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Amberjack

Tony, it is a Lewmar windlass. I talked with Good which was highly recommended but they had no West Coast presence or service availability. Lewmar has the market out here. I figured others had done their research, bought one for myself and have been happy with it. Reasonably priced, looks fine and w...

Amberjack

Doug Is that a Good Winch? They are the ones I was talking too. He is local in NJ and has an excellent reputation. I was not crazy over his roller and was not sure of the look. By the way, sorry for taking the thread off track, and thank you for the replies. I agree Tony, this should be a separate ...

Amberjack

Doug, What is that small second roller on top for? It confines the ground tackle to the bow roller like the SS hoop you have on the front of yours. Mine being mounted further aft the chain and then the anchor stock can lift up against it when being raised or lowered. The roller allows them to roll ...

Amberjack

May not look as classic as the original Art Deco bow chock but a heck of a lot easier on the back

Amberjack

Mickey-I’ve been running Mercon II ATF for 22 years and it’s worked for me.

Amberjack

Replaced the starboard oil cooler with an aftermarket unit. Can't remember the mfr but the service provider has used and been happy with them. Yanmar oil coolers run about $1600, this was several hundred less but not cheap. The parts are expensive but its the mechanic's hours at $140/hour that add u...

Amberjack

They are Yanmar 6LP’s . The oil coolers mount on a side bracket and connect to the engine with rigid copper pipes. I hadn’t considered things like this could have a life expectancy but that seems to be what I’m hearing. Now I’m thinking I’ll replace both. We get pretty far north so it would be a lon...

Amberjack

The starboard oil cooler started to leak and when we pulled it we found a crack around the girth of the casing. It has been in the boat for 20 years, 1,000 hours and was pulled and descaled about 400 hours ago. Has anyone experienced something like this or have any suggestions? Now I'm worried about...

Amberjack

Rick-Yanmar 315's. I've been very happy with them. Tony-The step was never there, this is how I bought the boat. No one has fallen into the companionway possibly because that area is so well defined. It is almost impossible to stumble into it. If there had been a step and we had gotten used to it I ...

Amberjack

We are a group with diverse interests......and strong opinions!

Amberjack

I like drawing the air from the cockpit but like it was just said, what about the increase in noise. Bob how loud is it with the engines drawing from the cockpit? Tony, I have cockpit air intakes and really didn't notice any change in noise levels. The engines are happier with the improved air flow...

Amberjack

not to be a contrarian, but how many people can say that chicken tastes like chicken anymore? the stuff that has been showing up at the grocery stores SUCKS!!! chicken breasts that look like the size of turkey breasts and stringy as all heck. What do we expect? As a nation we are conditioned to buy...

Amberjack

I sympathize with you East Coasters as we already had that weather. The mid Atlantic and Northeast usually get our weather 4-5 days after it blows through here. If you like I would be happy to give you a head's up on anything exceptional coming your way (that's a joke)! At any rate today is bright a...

Amberjack

Which Garmin autopilot pump are people using on Bertrams? When I looked at them last year our 31's fell right between two size ranges.

Amberjack

bob lico wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '22, 11:47 i am not sure i understand why not use the side mount slides that drop down when closed so draw cannot open unless pulled up and out .

Bob I had no idea such a thing existed. Anyway, the job's done and will last my lifetime and it turns out I kind of like the drawer buttons.

Amberjack

Tony Meola wrote: ↑Jan 3rd, '22, 21:35 If it works that is great. Nice upgrade.

There isn't enough space between the settee and the galley to get a straight on photo so the photo angle makes the drawer button look a touch offset.

Amberjack

Tony it was a long decision and we looked all over. I finally wound up installing a 2" Sea Dog Door Button. Simple, unobtrusive and they do the job. That area is tight enough that anything with a high profile would snag clothing or gouge legs.

Amberjack

Jason, did you do the Corian work yourself? It looks good.

Amberjack

Tony, I think those are Accuride 3832E series drawer glides. Can't specifically remember but I assume they are SS, at any rate they haven't shown any rust after 3 years. They can be side mounted for a 100 lb drawer capacity or undermounted as mine are for a 35 lb drawer capacity. We didn't have spac...

Amberjack

and BTW those drawer glide shims have been neatened up and epoxied down since this image was taken.

Amberjack

"Wait a minute, you mean there's space under the drawer mounted under the dinette? Let's put something in it!" In fact I wound up putting two somethings in it, both of which require periodic maintenance. http://i.imgur.com/MV9VaKDh.jpg Pictured is the domestic water pump and slightly below and off t...

Amberjack

Doug How did you do the seating, that wood looks great. Tony-I laminated 1/4" teak ply over the athwartship face of the settee (the part under the dinette). We removed the old settee end piece (the fore & aft part) and used it as a pattern for a new one fabricated of 1/2" marine ply laminated with ...

Amberjack

Thanks for the galley remodel images Kross. Ignore the guys with their toilet issues, the rest of us want to see how the finished galley turns out. A lot of B-28's came with the head forward and are perfectly functional like that. Like you say, you work with what you got. We have an enclosed head on...

Amberjack

I redid my salon 3 years ago and it was one of the most rewarding projects I've ever done on the boat. We filled and sanded 40-50 old fastner holes left by prior owners (mark any holes you intend to reuse) and applied two coats of Interlux undercoat after which I spent two long winter days hand sand...

Amberjack

Take your time to make a decision about fairing the cockpit sides. It will be a job and once you start it you have no choice but to finish. As I said we left ours unfaired thinking we’d go back to it later but decided to leave as is. Easy enough just to spray a finish on the unfaired glass just to s...

Amberjack

Trace-Here are a couple images of Amberjack's cockpit without side panels. When we rebuilt the cockpit we couldn't decide what kind of storage we wanted for that space so left it to come back and finish later. We liked it so much we left it that way a it really opens up the cockpit which is a primar...

Amberjack

Amberjack- would you consider using an oil analysis company like Blackstone ( https://www.blackstone-labs.com/ ) to see how your engines are responding to your maintenance plan? Stephan--Hmmm, yes thought about it but the mechanics I've talked with all think my maintenance seems as reasonable a pro...

Amberjack

Tony Meola wrote: ↑Dec 7th, '21, 22:45 Now that is funny. Have you considered professional help? Whatever you do, do not let you wife catch you talking to the boat.

I think I'm OK Tony, the boat talks to me but I don't talk back. You might want to keep an eye on Carl, though.

Amberjack

Thanks for the input guys. Sounds as though I'm hitting most of the high points so I'll keep doing what I'm doing. Besides, sitting on the fly bridge for 45 minutes every couple weeks gives the boat time to talk to me. Your boats talk with you don't they? Mine does: D-o-u-g , what happened? http://i...

Amberjack

I keep the boat in commission year round even though it is sitting in the lake under cover during winter. Part of this program is to run the engines at high idle, maybe 1100 rpm for 45 minutes every two weeks to get the lube oil and fuel oil both warmed up and circulating. The manuals say these engi...

Amberjack

For what its worth Amberjack's bottom is painted every 5-6 years and gets very little marine growth. Repainting usually happens because the paint has finally worn off in enough places. The boat does get hauled and pressure washed every spring which probably helps. Yannis, my paint could last longer ...

Amberjack

Peter, I can see that. At +/- 50 years of age none of our boats are stock anymore and performance will vary significantly for each. I'm considering upgrading to larger rudders as its impossible for me to steer on one engine during long passages at enforced low speed and two engines is too fast.

Amberjack

I ran a 24 ton sailboat for 13 years. Single engine, big rudder and rudder position REALLY mattered. After driving a Bertram 31--twin engines, loads of torque, small rudders--I'm not sure rudder position matters much. Engine input overpowers them but then I am running the original smaller rudders.

Amberjack

To keep Striped Bass in NY, they have to be no less than 28"(71cm) nor over 35" (89cm). This year everything seemed to be way over 40"(101cm) so yes they all went back in. Carl-Our King salmon have been steadily decreasing in size over the years. They only come back once, on their way to spawn so i...

Amberjack

We West Coasters have an advantage as the sun sets through Pacific Ocean maritime air. Throw in some wild fire smoke and they can be really striking. And best of all at that time of day you can have a glass of wine and enjoy it. I think on the East Coast most color comes in the AM when the sun rises...

Amberjack

Beautiful images Carl! Was that the sunset I was enjoying from my hotel on Monday Oct 25 (just before NYC was hammered by record rain)?

Amberjack

I was on the train from Boston to NYC (great ride, I recommend it) and saw a very attractive FBC with dark blue hull in Mystic. Does it belong to anyone on this board? It is an attractive boat.

Amberjack

I have a lower helm and am planning on removing it. In 25 years I've used it twice-and been very happy to have it both times (lightning Ince & torrential downpour once). The rest of the time I bang my head on it climbing up from the forward cabin. The plan is to remove the helm installation along wi...

Amberjack

I can see a big benefit from allowing smaller primary propulsion engines with the battery assist used to replace the lost horsepower when needed i.e. getting a smaller boat up on a plane or in the case of a harbor tug pushing a ship. Foss harbor tugs in Seattle are installing these systems as fast a...

Amberjack

Or as Richard Kidd who ran the Bertram parts department said when I called to ask him about deck hatch skylights "Open the H-A-T-C-H".

Amberjack

[quote=Carl post_id=144483 time=1632482589 user_id=162 I'd have commented on the video...but in truth, I cannot make out any signs of a whale. Still love seeing water though and thanks for sharing. [/quote] This is the new Pacific Northwest whale watching Carl. There are multiple issues threatening ...

Amberjack

Ray I’ve been boating in the Pacific Northwest for a lot of years so I’ve seen a lot of orcas but….a few years ago we were in Navy Channel off Sauturna Island when we saw a small group of orcas snuffling around in the channel and we shut down to watch. One of the male’s dorsal fins was easily 5-6 fe...

Amberjack

Good arguments for and against keys but if you do have ignition keys be sure they are where you need them when you need them. Several years ago we were at anchor in Reid Harbor, a really snug anchorage, when a micro-burst squall came through. It went from 5-10 K to 35 K in about 15 seconds but we we...

Amberjack

Way in the distance to the left of the small boat you can just make out a trio of Orcas we saw last week just off Seattle. These are probably transient Orcas (seal eaters). The endangered resident Orcas (salmon eaters) don't venture this far south very often due to the lack of large salmon they prey...

Amberjack

@Amberjack, thank you for your info. Please send me pictures if you don't mind. The numbers you are reporting are in line with what I was thinking and have read with other 31 owners and our engines. http://i.imgur.com/f0QdYsoh.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ScKRmIdh.jpg No noticeable noise from the engines ...

Amberjack

I'm not on the boat but am pretty sure the engine data plate says 3800 max rpm/3600 continuous rpm. I've been happily cruising at 3300-3400 rpm which gives me 26-28 knots, plenty fast for these waters and it keeps the engine clean.

Amberjack

Might be a little late to be useful to your friend but this is an image of my chain locker with about 500' of anchor line and 90' of chain. The pile barely comes to the level of the access hatch opening and the chain tamps down the line. The even coils of 9/16" line are uncanny but the windlass did ...

Amberjack

Danny I have 90' 5/16" chain, 250' 5/8" three strand nylon line and 250' 1/2" three strand line. The pile comes to just above the opening of the chain locker door but doesn't lean against it. However, the 1/2" line is carefully coiled at the bottom of the locker to minimize space.

Amberjack

Rick you can buy a lot of boat for $200K. Most of them are old enough not to appeal to new buyers but still fully functional. They're cheap because they are fuel hogs--I can think of Hatteras 43's as an example--but since you're looking for a mobile live aboard and won't be distance cruising that sh...

Amberjack

New power should give you 225 mile range with 25% reserve easy. What is a round trip to the Canyons for you?

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