bertram31.com

Pete Fallon

John,
The transom panel is 102" long, you need a piece of Plywood 4'x 10' a 4' x 8 " comes up short , you can get 2 side panels out of 1 sheet of 4' x 8' the panel is 96''long by x 24'' high.
Pete Fallon

Pete Fallon

Guy's I watched the seiner White Dove out of Rhode Island catch over 2 dozen gaints in his net back in the early 80's, there were only a few boats that had seine permits, 4 I think. We were anchored up on Stellwagon bank chumming for gaints when they made there set aided by a spotter plane. They sho...

Pete Fallon

Guy's Not only are there ugly boats but the safety factor comes into play, the uglier they are the less sea worthy they become. I surveyed a 45 Maxium motor yacht a while back, this thing was butt ugly to look at. The mechanic and I were the only ones on board, he stepped into the cockpit and the bo...

Pete Fallon

I remember driving through the Carolinas and Georgia as a kid on Route 1, 17 & 301 and watching hundreds of people picking cotton in the early 50's. It seemed like an all day adventure just getting through those two states, especially if you got behind a trailer full of product being towed by an old...

Pete Fallon

Peter P, The 3000 Rule suppies both live wells and a washdown, it's 1-1/4" sanitation hose(smooth bore inside less friction loss) run along the top of the fiberglass tank, to just aft of the engine boxes then it tee's off to 3/4" clear reinforced hose, I forgot to mention, I put a Rule 1100 inline o...

Pete Fallon

Peter, I know you wanted a portable system for your live well but here is another alternative. I have 2- 40 gallon oval live wells one behind each engine box(with cushions it is the same height as the engine boxes), with oval cushions for additional seating. Both live wells are supplied by a 1-1/4''...

Pete Fallon

Spencer, Great job on the boat, it's come a long way since I first saw it a few years ago. It's amazing what a lot of money, thought, grinding and sanding and preseverance can accomplish. What power are you going to put in 270 reman Cummins or 315 Yanmars?. Again a great job, I didn't know you were ...

Pete Fallon

Jrhazard,
Make sure that the throttles are in the neutral postion, just a little off from detent holes and they will not fire up. Check your starting curcuit wiring and make sure all grounds are tight. Good luck.
Pete Fallon

Pete Fallon

Jeff, There is a 28' FBC at Indian Town Marina that is basically been abandoned, looks nasty but all the parts are there. Indian Town Marina is 10 miles east of Lake O off of State Rd 76. Call the marina and ask for Scott Watson (722-597-2455). I know he wants it out of the yard, you might be able t...

Pete Fallon

Guy's, I went to the show from 12:00 to 3:30 PM today, as I was going into the show a kite surfer had crossed A1A and landed next to the CourtYard Marriott Hotel with his kite across the southbound lane of A1A, he wasn't injured but screwed up traffic until he got his kite untangled from the telepho...

Pete Fallon

Guy's, I was going to go back to the show today, with all the rain showers and reports of street flooding, I am putting it off until Sunday. One interesting item I saw was at the Streyr Booth, they are making a 295 hp 6 cylinder engine called the MO306, it's a cast iron mono block like the 265 hp. T...

Pete Fallon

Jeremy, They are in use on alot of boats here in Florida. No issues that I have seen, with the exception of heavy build-up of bottom paint over the holes in the removable screens. This happened on Buddy Boy when I did the survey 2 years ago. The yard painted over the entire stainless steel screen wi...

Pete Fallon

Bob H, If your going to use Plexus just put some dry wall screws to hold it together, after it dries take the screws out. The fiberglass will delaminate before the Plexus bonded joint fails. The tabbing on the inside is still a good idea, because the screws from the rub rail need a good base to adhe...

Pete Fallon

Guy's, I saw a 38 Bertram with pod drives last year in FT Pierce at a regional meeting of SAMS. The owner was a pro mechanic, a dealer for Volvo and the fiberglass prep and finish for the giant spider type re-inforcing ring was quite an undertaking. I think he told me by the time he had 2 rings and ...

Pete Fallon

Guy's, Is anyone going to the Ft Lauderdale Show, it's Thursday Oct 27 thru Monday October 31. I will be down there on Thursday and Saturday. My cell is 561-310-7179. I should be there around Noon to 7 PM on Thursday and Noon to 6:00 PM Saturday. Hey Ric you going to Shooters for the costume party S...

Pete Fallon

Harry, I think someone aready mentioned this but if you need to add more air intake for your engines. The foward edge of the bridge wing has an area about 2" wide between the bridge wing and cabin house behind the sliding cabin window at the forward end, that can be opened up for more air, there is ...

Pete Fallon

Harry, The aluminum peices on the express cruiser wings are original from the factory, my 1961has them. When you remove them, 2 screws on the flat wide surface and 2 screws on the outside edge, they bedded them with the original Dolphinite compound with an oak triangular insert behind them. The FRP ...

Pete Fallon

We are going to need a bigger boat.

Pete Fallon

Face, The original angle fittings, rail bases, and tee fittings were made either by Wilcox- Chrettington(spelling?) or Perko, the bolt holes are not quite the same as the originals from years ago. If your repainting fill the holes with thickened epoxy and redrill the old holes, they are more than li...

Pete Fallon

Guys, PODS = Piece of Dog Shit. Why increase your draft, add two larger holes in your bottom, put an I/O unit under your stern to create more drag, add another inside shaft(jack shaft), add two larger elements to corrode and two forward facing unprotected props. Try and get a replacement unit within...

Pete Fallon

Tommy, I have found that Woody Wax works pretty well on aluminum anodized pipe on some of the T-top and tower boats that I have surveyed. The product is made in West Palm area. It depends on the level of pitting, seems to work on low to medium levels the best. I've used it on the aluminum end caps b...

Pete Fallon

Tommy, The Lovett 900 should have a little float built-in to the pump, If I remember correctly you have to take the outer plastic cover off to access the float switch. Jabsco I have no clue. I would get rid of the Lovett, the one that came with my boat in 1962 almost burnt up the wiring in the bilge...

Pete Fallon

Guy's, If you want a DVD call Seth Flippen, he's Don Jones right hand man, he's the son nof one of the old time salesmen from the original Dick Bertram era. Seth's office # 305-633-8011 or his cell # 754-264-4066. Most of the content has already been posted her on the board back in November of last ...

Pete Fallon

Todd, Uncle Vic is correct they widened the FB in the late 60's, pretty sure it was 1968. I've seen a few boats that came from Long Island NY area that had a customized FB,s that were even wider than the Bertram factory, I can't remember the guy's name that was customizing 31 Bertrams on Long Island...

Pete Fallon

Bill, I wouldn't add any side vents, don't you have a blower set up on the generator intake box already, why don't you add a higher capacity blower motor or a scoop under the port gunwale to get more aif flow into that engine box. Just an idea. You sound like your pretty happy with the 5.9's. Met a ...

Pete Fallon

Tom,
John G had a 31 that he was working on at American Marine in Stuart about a mile from my house. I don't know if he ever finished it, I did the 3 rd or 4th show he ever did, how to install a 951X NorthStar, known him for years. A greek PT Barnham if you know what I mean.
Pete

Pete Fallon

Ray, The boat looks great, I feel your pain. That's what my knee feels like everyday. I used to do the bottom of my boat every year (30+ years), you look like a smurf for a couple of days bafter sanding. Like everyone says you know it's done correctly. I now have the yard do the painting but I overs...

Pete Fallon

UV,
Now I've heard everything, UV sailing, where's Rodney Dangerfeild and the Striker SEA FOOD when you need them. HRUMP. I just puked on my shoes.
Pete

Pete Fallon

Mike Holmes, I don't think that the hard top is very heavy, I can understand about the cabin roof they are a real heavy weight item. Thanks again for thinking of me. I'm still looking for an original Bertram express hardtop. Hey UV, if the guy I surveyed a 50' Gibson Houseboat yesterday don't buy it...

Pete Fallon

Pete, May I suggest completely beefing up your forward deck, with heavier plywood backing, the original forward decks are pretty flexable. I know Capt Pat did it to Buddy Boy and more than likely on Rattle & Hum, it makes the deck alot stiffer. While the head liner is down you should check on the ti...

Pete Fallon

Whaler,
I'm suprised the dock master or the marina owners allow that, looks like a law suit waiting to happen. Talk about a real jury rigged set -up, real candidate for stray current corrosion.
Pete

Pete Fallon

Mike, Good to hear from you, I got out of the boat manufacturing business, got my SAMS surveyors accreditation, quite fishing the SKA tournment madness, it turned into NASCAR on the water. I had 2 knee replacements and 6 knee and 1 heart operations since I last talked to you, and after all that I st...

Pete Fallon

Capt Patrick, Another beauty you haven't lost your touch even in the Texas heat. People don't realize how much work goes into a restoration and all done by a single craftsman. When I was at the Miami Show on Friday night the old Buddy Boy was drawing more attention than the 60'&70' new stuff. People...

Pete Fallon

Steve, I had my boat on the hard at South Florida Yachts in Riveria Beach just a few miles South of Seminole during Frances, Jeanne and Wilma with no problems. I was in Boston for all three storms, my house in Wellington didn't have a problem with Frances and Jeanne, but Wilma did a number on it. If...

Pete Fallon

Marshall,
Great job, I bet it feels good to have the boat back in the water and your driveway reclaimed for parking your car. Like Jack said most people would have given up after the storm damage. Enjoy your "new" boat.
Pete

Pete Fallon

Steve, My boat came with the original factory cradle when I bought her in 1978. It had been on the cradle, in inside covered storage from 1962 until 1977. I kept her on that cradle for 5 years before my parents moved to Florida in 83. (I used to store her in my parents back yard which was on Juniper...

Pete Fallon

Bob,
Looks like a hull from one of the Jupiter boats, or another big center console . Operator error no doubt.
Pete

Pete Fallon

Mikey, I saw a hardtop express at Chapman's School in Stuart back in 2000, it was a donation boat don't know where it ended up haven't seen it around Stuart lately. Saw another hardtop express in Miami back in the mid 90's. Both boats were factory Bertram hardtops. I'd like to find a hard top for my...

Pete Fallon

Kiffa, Nice looking boat, you should be proud of all the work you put into the BLUE BOY. The other boat that's running with you in the pitures (can't read the full name, something T) is it a another Bahia Mar with a fly bridge added over the original helm station. I've only seen one other like that ...

Pete Fallon

Dug, I'd pull the boat, $210 is short money, like Tom Oaks said today, it's easier to fix a boat on land than one that's underwater. Plus it's more than likely time to replace you shaft zincs for the rest of the season. The storm is going east of Stuart, Fl. but they say we are going to get up to 30...

Pete Fallon

Peter, Minimum size for the anchor chain should be 3/8", I have 12' section of vinyl covered chain for everyday use on a Danforth 17S anchor, when anchoring in deep water I have another 20' section of plain galvinized 3/8'' that I schackle on. I have 600' of 1/2" line and another 300' of line in the...

Pete Fallon

Gert, The stains might have come from someone with sun tan lotion( some tanning creams and sun block have a dye that you can't see until it gets on a white vinyl cushions) or a non color fast fabric someone was wearing while it was wet. Try some soft scrub with bleach and a stiff brush, if that does...

Pete Fallon

Bob, All I can say is reinforce the hell out of the original glasswork, the original design of the 31' houses( lower and upper windshields and fly bridge faces) were meant to shed water to the rear of the boat, like a ducks back. There is going to be alot of stress when green water catches under the...

Pete Fallon

Gert, Thanks for sharing your vaction pictures, I felt like I was almost there with you, It's the closest I'll ever come to cruising the Med. Your boat is the nicest one that I saw during the entire 103 pictures. My boat is like the black hull express only she's white topside, red boot , blue bottom...

Pete Fallon

Tom, Congradulations on the fish, the angler and the captain should be proud of that accomplishment, he must be a good guy wearing that Red Sox tee shirt Back in the early 1980's a large striper was caught in a commerical trap net off of Tinker's Island on the ocean side of Marblehead, I know it was...

Pete Fallon

Harv,
My shirts got here this afternoon, nice job. Thank you

Pete Fallon

Pete Fallon

Tommy, Leave the tank alone, just keep at lot of fuel water separators onboard, you might have some of that brown crap in the bottom of the tank and when you start using the boat it's going to start loosing off the sides and bottom, replace the tank later if you have problems. Make sure that the fue...

Pete Fallon

Tommy, If your going to keep it a gas boat I would make sure that I was able to get either non ethenol gas or av gas in the area. What kind of power Merc or Chrysler, some of the older engines are getting harder and harder to get parts for, that's another thing to think about. Is there any brown cru...

Pete Fallon

Bill, I would go with the Sea Star HH5742 with the tilt wheel unit it's a closed system, no need for the pump up can. An AP16 from Simrad is a good auto pilot, good size read-out numbers so you don't have to keep putting you glasses on and off. I'm suprised that the old teleflex push/pull cable last...

Pete Fallon

Charlie, I was doing a survey here in Florida yesterday and the broker Andy Eget & his client Jimmy Davidson were commenting about a 31 Bertram in New Jersey that had an unusual color scheme. I said you must be talking about Charlie's boat the yellow and red one, they almost fell of the boat, they w...

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