bertram31.com

Jamie MacKenzie

She looks beautiful, Dug!

Jamie MacKenzie

Gentlemen: I've only been in the 31 family since 2010, but Captain Pat clearly led the community with great distinction. Despite what any newbie might have asked, he never condescended. I will raise a glass on board Girl Friday to him this evening.

Jamie MacKenzie

I'm one of the laggards. I'll get a check out on Monday.

Jamie MacKenzie

Thanks, Dug--hey, that's your bowrail! I am still grateful for it. And I owe Captain Pat a contribution for this year. Better get a check in the mail.

Jamie MacKenzie

Yannis: This is a 1962 Express Cruiser that's been modified. There are quite a few of them--they put a fiberglass mini-bridge in place of the windshield. They also took out the front cabin windows. For the top, I asked quite a few people with black canvas bimini tops if they were hotter than usual. ...

Jamie MacKenzie

Hi gang! Holtz is nearly finished with Girl Friday. I thought I'd share a several pictures from the restoration process.Tom and his crew have done an amazing job. He rebuilt my blown starboard engine and I took the leap to have her repainted. Then, as will happen, we encountered what we consultants ...

Jamie MacKenzie

We were over there on Friday and saw yours floating in the work slip. She looks gorgeous. And mine is a beehive of activity. She's finished from the rub-rail down and they're going like blazes on the topsides.

Jamie MacKenzie

Wow. 2 years? mine has been at Holtz for 8 months. That's not too encouraging. Your boat looks beautiful, though. I've admired it when I was visiting mine in the paint shed. Maybe I won't sign up for a slip next summer... :-/

Jamie MacKenzie

The check, as they say, is in the mail. Thanks to Capt. Pat for all you do.

Jamie MacKenzie

Dug:

My side windows are a mess--lots of gunk, scratches--even a bullet hole. If yours are in good shape, I might drive up to MA to pick them up-even the frames and hardware would help.

The bowrail looks amazing, by the way. I bought new hardware and it's like brand new.

Jamie

Jamie MacKenzie

I'd love to have one-- unsanded is fine. I can PM my address--and let me know what the cost with shipping, plus donation to Captain Pat would be. I have some beautiful oak from a church pew that will make a nice mounting plate.

Jamie MacKenzie

Hi guys. Girl Friday arrived Monday at Holtz Boat Works in Marmora--expertly and relatively inexpensively trailered by All Aboard Marine Transport, I might add. Dave is a really nice guy. Tom's crew have already torn down the engine and they're going to save it. Seems that we need 2 new valves and v...

Jamie MacKenzie

Thanks, Joe. That's what I wanted to hear.

Jamie MacKenzie

Hey guys: I'm moving Girl Friday down to Holtz Boat Works on Nov. 10. Has anyone used All Aboard Marine Transport out of Tom's River? The guy seems like a pro. He knows what a Bertram 31 is. He's quoted me a fair price, all inclusive... We're scheduled to haul the boat November 10, so if anyone want...

Jamie MacKenzie

Well, after some investigating, I decided to put her on a truck and take her to Tom Oakes at Holtz Boat Works. He's worked on it before and I like the way they operate. We're going to get a new long block, it looks like. While she's there, I may do some cosmetic stuff.

Jamie MacKenzie

Hi guys:
I'd like to truck my 31 Express Cruiser from Jersey City down to Tom Oakes at Holtz Boat Works in Marmora. We haven't had any luck finding a reliable, reasonable shipper. Any help would be appreciated. Jamie

Jamie MacKenzie

You guys have come through, as usual. I SO appreciate all of your comments-- especially the skepticism about the kill switch. That never made sense to me. It was two years ago that this crooked Jersey City guy told me that the engine was ruined by the high speed shutdown. It did NOT backfire or smok...

Jamie MacKenzie

Hello sandboxers: Girl Friday is a 1962 Express Cruiser. My mechanic tells me two cylinders on the starboard engine have Zero compression. He couldn't get the timing right--it was backfiring at high speed, losing power, etc. These are Pleasurecraft Sea Max 5.7 liter HO small block v-8's. It's an ugl...

Jamie MacKenzie

Captain Patrick-- My express is still listed for sale on the site--from 2 owners ago. "1962 Express... located in New Jersey" (Black hull with a half tower) Can you delete it, as well?

Thanks, Jamie

Jamie MacKenzie

We've seen a few Zeelander's pass through Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City. They are a cross between modern and classic. Very interesting.Looks like you know how to make them beautiful.

Jamie MacKenzie

I had a hell of a time convincing Boat US to revalue my '62 Express Cruiser. They considered the new engines (gas), cockpit deck, etc. as "maintenance" items. FInally, an underwriter looked at all my photos and receipts and raised it to $45K. It never occurred to me that they could just lower the va...

Jamie MacKenzie

We had a lot of surface ice the last few weeks in Liberty Harbor Marina and Hudson Point. It makes me double glad that I forked over a few extra bucks to haul Girl Friday and keep her on land for the winter. I grew up in Michigan--but we used bubblers on the pilings and docks and the few boats that ...

Jamie MacKenzie

Whoever repowered my '62 Express Cruiser installed 330 hp Pleasurecrafts. They're some kind of a small block V-8 racing engine with four barrel carbs. She will easily run 24.5 knots at 3000 rpm. I haven't pushed any faster than that. My head starts to ring like a cash register. I can visualize the g...

Jamie MacKenzie

I rode in one--the guy who installed my solar panels drives it. Remind me to find a cheaper vendor next time! The thing is unbelievably beautiful--silent--and gave me chills when he put the hammer down. It's the fastest pickup I've ever experienced in an automobile. The thing's a rocket. He claims h...

Jamie MacKenzie

Tom:

You sent some of my chrome out to a place in NJ. Can you give me their info? I want to replate the motor box hinges.

Thanks,

Jamie MacKenzie
917-270-6322

Jamie MacKenzie

Welcome! I have a 1962 Express Cruiser that's been modified with a sort of mini-bridge and a half tower. Quite a few have been modified like it. Mine is still on the Listings page from 2 owners ago... On the images page you'll see a similar Express called Charisma that's pretty sweet. I second every...

Jamie MacKenzie

I can also vouch for Tom's work at Holtz. Tom, I'm glad you didn't get washed away. I was wondering how you fared. My boat has now survived two hurricanes where the marinas were wrecked. I'm wondering if there will be slips next summer at Liberty Harbor Marina. They are talking about not reopening...

Jamie MacKenzie

Pete: Thanks for the advice. I wondered about the weight of the Star Board. That's helpful to know. I have some beautiful oak I can rip to make the frames. I haven't looked at the supports that closely, but the sill below the door was rotted. I just made a new one from a mahogany piano bench that I'...

Jamie MacKenzie

Hey all:

I have the original hatches in the cabin-- soft, 1962 plywood with a terrible vinyl floor cover. How would you rebuild them? Star Board? Pressure treated plywood?

I plan to use PlasTeak to cover them. It's important to run the hose and rinse the floor occasionally, if you ask me.

Jamie

Jamie MacKenzie

I look forward to seeing pics and hearing how the sliders worked out. We need to replace the glass, which has some big chips---and I'm glad it's not too hard to get the old frames out. Maybe I could send them my frames to replicate?

Jamie MacKenzie

I grew up in Harbor Springs--my first job was cleaning 3 B-31's every Friday when I was 12.

Lake Charlevoix is very, very beautiful, too. My folks still have a 27 foot Albin at Irish's there.

Jamie MacKenzie

I'm so sorry to hear that. The devastation is unprecedented...

Jamie MacKenzie

I flunked physics, so I need your help here...Seems to me that putting the weight further forward would help the boat get up on plane sooner. Am I right? And that the farther outboard I put the weight, the less weight I will need. Thoughts?

Jamie MacKenzie

Mr. Oakes kept it. He "couldn't imagine why it was there..."

Jamie MacKenzie

When I bought my '62 Express Cruiser, we found a large lead weight in the hull. The guy installing my new deck took it out. Now, the boat lists by 3-4 inches to starboard at the stern. I imagine that removing the dinette probably unbalanced the boat. How would you recommend safely balancing it? I ma...

Jamie MacKenzie

I would like to replace the aluminum frames on my express cruiser. The previous owner glassed in the front, but didn't replace the side windows. I'd also prefer that the windows slide. Am I hallucinating about how much the Fiberglass frames would cost? Without Glass?

Jamie MacKenzie

Where did that flag come from? I want one!

Jamie MacKenzie

I saw four or five great looking Bertram 31's docked in Kona. Unfortunately, when we returned from our Dolphin/Manta tour, my camera battery was dead. Guess I should have searched the site to see who's in Kona! Next time, if I'm that lucky...

Jamie MacKenzie

Yikes. That boat looks way too much like mine! Gives me the willies...

Jamie MacKenzie

Dug:

Thanks so much for taking time out of a working day to meet us and give us the bow rail! It's going to work so well on Girl Friday.

I will post photos when we install it!

Jamie

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