bertram31.com

Ironworker

Bob, You make some good points. I gave serious consideration to adding in floor boxes but at the end of the day, more fuel/range won out. Traveling in the far and southern bahamas one could easily go through 200 gallons of fuel then find the fuel barge didn't make it the marina that week and may not...

Ironworker

My buddy found this top on ebay and switched out a rocket launcher for it and put some rod holders on the side of a smaller box https://photos.app.goo.gl/t8MGTeKWrLXjpF8s5 That wouldn't work for me but its gives me an idea. To open the lid of the cooler everything has to be moved from the top. I'm ...

Ironworker

how about a bonar box? a lot of the comm boats up here run these, there are multiple sizes. https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/arctic-insulated-bin-680-50197-1500-lbs-capacity-48l-x-43w-x-35h-blue?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-qi_BhBxEiwAkxvbkLuy-odSgMEanwy2yVbYVFnIFoLIW8AfnKKspZ5Wt9D6vZPj6FBKFhoCrHM...

Ironworker

I appreciate the complement. We probably will not get it finish painted before we head to the Bahamas but I'll get it primed. I likely will have some changes for version 2 after I fish the box for a season.

More pics coming soon.

Ironworker

A couple of production pics

Ironworker

We are coming up on completing this project. We started about a month ago. The final dimensions are 36" x 56" out to out. The inside dimension is 18" high in the stern and 22" high in the bow portion of the box to accommodate the bait tray. I was not able to figure out how to make the rigging statio...

Ironworker

When I was fishing for Bluefin back in the 90's I used an 80 with modified drags on a short 5'-6" stand up rod. Nowadays, you can use pretty much any reel you want because of braid. A 70 will be fine. Add a 100# mono topshot and go to work. Wide reels are a no go on standup. Standard or narrow body ...

Ironworker

I’m not a fan of outboards, especially on a 31, but this one looks the part. 600hp, light, and low profile, I think it will move along pretty nicely. Now what does that mean…you may not have to hold on when hitting the throttles but I’d think a respectable 25 knot cruise could be possible. Your tho...

Ironworker

That is interesting. I agree about the Evinrudes and I suspect that will make it difficult to sell. I'm curious about the hole shot and top speed of this boat with just 600 HP?

L&H in Stuart converted one to outboards but added 4 ft to the overall length.

Ironworker

I never insured my 31 Bertram. I tried but could not find an actual insurer (which I think I posted about earlier).

For those considering insurance don't buy into anything but US based companies. Check out the Wandering Hillbilly channel on YouTube.

Ironworker

I added a layer of glass to the entire bow and gunnels. After, I started looking at the condition of them, it made more sense to just glass the whole area. In addition, I added a layer of 1/2" coosa underneath the gunnels to reinforce the rod holders. I bought some heavy duty swivel holders from LT ...

Ironworker

Ironworker wrote: ↑Mar 8th, '25, 10:20 My boat is listed as manufactured by Halter Marine in Miami.

BTW, I have two 31 windshields that are free, Actually not the cabin glass but the spray screen for the flybridge.

Ironworker

My boat is listed as manufactured by Halter Marine in Miami.

BTW, I have two 31 windshields that are free

Ironworker

The metal piece was just laying in there, not connected to anything. I suspect the culprit didn't want to demo anything so just put a couple of layers of glass over the mess, which is going to make it twice as difficult to clean up the mess. The guy that gave me the boat had it converted from the ol...

Ironworker

It was also my understanding there were several boatyards that were making these hulls well. Is that the case?

Ironworker

Thats good info to know about the 2 part mold. Now can you all shed some light on the asymmetrical aspect of the boat?

Ironworker

I don't know. I tried "Bulkheads" which is a great thread to review.

I'll search around. Perhaps someone will come along and tell us. Use the advanced search.

Ironworker

Other guys on this board knows much more about this than I, but it's my understanding that when they built the 31 hulls they were built into two halves then joined together. If you find the center line of the keel as best you can then, draw a plumbline up the inside of the stern you will have a plac...

Ironworker

BTW, you probably know this but the two halves of a 31 hull are not symmetrical. The halves of the hulls are different and the caps are different as well. Mine was off about 1.5" or so on the hull and maybe a little more on the cap. The average person would not be able to see it but I sure can. Just...

Ironworker

Rick, Is all the hull sandwiched with this rotten ply? The sides too? If yes, how will you establish the degree of rot? Will you be cutting through the inner glass until you find dry? Holy hell, that's some job... I don't know the full extent of this mess just yet. I'm hoping its just where the old...

Ironworker

Hi Rick On my 25, all the thru-hulls are backed by plywood squares about 4-5”. Is it possible that someone later glassed straight over that, including the steel plate when replacing the original fitting? I don't think so. There are no backing plates or nuts on the hull fiberglass but on top of the ...

Ironworker

I may have some photos of the coosa plate that I added in for my bow pulpit and windlass. I'll see if I can find some. I actually added a new layer of glass to the bow and gunnels ls primarily for cosmetic purposes, but it did stiffen up the bow along with the backing plate that was added. When I ad...

Ironworker

I may have some photos of the coosa plate that I added in for my bow pulpit and windlass. I'll see if I can find some. I actually added a new layer of glass to the bow and gunnels ls primarily for cosmetic purposes, but it did stiffen up the bow along with the backing plate that was added. When I ad...

Ironworker

The cap is not very strong. The various components were put in place with gobs of resin putty then a layer of glass over the joints. I give you credit for pulling the cap. I never would have attempted to do that. I spent a lot of time installing glass upside down. Regarding the stringers...I didn't ...

Ironworker

Here are a couple of photos including a 4 x 12" steel plate that was glassed into this mess. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/st1rq9bg9cl5omt2abnx9/IMG_4657.jpg?rlkey=13l90xi09eoj5veulctnlqcrv&raw=1 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o65etjqzyzoz9p8gxns7e/IMG_4659.jpg?rlkey=cdedkwn28balztixxxckx905q&raw=1...

Ironworker

I need some help with questions regarding a 20 Bertram. Does anyone have any original construction plans for a B20? Was there wood used in other areas with the exception of the stringers and engine sleepers? Mine was at some point converted to an outboard with an Armstrong bracket. My B20 leaks. It ...

Ironworker

I have used CLR numerous times in outboards. While it works it takes time. (I've also used in in coffee pots and dishwashers, so I use the same mix rate in the outboards). If you're using a recirculating system the water gets hot and looses its cooling effectiveness. So you have to shut down the eng...

Ironworker

When I was rebuilding the Fly N Fish, a very experienced boat builder (the same guy that built my buddies $9 M Sailing Cat) told me to take a water hose and was out the boat every week. I followed his advice!

Ironworker

I'll send a Paypal donation today.

Ironworker

Rick Some skinny water there. I thought I ran through some skinny spots heading to Barnegat inlet but that looks real tight in spots. These are the kinds of areas that I'm routinely running which is exactly why I have a 31 Bertram! I need shallow draft with big boat ride/handling. Crossing the Prov...

Ironworker

Bilges have a tendency to accumulate oil and gunk over the years and any fiberglass strands that are completely wet act as a wick and will leach back out when painted over. Careful observation of dry glass and grinding should be considered. I've seen bilges that were big dollar prepped and painted ...

Ironworker

Very nice!

Ironworker

Yannis wrote: ↑Feb 2nd, '25, 09:42 Are these meters?

Unfortunately it's in Feet. These are old charts. Hurricane Dorian shifted a lot of sand and these charts are not accurate but they are close. The Bahamas does not maintain its Navigation Aids and often they are non existent.

Ironworker

Here are a couple of photos of areas that I posted about earlier. First is the path between Sandy Cay and West End. The second is the little known cut between Grand Bahama Island and Abaco. I learned about the cut from an old sailor about 20 years ago. Some of these shortcuts shave off a few miles b...

Ironworker

I have two transducers on my boat a 3KW unit in a pocket that I use for deep dropping and a forward/side scan unit that I use while running. Both are mounted on the keel. I also have a lot of routes plotted in my chartplotter from 40 years of running boats in the Bahamas. Still the most important t...

Ironworker

Until I figure a way to get away from this work thing, you’re safe from seeing me drop by for a day out fishing. But when I do…. Props are easy to swap out in calm water… the shaft can be a bit more tricky. And a strut…oh my. Are you forward scanning or charts n eyes? When we took a charter out of ...

Ironworker

Rick Have you figured out how much water you are drawing? Out of the factory it was just short of 3 feet. I haven't actually measured the depth. I use 3' as my guide. I have my transducer offset by 3' which has worked out pretty well for me...... so far. The Bahamas are well known for some busted u...

Ironworker

I checked out your travels...tower or no tower...yikes. That was her first trip to the Bahamas. I was trying to be careful not to ding her props. Now that I've gotten use to how much water she actually needs we are a little more daring. If you have a notion for some warm water fishing come down to ...

Ironworker

You'll have to pry my tower out of my cold dead hands! Yep, its a efficiency Killer, but as I said my boat was designed and built as a fishing machine for the Bahamas! We fish in some very deep water but we have to travel over some very shallow water filled with rocks and reefs to get there. We also...

Ironworker

UV is not a problem in the bilge. Topside UV causes epoxy to yellow. There are some UV resistant epoxies out there but the simple solution is to paint them. As with any epoxy primer, the surface needs to be cleaned properly with Denatured Alcohol. I generally wipe my surfaces twice. Buy the alcohol ...

Ironworker

I think that I have an old B31 windshield if anyone wants it. Its free.

Ironworker

Bilge paint is only as good as the primer that you use. I used Sherwin Williams Seaguard 5000 which is an epoxy primer. For a top coat I used Sherwin Williams Sher-Loxanne 800. Its a wonderful top coat paint. Both are these products are SW commercial line of coatings and are pretty easy to find arou...

Ironworker

I think the 19,400 HP helps. A Bertram 31 @ 14,000 lbs and two 330 Cummins is at 21 lbs per HP Skinny witch @ 55,400 lbs and 19,400 HP is at 2.78 lbs per HP Interesting thought. The math is not quite correct, you added an extra digit. 55400/3880= 14.3 lbs per HP My 31 with two 380 hp cummins is 18....

Ironworker

Interesting conversation. Alot of my thoughts regarding weight and performance are dictated by roughly 14,000 hours of flying with a sizable portion flying at Max Gross Weight. Boats that are porky are real pigs in performance especially outboard CC's. My thought about reducing net weight is primari...

Ironworker

Carl, There is a heckva lot of difference in any outboard powered boat both ride and handling vs a mid ship inboard powered boat. I live in S. Florida where its hard to give away a sportsfisherman that cruises at 20kts. Everyone wants a 50Kt boat. No doubt Outboards will generally be more efficient ...

Ironworker

Rick Interesting article. They don't say how she handles in rough water. I would think the lite weight might work against her in a head sea. True, but there are always compromises in boats. The draft of this boat was a tad over 3' which is pretty impressive for a big boat. I'm curious about the fue...

Ironworker

I've mentioned several times that one of my regrets was not using more carbon fiber in my project. Here is an article on a boat called the Skinny Witch. Its a big boat that does over 50kts. 0 to 40 kts in 13 seconds!!! Its a carbon fiber boat. Even if you're not interested in fast boats this is a gr...

Ironworker

If you are looking for some inspiration for your project you may consider looking at some pics of Reel Cowboy. If you can't find them in the forum, I have some the previous owner sent me.

Ironworker

Yannis wrote: ↑Jan 1st, '25, 18:55 Have you looked into "stretch ceilings"?
You can even have a printed version with your own theme.

Look up Stretch Ceilings to see video on its application.

Thanks, I'll check it out tonight.

Ironworker

Jeremey,

I actually bought a couple of sheets of a similar material to use for the ceiling but I used it in my off-grid camper for the shower walls.

I may have to rethink what I planning. That certainly would be a heckva lot less work.

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