...

CamB25

On my deck we used a rabbit joint made with a router. Pre-glass the top and bottom surfaces off the boat, leaving a 6" or so wide open area on the top surface covering the joint. Bond the panels together on the boat and glass over the joint. This kept the finished deck "reasonably" flat and reduced ...

CamB25

For B28 fans and fans of outboard conversions:

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-for ... ost7181838

Be sure to look at the you tube video of the boat running. 50 mph Bertram with a dance floor!

CamB25

How could a kill switch lead to no compression or any damage to the engines?

CamB25

http://wortoncreek.com/bertram-31/

Light on details, but some great action shots. Clearly an open checkbook restoration.

CamB25

That's great! Looks like a terrific cruise...love that clear blue water...and ouzo! Thank you!

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