bertram31.com

Ironworker

My understanding is that the rear bullhead in the cabin is not necessary, as many came without the bulkhead. i do not remember seeing any additional reinforcements on the open ones, but it has been a while since I have been on one set up that way. I consider the engine bulkheads the most important ...

Ironworker

I agree. Great job Rocky.

Eventually, I'll get around to posting pics of my complete rebuild.

Ironworker

Interesting conversation. One of the issues that I have corrected with my boat was the port side gunnel had sagged over the years and a half ass repair was made by bolting in a piece of 3" aluminum flatbar under the gunnel. Also, when these boat were originally built there was a lot of cold polyeste...

Ironworker

I appreciate all the information. It's not of great concern to me but I was curious.

I'm one day closer to going fishing.

Ironworker

I'm pretty sure I won't be too light with the QSB 5.9s. I'm an airplane guy. I want the lightest plane possible with the highest useful load. Same for the boat. I want a light boat to handle more useful load (fuel, people and stuff). I removed the the vast majority of the shelf (that was a heavy she...

Ironworker

They are structurally necessary. Some bulkheads are more important than others.

Ironworker

The area under the cabin floor in my center of the boat will be a large fish/ice hold. I need 300 to 400#s of ice and a coffin box to put large fish. I've wrestled with where to put this but decided putting ice in fish bags in the this area will be the best and lightest solution. I'm probably going ...

Ironworker

I've got the flybridge 99% complete and the Cockpit (except floors). Now I'm starting on my cabin. My question is about cabin weight. I'm trying my best to keep down the weight of the rebuild to have as light a boat as possible. I'm going to use 1/2" coosa for the floors and benches. I'm planning on...

Ironworker

Got most of the fairing completed and the first coat of primer.

Ironworker

It would be an easy job if you're willing to convert to electronic controls! My plan is to add a cockpit steering station at some point in my refit.

Ironworker

I generally change out my Sams AGMs every 3 years and give the old batteries away. Many times the next guys is still using them a couple of years later. Keep in mind I'm using them in a CC with twins OBs. Its hard to get batteries in the Family Islands in the Bahamas and you don't want to break down...

Ironworker

Sam's has a group 31 AGM marine battery that I have been using for years. They are roughly $170 or so.

Ironworker

Nice, I've been fighting supply issues myself. Currently my epoxy supplier is out of hardner of any kind.

Ironworker

My boat has always been documented with the USCG and still is. The documents show ownership since the say it was manufactured in 1969.

Ironworker

raising the ceiling height even by 3 inches is huge. Agreed. I'll take some pic of the laminated beam with the curve, I built in to raise the ceiling height. I'm picking up an inch just getting rid of the wood Bertram put in to screw the ceiling to and another 2 inches of so with the beam. I'm usin...

Ironworker

Doug,

There are two choke points in pilaster. One is at the bottom and the second is at the top. One of the advantages of my flybridge project is that I removed the top obstructions and cut a 6 x 10 access hole in the top. Now I've got to find a tool to open up the bottom a little

Ironworker

I just went to a shop and had some hydraulic hoses built. Lot cheaper than seastar.

Ironworker

Tony, I'd bet the net extra weight is approximately 50#s. We are using 1/2" coosa and less than two 4x8 sheets were used. We demo'd probably 25#s of old glass. Epoxy is being used everywhere. The real weight added will be in additional people sitting on the Flybridge. I'll also be able to increase t...

Ironworker

It is.

Ironworker

Here is a picture

Ironworker

Progress over the weekend. We've got fiberglass on 2/3rds of the panel and will glass the right side tommorow. We are heavy into fairing the front and sides. I'm figuring another 2 to 3 days to complete the project with the exception of final painting. We've got a couple of days left in the cockpit ...

Ironworker

Thanks for the info. My hull number is molded into the boat with resin.

Ironworker

My hull # is NO 570173 NET5

My documentation says its a 1969 model.

Ironworker

As the old saying goes, One wire hook it up. Two wires ###### it up. Three wires blow it up!

It sounds like your voltage regulator may be slightly off. At 14.9 volts, I wouldn't worry about it.

Ironworker

Great work. It’s a really awesome upgrade that you rarely see around here. Peter, It really and truly is an awesome upgrade. Our boats were designed at a time when there were little to no electronics. I struggled whether to tackle widening the flybridge but I am extremely happy that I did so. I'm g...

Ironworker

Great work, Rick. Where are you working on the boat? Great question! I tried for 3 months to find someone to repower the boat for me with little to no luck. I decided to do it myself. Its in my driveway in Bennett's Point, SC which is just below Charleston, SC. I've got John Gieges, a Point Pleasan...

Ironworker

Is there any code to deciphering Bertram hull numbers? I found mine today in the anchor locker. The stern number was removed when the transom door was added.

Ironworker

A little better shot

Ironworker

As promised, Something to think about. We've spent two days on this extra little side project on the flybridge wideninug project. We have one more for the rough glassing. I will have to refer to the Flybridge now as my Command Center. Will post more pics after we get through tomorrow. https://www.dr...

Ironworker

I think I've found the equivalent of Truck Nuts for a Bertram 31. Stay tuned for pics!

Ironworker

John,

Its absolutely a game changer for the fly bridge. Once you stand on one that has been widened and strengthened its a huge difference.

Ironworker

I've been a little delinquent in posting on this project as we are jumping around focusing on the cockpit work. We did get another day of work on the flybridge. Here is some additional progress. Thanks to Jason and others for some of the ideas. The FB is extremely stong with the addition of the coos...

Ironworker

Thanks guys. I'd pretty much had many of the same thoughts but the fact that Bertram incorporated it on their new 35 had me wondering what they knew that I didn't. I am planning on building a curb to hinge my boxes on in an effort to keep as much water out as possible. If anyone has any good photos ...

Ironworker

I've got an acquaintance who is building new engine boxes for his boat. He is glassing both boxes along with the steps together and they will be raised hydraulically. This is the method that Bertram is using on their new 35' boats. I may use my old boxes but am considering something similar. Thought...

Ironworker

I just replaced mine with a laminate of 1/2" and 3/4" Coosa BW26

Ironworker

There are voids under the floor of the FB. The pilaster has a small wooden 1floor support. I've taken this out and built a coosa beam. That took a little work. The radius of the pilaster goes from 2.5" at the ends to approximately 3/4" to 1" in the center. I'm adding a sheet of 1/2" coosa under the ...

Ironworker

Carl,

Thanks. Keep the ideas coming. This forum has been a huge help in my 31 project. I've burned through 30 gallons of epoxy and just bought 20 more gallons.

Ironworker

The 31 has classic lines but the flybridge was IMO always the Achilles heel of the boat. I got to see a 31 with the FB widened in Bertram Heaven in Point Pleasant, NJ. It was Dwayne Hauck's boat Bang A Rang. I'm taking a little different approach to Dwaynes boat but his boat truly showed that 16 inc...

Ironworker

Carl, I've explored the hazards of lithium but I've decided to install them in my boat and forego the generator. I'm also looking at one of the DC air conditioners. I'm so focused on the structural work now that I haven't thought too much about the electrical design but will post more when I get to ...

Ironworker

Rawleigh, Slightly but not much, maybe an inch or less. We specifically cut the flybridge where it flattens out so as to avoid too much fairing work. So far our plan is working out. I'm happy to take some detail pics if you would like with dimensions. We're pushing to get the cockpit work finished a...

Ironworker

Reporting new progress. We had a long weekend and got started back on reinstalling the flybridge. So far we have spent about 3 days on the project including the demo, grinding and reinstalling. The starboard and port sections each take about a day to prep and get into place. We are using 1/2 coosa a...

Ironworker

I'm planning something similar for my step between the engine box and also planning on hinging it. I have some photos of a fiberglass step and an aluminum step. Both were hinged. I'm not sure Coosa would handle the screws is you're going to form the step but that is on my mind as well as an option.

Ironworker

scot wrote: ↑May 24th, '22, 08:59VERY nice work.

Thanks, we are working our way aft, then will move to the cabin. My target is 90 days to be in the water!

Ironworker

Its going to be another 3 or 4 weeks before we install the motors. I want to get the bulk of the fiberglass in the cockpit area completed before install the engines.

Ironworker

This has been a big hurdle to the get the engine beds complete and ready for metal. They are a composite of 4 layers of 3/4" Coosa and 1 layer of 1/2" Coosa laminated together with epoxy and a layer of 1708 between each layer. They are bedded in epoxy putty and tabbed. Notice the 1 1/2" 45 degree ch...

Ironworker

They are pricey little devils. Thanks for the suggestions!

Ironworker

I need to upgrade my mufflers for my new QSB 5.9 engines. I'd like to move them outboard as my current super large ones were in the bay behind the shaft.

What are the best mufflers and where is a good source to buy?

Ironworker

Jason, I thought about it and thought about it some more. Most everyone I talked with (experienced boat builders) tried to talk me out of it. Getting the halves off was not too much of a problem. It would have been easier if I had known the actual construction of the top but most of it is hidden. I'...

Ironworker

I'm a week or so away from any more progress on the flybridge. I just got my engines in the shop today!!! I'll post some more pics of the ceiling of the cabin and structural components of the FB soon. Right now I'm celebrating my new Cummins QSB 5.9 380 hp engines. https://www.dropbox.com/s/rdpp0fsd...

Ironworker

Wilco, Its one of too many projects on this boat. We just got the new engine beds and stringers glassed in on Saturday and started on the top after lunch.

Search found 721 matches