bertram31.com

John F.

Randall-

I spent alot of time watching folks surf--mainly small waves near Waikiki. Told my wife that next time we go I want to take lessons and learn---the small wave kinda' low key surfing really appealed to me.

John

John F.

Bobby- Your B31 is one of the nicer I've seen, and unique because of the side windows. I'd love to see some pics of the interior, and some of the exterior. Lots of nice touches as I remember. My buddy who moved out there has been telling me about your boat since he first got there. Andy- How's the H...

John F.

I cleaned mine with regular cleaner stuff--like Spraynine, and then on the advice of this board used Penetrol. It looked alot better. Don't leave the Penetrol on to long--it'll turn into a sticky mess and you'll have ot redo it. When I redid my interior, I filled, sanded, and primed, and painted wit...

John F.

My wife and I took a trip to Oahu and the big island a couple of weeks ago. The first day in Honolulu, we went for a walk by a marina, and sure enough, there was a B31 sitting there. We went over to the big island and to Kona, and there were probably 6 B31s there. Went back to Oahu, and up to the no...

John F.

I haven't looked at B31s for sale for a long time, but have seen and been on JK's SeaNile, and it is that nice. If I were looking for a B31 FBC with diesels, that's what I'd buy. There is nothing to me that's quite like a B31. Great hull, classic lines, and the best "do-it-youself" boat I've ever se...

John F.

Nice looking 1/2 tower.

John F.

Variation on a theme....twice I ran by Suffolk County's finest at a rather high rate of speed, and saw them when they lit up (one by the side of the and the other going in the opposite direction) to give chase. Both times they found me on the side of the road sitting on my trunk with with my license...

John F.

after being told "listen randall....just cause you live next door dosent mean you can drive home drunk in reverse"...i keep it to equipment violations.

One of the better lines I've heard in a long time. Thanks for the laugh.

John F.

Bob-

I was going to edge with mahogany, and didn't. The floor/hatches have been fine. Just an idea.

John F.

John F.

Bob-

Wow. Looks great.

John

John F.

Scott-

Sounds great. Getting the cruise up a few knots would be great. What speed you can get down to on one motor at idle for slow-trolling?

John

John F.

I really like 55s no-post.

John F.

bob lico wrote: does anybody care to see new galley and head?

Of course. Always looking for new ideas, and like to see nice work. Keep posting pics.

John F.

Looks great Bob. JP is right. I'm not sure of the exact ratio, but there is something to the good wife days = more fish days (and less complaints about the $$ spent on the B31). Nice work.

John F.

Harry- Thanks for the reminder on the bolts. The carbs are 600cfm Edelbrock marines. They're a copy of the Carters from what I understand. When I got my B31, she had leaky Holley automotive carbs--they had to go. the Edelbrocks have been great. She doesn't scream anymore--kinda' loafs along at 2800/...

John F.

I'll get the whole manifold/riser kit, so everything will be new. The bottom 4 bolts (1 per cylinder) came out easy with a 6-point socket. Two of the top 4 came out by using a breaker bar and these things I bought at HD that look like easy-outs for sockets. For the last 2 I had to drillthe heads off...

John F.

Manifold off. One of the best things about B31s--access.

John F.

Rocky-

Thanks.

Dick-

I'm about to go out and do battle with the remaining manifold bolts. My B31 doesn't have the manifold to riser spacers.

John

John F.

Thanks guys. Its all good. I'm putting new manifolds on my 31-year old 454s that are tired. Sooo, I'll use the gaskets included in the kit. I do enjoy reading all the motor stuff, even though I understand about 10% of it. If only the last manifold bolts would come off.....

John F.

I'm not pulling the heads. I'm just replacing the exhaust manifolds--so it'd be the exhaust manifold gasket. I'm always willing to listen Bob. Thanks.

John F.

Bruce/Randall-

Thanks.

John

John F.

Thanks for the advice. I've got it all apart except for the manifold. I'm just going to go back to logs--they'll bolt right up.

John F.

Read somewhere that copper exhaust gaskets should be used for marine stuff. Is that accurate? Thanks.

John F.

Congratulations.

John F.

I've used small foam rollers and the cheap foam brushes. I've had better results with cheap foam brushes than with expensive badger hair or whatever brushes. Have a few foam brushes handy, and toss them if you have any build-up from the tipping.

John F.

Beautiful work again Capt. Pat.

John F.

Bruce/Harry-

Thanks for the replies. I'll take a look at the gasket surface. I thought someone here had commented that the center-risers were too wide for the box. The log-styles go right up to the inside of the box--outboard I have plenty of room.

John

John F.

The starboard motor on my '69 FBC w/1978 454s has an exhaust leak where the outside exhaust manifold bolts onto the head. Since it has to come off, and they're old, I'm going to replace the manifolds/risers on both sides with new. She has the log-style manifolds now. Any advantage/disadvantage to go...

John F.

Congratulations. I think I know that boat. It was the "Banshee" owned by JW Widemayer (not sure of last name spelling). It was his Dad's before JW got it. I looked at her awhile ago--he sold it either last year or th year before. Banshee spent alot of time out at OC, and wintered here at the marina ...

John F.

A friend of mine is taking a summer cruise from the Chesapeake Bay up to Mass with his wife in a pleasure boat (Pearson True North). He needs advice for running up the NJ coast. Nice marinas with nice facilities with easy to run inlets. He plans on spending a night in Cape May, and would prefer to a...

John F.

Scott-

I also had a Cruisair portable that fit over the cabin hatch. I bought it used for a few hundred, and it worked fine for years. They're about $800 new, but used ones are always around (here anyway) for about $300. Dockside only.

John

John F.

Dog and I took my daughter and a couple of her friends tubing off the B20. Dog was a pretty good spotter (not the only spotter). Really good boatdog. http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/JohnF31/DSC_0055.jpg Back at the dock, the kids took a couple of jumps off the B31's gunnel. http://i130.photo...

John F.

I haven't used Woody Wax, but have found that the occasional soap and water wash followed by a Corrosion X wipedown work pretty well on my pipework--best part is that it only takes a few minutes.

John F.

Crae-

Actually, the USCG had just finished with a sailboat boarding as I went by. I'm sure you're right about the BUIs though.

John

John F.

Great pics. Congratulations to all.

John F.

I'm with Harry. Replacements for me will be hand-helds.

John F.

I've heard/read about increased safety checks by MD Department of Natural Resources police and the USCG. I don't think I've ever been boarded/stopped by the USCG, and haven't been boarded/stopped by DNR in maybe 15 years. The past two times I've run across the Chesapeake to Annapolis, I've been boar...

John F.

Pics. please

John F.

My wife and I went there a couple of years ago around July 4th for a night (by ferry and stayed at at hotel). Depending on where you went, it ranged from touristy/party to quiet. Steve Miller who posts here sometimes lives there. Try to pm him. Great guy. I'd go again anytime--bring or rent bikes.

John F.

On my '69 FBC, the outside pillaster covers come right out, and that gives you great access. For the upper helm, on my boat that whole vertical panel below the gauges/wheel, etc., that has 3 access hatches/doors comes out with a few screws, and you have pretty good access to all your wiring.

John F.

John F.

Very cool. Kids must have been thrilled.

John F.

Jim-

I have fw cooled 454s and have 180s. I've never had a problem.

John F.

John F.

Harv-

Glad to hear your home and on the mend.

John F.

John F.

Thanks fellas. She's back together and I got out for a quick shake-down spin tonight. She ran fine, and all is good.

John F.

Thanks guys. I should finish putting her back together today. Everything actually fits--the tank and fittings just clear the deck. Looking forward to burning some fossil fuel.

John F.

The following should be a few pics. of my winter bulkhead/deck supports/tank project. I got the tank from Patriot Marine in NJ. Great people and a great job. As you can see, I did the bulkhead, tank and deck supports only. Outside of the tank area will be done next winter, including all new bonding ...

John F.

My understanding is that they can be built with baffles, but each shape is a custom mold. They aren't easy to one-off like aluminum--all adds to cost.

John F.

Rawleigh- I briefly looked into using poly tanks in my B31. To get any kind of capacity, you'd need 4, they wouldn't fit right because you couldn't get the right shape, and the plumbing (fill, venting, pick-ups), grounding, sending unit issues are numerous. I just put a new 225 gallon aluminum tank ...

John F.

I've seen JK's SeaNile, and she's a nice as it gets. If you have the $$, and want a B31, get her. You'll save yourself alot of time and $$ buying SeaNile, which is turnkey, over a B31 that needs work.

John F.

Scott-

She has nice lines. Nice work.

John F.

bertram31.com

Search found 2006 matches

Hawaii 31s

Copper exhaust gaskets for 454s?

454 Gasser exhausr manifold question

NJ coast inlets and marinas advice needed

Bertrams--not always for fishin'

USCG/MD DNR Boardings

Tank Project