bertram31.com

Ironworker

Yannis, I have given great thought to how to get solar on my B31. I have been looking at a shade structure pivoting off the tower. Solar panels would provide shade and produce power. My problem is it would block my view of the cockpit which would be a big problem while fighting fish. I have also con...

Ironworker

Yannis, I have a friend who has a 72" Cat sail boat. If you search on YouTube using "Atlantic 72" or "Penmanship" then you will see a boat that has no genset and no shore power hook up!!! It only has solar panels for power with about 1400 amphours of Li batteries for storage. No wind generators nor ...

Ironworker

Lets discuss temps. First most quality LiFePO4 batteries have built in heating coils. The below freezing temps mostly affect the charging cycle rather than output. However if you mostly operating in below freezing temps then Li Batteries may not be for you. On the opposite side in high temps the Bat...

Ironworker

I watched about 60% of the video before I had to move on. The video is too long for me and its pretty basic info. I won't critique the video but will share some of my experiences with LiFePo4 batteries. My boat was built around not having a generator but using Li batteries instead. Originally, I use...

Ironworker

Thanks for posting, I'll take a look and see if it mirrors my experience with these batteries. Stand by.

Ironworker

1962 31 wrote: ↑Oct 14th, '24, 09:38 i have a friend that is a young female realtor in that area let me know if you want a referral

That would be most appreciated. If you prefer you can send me her info via PM. Thanks

Ironworker

Neil,

I really appreciate your help. Thanks very much.

Ironworker

For you guys in NJ, my stepdaughter is moving to the area around Cherry Hill, NJ for a clerkship with a Supreme court judge. It will be a 10 month position. She is a single lady and is looking for a safe place to rent for at least 10 months. Does anyone have any knowledge of this area or know anyone...

Ironworker

That is a beautiful boat. I wish I had the patience and skills to do that kind of woodwork.

Ironworker

Thanks for the reply, we have to be in Florida by early December so it sounds like its doable , draft is about 4 feet i think , but will confirm, when you say shallow, how shallow?/ Todd, If you are pulling 4' then you'll be OK. There is a 6 to 7' tidal swing in SC and GA. There are some pinch poin...

Ironworker

Todd, The fall is a great time for this trip. We have another 2 weeks or so of potential storms but they generally die down after that. Nov to December is a good time to move the boat. If you wait until January then you may have to wait until spring. What is the draft of the boat? There are a couple...

Ironworker

Looks like the QSB6.7 425hp is going to be the choice. Not yet finalized, but Damn close. Kevin, Download the operators manual on these engines before you make a final decision. If you do a lot of trolling these might not be the right engines for you. There are limitations on prolonged idle speeds ...

Ironworker

I have been very pleased with my QSB's. The have no detectable smoke or smell and relatively quite. They fire right up and were easy to install.

I would suggest upping the Horse power but you'll likely need new shafts and struts.

Ironworker

If you are going to break down that looks like a pretty good place to do so.

Ironworker

Great Pic. They are about 6 seconds from getting drenched!

Ironworker

Jim Early will know the boat. Not much slips by him.

Ironworker

That is beautiful. There was a YT channel called Cruising Sea Venture which featured a couple that cruised around that area and Alaska. I greatly enjoyed their channel and the videos of the area.

Ironworker

A friend let me know there is a 1975, 28 Bertram being offered for free on Facebook. The boat is located at a dock in Shem Creek which is in Mt. Pleasant, SC just north of Charleston. I don't have Facebook so I can't provide much info.

Ironworker

I'm a big fan of epoxy resin and fiberglass. I prefer paint over polyester gelcoat.

Ironworker

I appreciate the heads up. I have the 220A but with electronic controls. I do give them a coating of ACF 50 periodically.

Ironworker

I appreciate everyone's condolences. My father was 86 and he was ready to go. He hated being dependent on others and at the point where he was no longer in control of his life he made his mind up it was time to go.

There may me a life lesson in that?

Ironworker

Enlarging the rudders was one of the first mods for my boat.

Ironworker

Yes, some big ones but I've been busy entertaining guests in the Bahamas and my father became ill and subsequently passed away, therefore I didn't have time to post pics and such. We came back to S. Florida mid June and I've gotten started working on some modifications to our Tramper for a trip to N...

Ironworker

I would not click on any of those links.

Ironworker

Adding a fuse or breaker to a starting circuit does not have to ruin a trip. If you blow a fuse and don't have a spare just disconnect the cable and put it on top of the other lead. Start the engine and go on about your way. Personally, I'd try to figure out why the fuse or circuit breaker blew befo...

Ironworker

Yikes, that system is expensive! The systems on Amazon are $300 to $500. I may have to suck it up but I do want a dry bilge.

Ironworker

I've seen a couple of "dry bilge" systems on Amazon and I'm interested if anyone has any experience with these units and your results?

Ironworker

I had a BEP cluster on my CC boat with two starting batteries and a house bank. I am not a fan of those switches for a variety of reasons. I ended up removing the BEP cluster due to failure. These units are difficult to wire due to the compact size. I'd use conventional battery switches and buss bar...

Ironworker

Don't believe the hype and depth numbers you get from the manufacter. A 600 Watt transducer will only show you fish discrimination down to 300 or so feet depending on the turbidity of the water. It will show bottom deeper but sucks at showing fish. the 1 KW unit (I have that particular transducer on...

Ironworker

Why do you say that Rick? Mostly because I had a couple of glasses of wine! However, I'm also repeating what the former owner of Reel Cowboy told me when I spoke to him about how effective his spray rails were. I didn't have a lot of time in a 31 Bertram before I finished mine. However they are kno...

Ironworker

If you have the Bahia Mar then the the spray rails are a must. I loosely patterned my spray rails after Reel Cowboy in Texas. Send me a PM and I'll send you my contact info.

Ironworker

Always opt for the larger transducer!

1 KW would be the minimum. Also you need to consider the size and # of elements. What is the brand of equipment you are using.

Ironworker

Ironworker, It really is a small world. The Triggerfish is right around the backbone from you, moored on the south end of Harbour Island. Pulling her out for the season when I get down in a couple weeks. Stop and take a look, just please don’t judge her - she tends to be sensitive to criticism. . ....

Ironworker

Mark, Where is your boat in the Bahamas? I'm currently in Spanish Wells in N. Eleuthera with my 31 that is very close to being finished. You are welcome to check her out if you need some motivation. You can find some of my info under the thread "Resurrection of the Pepper" Currently there are two ot...

Ironworker

Preston,

My home base is in Spanish Wells which is in North Eleuthera. We generally fish a couple of miles from the dock but will occasionally venture out to a max 40 mile range.

Ironworker

Yes. I have had good results with it. You have to follow the instructions pretty closely.

There is an article in Practical Sailor if you're interested. It favorably compares to PropSpeed and is a little cheaper.

Ironworker

I understand enjoying light tackle, my thought is using a heavier leader to possibly make it less attractive to the billfish. I've actually caught blue marlin and tuna while high speed trolling for wahoo. My general HST rig for wahoo is 3' of 900# 49 strand cable through the lure, 25' of 250# mono ...

Ironworker

I thought about upping my rigging and I guess that will be the solution. When I high speed troll for wahoo, I'm running some pretty heavy tackle but for dolphin fishing, I like to go light. My favorite way to catch a dolphin is on a spinning reel. On Saturday we got 5 wahoo cutoffs even though I has...

Ironworker

I'm catching plenty of dolphin, thats not the problem. Its just that I could catch more if we weren't wasting time and tackle with bill fish.

I expected that there was not much that I could do to detune it for bill fish. I guess its just a curse that I'll have to accept as a Bertram 31 owner.

Ironworker

Even though my boat is not quite finished, I was able to pick a weather window in March to get her to the Bahamas. I've spent most of the time working on the boat for the last 4 weeks, but I did get to fish her for three days. My problem is I'm catching too many bill fish. So far two Sails and one M...

Ironworker

Check out this website for diagrams

https://www.pysystems.ca/resources/diagrams/

I'm shocked (pun intended) that anything worked.

Ironworker

#2 awg is too small. It should be 2/0 maybe 1/0 could handle it but I'd go with the 2/0. I am a fuse fanatic. Nothing worst than a boat fire. These are the batteries that I'm using with my Cummins QSB 5.9 diesel engines. They are powerful and have high voltage tolerances which are very similar too a...

Ironworker

Joe, I use 300 amp fuses on a battery terminal like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019ZBTV4?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_22&=&crid=2NT5PSWSAO3FV&sprefix=blue%2Bseas%2Bbattery%2Bfuse&th=1 All battery circuits are fused based upon wire size and load. Keep a couple spares around. My rule of thum...

Ironworker

Bahia Mar, take a look at the photos of the Reel Cowboy. I was inspired by some of the things he added. The spray rails or perhaps I should say widened chines are great! My boat has a very dry ride on the FB and in the cockpit.

Ironworker

You may want to check out Florida Marine Tech. I've bought Cummins Parts at a fraction of the price of Cummins. Also they have diesel mechanics. I haven't used them yet but will give them a try based on my experience in dealing with the parts guy Bob.

They are in Rivera Beach, FL

Ironworker

Get yourself a multitool and some good carbide tipped blades. For fiberglass work you may as well buy Harbor Freight tools. They last as long as the name brand tools with the glass dust. Depending on the type and weight of the floors you can build new floors about as easy as doing extensive repairs ...

Ironworker

There are a couple of threads here on how to post pics. Its not the normal process on a typical board. First you have to email them to yourself. Then post them on a sharing board such as dropbox. Then share the link in the picture format link above the post. Lastly you've got to edit the link from d...

Ironworker

My 62 with 440's and 160 full gas tank came in at 14K years ago at last marina. I know they measured weight with the hydraulic gauges on the travel lift, we have the same setup on our lift...but I wonder how accurate those gauges really are, I use 'm as a ballpark at best. Very interesting! My rebu...

Ironworker

Steve,

I wouldn't trust a 8500# lift for that boat even stripped. My rule of thumb is 30% higher lifting capacity than load and if its my boat I'm going with 50% higher than load.

I had my boat weighed after it was painted. With full fuel it was right at 14,000#s IIRC. Its a 1969 model

Ironworker

Its a couple of days since I made the run over to Spanish Wells so here is the update on my mechanical issue. I did a test run on Wednesday and my starboard engine would not make full power and I got a low turbo boost error. I pulled the air filter and the turbo spun freely so I suspected a sensor. ...

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