bertram31.com

Gang, I have a 1970 Bert that the marina put some minor scratches in the hull of earlier this year. The gelcoat guy was supposed to come by, see the boat and match the color. He didn't. So the marina guy suggested pulling a floor access hatch and bringing it to the gelcoat guy for match up. I pulled...

Have a 1970 24' Baron been working on getting into shape for launch next week. Was in the bilge today, inserting the drain plug and noticed the drain thru-hull had a wire that was not connected. Same thing for another thru-hull. On looking, spotted a terminal that was coming from the very spine of t...

Update. Bolsters have "studs" which come out from them, through some fiberglass and on into the side "kick panels". Studs and nuts, after 40 years were stuck. To get them out, I had to saw them out, holding the blade in my hand, as there was no clearance for the saw handle. What a job-hours. Finally...

Have a '70 24 Baron. Original gas and vent hoses. Look ok, but thought I might replace them anyways. Has a cockpit bolster attached to a side panel and then some sort of piece hanging down to conceal the wire run. Not obvious to me how the pieces come apart so I can access the deck/hull fittings and...

Thanks for the note. On the raw intake will probably just take the gate valve out and move the plugged elbow down. On the head valve, have to take gate valve out and insert an up to date one. Want to use existing thru hull, all threads normal-counterclockwise to remove things? Good mfg of non-flange...

Got an old Bert-1970. Two gate valves on thru hulls-one for the head to pump overboard, and the other for an engine intake which hasn't been used for years and has been plugged with a bronze plug. Exterior appears to be all bronze on both-true? Are the internals bronze as well, or corrodable metals?...

24 Bertram - 89 Volvo Penta 350 Chevy small block- 270hp. Toying with thought of freshing it up. One option is short or long block reman. as an economical way to do it.
Any experiences? Any recommendations to share?
redcat20

Captains, Trying to get my running lights operational for the holidays. Bow and mid-ship lights don't work, but can sort them out easily enough. Problem is in transom light. Not sure how to take it apart. Has 2 screws which hold a small plastic ring in. Take the screws out, remove the ring, and then...

Steering cable in my 1970 24' Baron was binding alittle so took it out for replacement. Marina says they don't make that version of the Morse cable any more - likely 40 years old. Took the wheel and steering box out, as well as the cable. Really want to keep it as original as possible. Don't suppose...

Thanks. Good advice. Got the wheel out of the dash. Don't have a puller, will have to let the marina do that. Please see my next post, above. My boat, a 24' Bertram Baron, is very original and I'd like to keep it that way. Apparently since the cable was likely 40 years old, no way to use the old box...

Gang, I am partway thru a steering cable replacement. I got the old one out ok, but it is so old they don't sell them anymore and I have to either adapt the steering box, or get a complete new setup. Does anyone know how the steering wheel and box come out? There's a Bertram 24 emblem in the center ...

Good ideas. Thanks.

Gang, I have a 24' Bert. Baron that has a stiffening steering cable. I estimate it's about 20 years old. Couple of questions. 1) Are there any points that suffer from lack of lubrication, other than the end which connects to the drive, that might be lubricated and get it to work with less effort? 2)...

Thanks for all the input.
Will look at the mounting places over the next few days and share what I end up doing.

Have a small '70 Bert. I/O. Noticed when I winterized it that the 2 front engine mounting lag bolts were coming up, and no longer got good traction in the wooden engine stringers when attempts where made to re-tighten them. Engine has been up and out a few times in recent years. Probably got some wa...

Like both ideas, strap and fixed support from boat store.
Strap was more readily available, so strapped it is.
Didn't want to put the shock load on those trim cylinders.
Trailering it today, so advice was just in time.
Thanks.

Anyone trailer an I/O boat? Do you leave the drive up or down, or do you put some sort of cushion under it at a halfway point? Plan to trailer mine and it seems like if I trailer it with the drive up, it will put an awful lot of shock load to the trim cylinders, moving down the highway. Any thoughts...

Recent Nor'easter caused a tree to fall on my 1970 24' Baron, knocking a rear deck vent half-way thru the glass. Boat held up well, just needs some minor glass work, but the vent is pretty much crushed. Any ideas on places to reform it back to it's original shape? Or, more likely, some one or place ...

Thanks for the suggestions. Multi-phase task. Friday, cut tank top off and removed baffles. Today, ground off rivet ends from shoebox construction, glassed around the rim of the tank with 2" tape, and removed the flaky old gelcoat in the upper parts of the tank, cleaned with acetone, and repainted t...

Just cut the tank of my 24' Baron open today. Took off the top and 3 interior baffles with a sawzall. Big job, solidly built. But had no choice-marina tried to pop it out with fork lift and lifted the boat clear off the trailer, with no "pop". Anyways, plan to order an aluminum tank and insert it in...

Marina cut tabbing around top of tank today. And then, with pry bars, chains, and a fork lift, tried to pop the tank out. Entire 24' boat raised right off the trailer, but the tank didn't let go. Got dynamite, or perhaps a super sharp saw? This is one time that I wish that they went a little light o...

Thanks for the input. Just got more into the tank yesterday. Took out, by hand, thru the fuel sender hole, about 1 pint of a substance that resembled coffee rinds mixed with little white particles. After removing all of the debris I could reach, the bottom actually did not look that bad. But, since ...

My 24' Baron has fallen victim to E-10 fuel this season. After 15 years of ownership with zero fuel-related problems, there is now a sludge/silt/x mix in the tank that is the worse the marina has seen in 40 years. It looks like coffee rinds with little white particles mixed in. Now, I plan to remove...