Bertram Hull numbers

[Ironworker]

Is there any code to deciphering Bertram hull numbers? I found mine today in the anchor locker. The stern number was removed when the transom door was added.

[Tommy]

Rick,

The Bertram hull # “code” changed over the years. Post the # and we can decode it for you. I posted the information 15+ years ago as provided to me in an email from Lee Dana, head engineer for Bertram Yacht in the 60s and 70s. You might can find it by doing a search of the Board, but I don’t have the gray matter to pull that off. If it doesn’t turn up in a search, I’ll find the printed copy of the email and repost.

[Ironworker]

My hull # is NO 570173 NET5

My documentation says its a 1969 model.

[Tony Meola]

Rick

Looks like your numbers are from the State and not Bertram.

Tommy

Here it is from the old Board. This is what you posted.

Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board
Re: hull numbers
Posted By: Tommy <tdrake@intrex.net>
Date: Friday, 10 December 2004, at 10:44 a.m.
In Response To: Re: hull numbers (Capt Patrick McCrary)
Capt. Patrick,
One correction to your post: 314 designates the sportfisherman (my sportfisherman is "BER012571172-314"). Lee Dana, longtime head engineer at Bertram Yacht through the '60s, 70s and part of '80s emailed that "the last number after hull size will always be the model designator". He provided the following rundown:
312 designates the open model (Moppie)
313 = hardtop model
314 = sport fish model
315 = fly bridge cruiser
316 = Bahia Mar model
317 = express model
Hope this helps.
Tommy

[Ironworker]

Thanks for the info. My hull number is molded into the boat with resin.

[JeremyD]

Whittiker either molded into the transom - center under the rear main deck - or forward under bunk usually on a starboard stringer



That's what I learned when I was looking for mine. There was no standard for VIN type number identification until 1986 or 1989 -

[THESALTYSATO]

just for information -- does anyone have an idea approximately how many of each model were built during the years of production for the Bert 31

[Tony Meola]

The hull numbers did not get molded into the hull until 1972 when it was mandated by the Coast Guard. I have never seen numbers like Ricks.

The total number built is a little sketchy. It was somewhere between 1,900 and 2,000 built since production started.

[Tony Meola]

Jeremy

Looks like your 1640 number is saying your hull was the 1,540 hull built.

[Ironworker]

Here is a picture

[Tooeez]

That looks like a CG documentation number.

[Ironworker]

It is.

[Raybo Marine NY]

[Tony Meola]

That looks like a CG documentation number.

Rick

Looks like your boat was documented at one time. Check the Coast Guard Documentation records online. You might find the old name on the boat and how long ago it was documented.

[Ironworker]

My boat has always been documented with the USCG and still is. The documents show ownership since the say it was manufactured in 1969.

[Tommy]

Rick (Ironworker),

I found the rest of the email from Lee Dana, former head engineer at Bertram Yacht in the 60s and part of 70s. Based on Raybo Marine's post of hull # 315939, it appears that hull is the 838th hull layed up, which would be consistent with the manufacturing year of 1969. My old Island Girl hull was # 1257, making it the 1156th hull built in 1972. Bertram was building around a hundred 31s per year starting in 1961, which makes sense for a '69 being the 838th. Dick Bertram's original Ray Hunt wooden 31 won the Miami to Nassau Race in April, 1960. The first fiberglass B-31 hull (Glass Moppie) was built in 1961 and won the race that year, and it was hull # 101.

Here is Lee Dana's email:

March 22, 2004

Tommy,

Your hull # is BER012571172-314. The first hull was 101 which makes your hull the 1156th hull built. Here's the breakdown of the hull #:

Ber: Bertram Yacht
01257: 1156th hull built'
1172: Layup November of 1972
314: Sport Fish model (upper and lower stations, no aft cabin bulkhead)

The last number after the hull size will always be the model designator as follows:

312 designates the open model (Moppie)
313 = Hardtop model
314 = Sport Fish model
315 = Fly Bridge cruiser
316 = Bahia Mar model
317 = Express model

As previously stated, the numbering system changed over the years. I don't know why the glassed in # posted by Raybo Marine's doesn't have a designator #.

[Tommy]

Correction:

Raybo Marine's post of hull # 315939 has the hull designator 315 which designates Fly Bridge Cruiser. I meant to say it did not include the layup month and year as some numbers do.

[Raybo Marine NY]

those are Pete's numbers, obviously before standardized HIN

[Ironworker]

I appreciate all the information. It's not of great concern to me but I was curious.

I'm one day closer to going fishing.