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John F.

Adam- I have a 1969 FBC that I got when my kids were little. Advantages of the FBC are nicer/bigger head, and back bulkhead when you spend the night. My wife and kids both get seasick pretty easily, so they never go in the salon/cabin (hard to call its a salon on a B31) when underway--with the enclo...

John F.

I don't have any experience with Tolchester, but they seem to have a good local rep. Regardless, the install is what it is. I've seen 'em nice and clean like Bruce's, to installs that looked like they just unbolted the 454s and put in Cummins.

John F.

Ah, Cobras. What a great look. Pre-Bertram, I gave some thought to building a replica. Modern running gear out of a 5.0 Mustang or maybe a Z-28, modern brakes, and real simple. The point is it'd be fast, you could give it pretty good handling even with a solid rear, and it'd have a great ragtop look...

John F.

Adam-

B31s also show up on Craigslist and The Hull Truth (another website that has some nice pics and listings, other than that, well...).

I don't see that its been mentioned, but you also should figure out whether you want a FBC, Sportfish, Bahia Mar, or Express.

Have fun-

John

John F.

Congrats Brewster. Very impressive.

John F.

Hueso-

Thanks for the pics. They make me feel a little warmer while I dig out from 28" of snow with another 10-20 expected Tues-Wed. Nice fish.

John

John F.

Congrats to the Saints and their fans...great game.

John F.

I'm just north of Easton, on Kent Island in Stevensville (its on the map--woohoo!!) News reports we got 28".

John F.

We've gotten over 20" so far, and its supposed to snow until tonight around 10 pm--looks like we might wind up with the 30" they were talking about.

John F.

Yup--and its a heavy, wet snow.

John F.

Bob-

Very impressive....she looks great. Nice work.

John F.

John F.

Here in MD we got E-10 a couple of years after NY/NJ, and I learned from everbody else's experience. I never ran E-10 through my f'glass tank (anybody want a tank?), and put in a new aluminum tank and haven't had any problems. I also run my boat down to fumes before I put her up. If your're on a bud...

John F.

Would I rather have diesels? Sure. But gassers do have their advantages--you can slow troll without trolling valves, they're quiet, and I've never had anybody get sick from the diesel smell. In terms of annual maintenance, a set of plugs, 5 qts oil and filter, a fuel filter, and I'm pretty much done...

John F.

I didn't want to spend my summers in a boatyard working--I wanted to be out running the boat. I also didn't have the $$ for redone boat like SeaNile, Buddy Boy, Fighting Angel, whatever. Sooo, I bought a running, beat up gasser for short money, and have been fixing it up since...and I pay as I go. L...

John F.

looks familiar..........did new tank, bulkhead and deck supports last winter,,,,

John F.

I like the lines of the B35. Nice boat. There was a B35 on Yachtworld for awhile that somebody had turned into an express. It looked OK--no better than that. I do think you could make a nice looking express out of one. A few 25s have been made into expresses w/o windshields--CMP did one and there's ...

John F.

Very nice. Still not used to a B31 as a trailer boat. What do you pull her with?

John F.

Good idea. But after seeing Cormorant Princess, I gotta' believe that the "Boat most feared by fish" category is pretty much locked up.

John F.

Sim-

I have a pic. hanging on my wall of my B31 FBC running at 19 knts or so. She runs just like, and I mean just like yours.

John

Nice boat by the way.

John F.

Bob- Phoenix is beautiful--just a great B31. I love my B31, but she's a gasser, and at 32 knots I'm not sure I'd make it gas dock to gas dock without blowing one of my 33 year old 454s. At 2800 rpms and 20 knots, I'm not outrunning much, including spray, but she sure rides nice. The basically "stock...

John F.

UV-- great story. I agree with Sim---I love my B31, along with the others I fished on, but they are a wet boat. Bob, while you're on the FB dry because of your enclosure, your crew in the pit is getting wet. I'm a Giants fan, and am sitting here watching the Jets. Never liked the Jets much, but gott...

John F.

Most all of the Chesapeake Bay charter guys use the EZ Puller. They look fine on bay-built deadrises. If I were anchoring as much as they do, it'd be the way I go. I rarely anchor, and have a Lewmar on a pulpit that's worked fine--the couple times a season I use it.

John F.

Sim

Got me--already ordered the 900 though..........

John F.

Thanks Walter. I called and they recommended the 900 psi valve. The guy was very helpful.

John F.

But wouldn't it go way, way before 500 psi anyway? So basically it wouldn't matter what valve for pressure relief because either way something else lets go, and its basically a bleeder valve?

John F.

They come in 500 and 900 psi models. Usually around $180 per, and I was going to order a 500 psi model. I found a new 900 psi closeout for $100. Any real downside to getting the 900 psi? I'm guessing that either the 3/8" nylon hose or some seal or fitting would blow out well before 500 psi anyway. P...

John F.

Sorry--still rather be there than here. I just put the iceeater in at the dock 'cause the creek is frozen. I really need to get moving on my winter B31 projects, so I'm going down to the marina today to do a little grinding--and it just broke 20 degrees here.

John F.

Andy-

Anytime. I may only be able to add a little. I drove out to OC and looked at her when JW first put her up for sale a few years ago.

John

John F.

Varnish looks great. You need a new life ring though. Its pretty cool to see Banshee/Annie C. in a new home so far away.

John F.

Tony--

pm sent

John

John F.

Thanks. Changing the lines out sounds like it'll be OK. I need to--the lines and fittings are all frozen and can't be tightened. I hit one when I was doing the tank, and had to fix the leak that developed at the fitting with JB weld. It held for the season, but now its gotta' go. Any info. on the al...

John F.

JP/Tony-

Thanks for the replies. Tony, pics would be great.

John

John F.

These are other possible winter projects. I've read through the stuff on making the one piece connected rudders shelf, but these were done on boats with the rudders where the tiller arms connect at the top of the rudder shaft. The tiller arms on my 31 are the other style, where they attach to the ru...

John F.

I'm going to replace the copper lines and all the fittings in my '69 FBC steering, including the aluminum pressure relief valve thing. From reading here, it looks like the best way to go is the hynautic or seastar 3/8" steering tubing (nylon or whatever--not copper), with their fittings. Any advice?...

John F.

UV- I've had good luck with Interlux Toplac (1 part) rolled on with a small foam roller and tipped with a foam brush. Have a few foam brushes in your pocket and toss 'em if they too wet or start to come apart. The results can be suprisingly good and last pretty well. Good luck--its easy.' John F.

John F.

Happy holidays to all, and best wishes for the coming new year.

John F.

For side windows try American Marine in FL. Do a search on this board and you'll find alot of info. about what can be done with front and side windows.

John F.

[quote="Mikey"]To All My Democrat Friends: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable tradition...

John F.

I tore mine out and replaced with a indoor/outdoor I bought at Lowe's--rubber-backed carpet. The nicest v-berth I've seen is Dug Stowe's in Alchemy--teak slats/boards. Ask Dug. Next time, that's what I'm doing.

John F.

Not the most efficient way, but I spent the first winter getting the boat to where it ran and was basically safe, and then have picked a project for each winter that I can get done in a few months of weekends when I have the time. Last winter was new tank, deck supports, bulkhead aft of the motors. ...

John F.

For some reason, I get "Boating" magazine (never subscribed/paid/not a gift). There's an article in there about the US Merchant Marine, and a few pics. of a really nice looking 31 Bahia named "Sirina." Then, I open up our local paper, and the big pic. for the article about the annual Annapolis parad...

John F.

You know that you gotta' post pics of the Norton, right? Please.

John F.

My gasser B31 w/454s has 17x15 4-blades w/5 cup (as far as I know) and had a set of 18x18 3-blades. When I first got her, I could get 4200-4300 rpms. Now, neither motor will run above 4000, and one won't get over 3850. I went over everything, and had a mechanic check them out. His verdict--they are ...

John F.

When I asked around, I was told that the 600 cfms would flow plenty and be the better choice for my purposes--454s loafing along making low-300 hp and being run at idle (trolling) or max. 3000 rpm (high cruise). Whether that advice was accurate, I have no idea, but the 600s have been fine.

John

John F.

I've had the 1409s on my B31 w/454s for 6 years now without a hiccup. Got them new at Summit Racing for less than rebuilt Rochesters. You'll need a spread to square bore adapter plate.

John

John F.

I looked into this awhile ago, and came to the same conclusion that UV did...

John F.

JK-

I guess congrats and condolences sums it up pretty well. SeaNile is a beauty. I guess you'll be fishin' with Luke? You and yours will always have a ride mid-Bay on my B31--I still owe ya.

John

John F.

Bob-

Nice fish. We're supposed to be having a great fall run here on the Bay, and I haven't gotten out...work, kids, etc. Congrats.

John F.

John F.

If you want a B31 with more flair, a bigger flybridge, a more open interior... get a Blackfin. But it won't be a B31, and I got a B31 instead of a BF for a reasons...actually lots of reasons.

John F.

Are we going to get into the small block v. big block thing again? That thing may be OK for burgers, but steaks or ribs are gonna' need......

bertram31.com

Search found 2006 matches

Hynautic reserve valve/bleeder

Strut pad and rudder shelf replacement

Hynautic Steering line and pressure valve replacement

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Bahia Mar in Boating magazine