South Padre Island, TX

[Bertramp]

Hi Guys ....
I can't control myself.....and wife says OK, so
Anyone near South Padre Island and/or know of a good surveyor in the area ? (I know she's buttering me up for the new kitchen she wants)
thanks

[Dug]

Uh oh... whatcha doin???? :)

[Tommy]

Teasing us, huh? Let us know when you have her under contract so you can post pics.

[Tony Meola]

Isn't John (real cowboy) down that way?

[Parker]

I don't know of anyone on South Padre however I do know of someone in Port Aransas (near Corpus Christi) who, in the past has worked the majority of the Texas coast.
Mike Firestone at Firestone Marine Surveys is very good and quite reasonable. But keep in mind he is about 175 miles north of South Padre and that would tend to add a bit to the bill. His number is 361-749-7767. Hope this helps.

Tom Parker

[DanielM]

John (Reel Cowboy) is in Freeport south of Houston, as am I.

Bertramp, I'm in Texas, but about 360 miles up the coast from SPI. If you wind up coming through Houston give me a shout. I'll try and help out as I can. If nothing else we can meet up for dinner and talk boats.

Danny

[Raybo Marine NY]

Dont know about texas but i was driving right next to you in your green jeep, license plate frame gave it away

[Bertramp]

Dont know about texas but i was driving right next to you in your green jeep, license plate frame gave it away

when and where ?
"BERTRAM 31.com" license plate frame and Bertram insignia with "feel the ride live the legend" in the back window

[Raybo Marine NY]

On noyac and little bit on 27. We were at a family bbq in Sag Harbor
I didnt realize it on noyac until we got to 27 when i got close enough to see the frame and decals

[DanielM]

Bertramp,

I was talking with John today and he suggested Mike Firestone as well. He had Mike do the survey on Reel Cowboy and was very happy with his work. He said that Mike was very thorough and spent about 5 hours on the boat and then came by the house and went over the findings with John. Freeport is about 165 miles north of Port Aransas so that's about the same drive as he would have going south to SPI.

Good Luck. I know if I was going that far to look at a boat my wife would be planning one hell of a kitchen remodel. Hope it works out for you. lol.

[Bertramp]

On noyac and little bit on 27. We were at a family bbq in Sag Harbor
I didnt realize it on noyac until we got to 27 when i got close enough to see the frame and decals

I remember a guy in a car on my right side looking over at ne like he kinda knew me ... we somewhat made eye contact

[buzzk]

Come on Steve tell us what you're buying.

[Tony Meola]

Don't worry about Steve's wife wanting a kitchen. She is Italian. Sicilian I believe, so Steve will just be singing in a higher pitch voice. But it beats the alternative, being cut up and stuffed in the freezer with the rotting bait. LOL

[Navatech]

She is Italian. Sicilian I believe, so Steve will just be singing in a higher pitch voice.

You're forgetting, Italians and Sicilians in particular occasionally utilize that cement shoes thing... LOL...

[Bertramp]

Mid 20s center console, just kind of rare.

And as for the garage freezer, it has been
replaced, the deal is that any and all
bait placed in the freezer will be in
Tupperware.

....and "Tony" & "Nav" ....... thanks SOOO much for your concern for my well being :-)

[Navatech]

....and "Tony" & "Nav" ....... thanks SOOO much for your concern for my well being :-)

Hey buddy, you know we're ribbing you because we like you ;-)

[Tony Meola]

Mid 20s center console, just kind of rare.

And as for the garage freezer, it has been
replaced, the deal is that any and all
bait placed in the freezer will be in
Tupperware.

....and "Tony" & "Nav" ....... thanks SOOO much for your concern for my well being :-)

Hey Steve, what else are friends for. LOL

[Bertramp]

So, the plot thickened, but we will not be traveling to South Padre, at least not boat shopping.
My reason for looking was to get an outboard boat for Florida. From my experience, the moisture of down here is easier on outboards and diesels (may also be that I used boat more when I lived here)
Was interested in a 27Blackfin with outboards, but had to be the center console model...kinda rare.
But while doing the shopping thing, I was also doing searches for Cummins 270s. I did happen to find a pair of 270s that were factory recons and now have 800hrs/twin disc transmission, port side in need of repair. Now here is the "thickens" part.....They just happened to be in a Strike 29 and located in Miami. Price was basically what the engines would have sold for.
Long story shortened, it is behind the house of my long time buddy, a professional marine mechanic that operates on Long Island and South Florida. Had my BOAT US towing bring it to Lauderdale yesterday and I enjoyed a 6 hour boat ride in which I burned no fuel.
But what about my 31 ????
Well......
The gas Bahia is gonna move north to Sag Harbor and enjoy a six month season in the north east.

[Dug]

Sweet!!!!

[Tony Meola]

Steve

Very nice. We need some picks.

Also let us know how the strike rides. I have read mixed reviews on them.

[Bertramp]

Well ... I tried the photobucket thang :-(

[Bertramp]

http://s810.photobucket.com/user/bertra ... g.html?o=1

Hey ... it freakin' works !!
This is the new "Florida Baby" !!

[Tommy]

Very nice, Steve; congrats!

[Carl]

Ohhweee! Very nice indeed!

A bit of a score there I'd say, buy two motors and get a free boat...Steeee-Rike!

That boat should fly while barely sipping fuel, friend of mine has 35 Strike with 270 Cummins and that thing flies..he brought it up from Miami to here on its own bottom too, ok you caught me in a white lie, his dad brought it up....hmmm, maybe they are the 315's??? Well definitely Cummins, a Strike and that thing flies burning less then one of my gassers going at least twice as fast...did I mention it flies. We leave together and arrive at fishing grounds together...except I'm fishing south of the Mud Hole and he's fishing the Canyon.

Real nice boat, enjoy!

Carl

[Bertramp]

I think I did well because of 2 factors:
Strike is not a common boat like a Regulator, Contender or Intrepid ..... it's funny towboat guy asked if I was new to boating and then said "bad question, you don't just stumble into a boat like that when you are new to boating"
Everyone wants outboard go fasts - there are folks that would take this boat and put 2 - 300hp outboards on it
It's at my mechanics place (15 streets south of me on the ICW) , they will address the transmission and a local guy that they work with is gonna re-do bilge pumps and check all bonding.

Carl, the 35 is just a stretch of the 29 and it probably has the 315s.

[Joseph Fikentscher]

Very nice!!! Great Florida boat.

[Carl]

E"it's funny towboat guy asked if I was new to boating and then said "bad question, you don't just stumble into a boat like that when you are new to boating"

Yup.

Everyone wants outboard go fasts - there are folks that would take this boat and put 2 - 300hp outboards on it

Put a pair of 300 outboards on it and I'd have left my answer at, nice boat Bertramp.

Carl, the 35 is just a stretch of the 29 and it probably has the 315s.

I'd take the 270's over the 315's to avoid raw seawater aftercooler for a bit less cruising speed. I think thats the difference between...and I do think that is what he was having serviced when I was down there last time...or is it intercooler.

Yeah, I think you made out well...

[GerardA]

OUTSTANDING!!!!
Best of Luck

[MarkD]

Steve:

When will you bring the Bahia back to the Northeast? You going to trailer her or run her up?

Mark

[Tony Meola]

http://s810.photobucket.com/user/bertra ... g.html?o=1

Hey ... it freakin' works !!
This is the new "Florida Baby" !!

Nice Steve, so you finally figured it out.

Boat looks great. Let us know how she rides. I am anxious to find out how it compares to the 31, outside of being faster.

[Bertramp]

Steve:

When will you bring the Bahia back to the Northeast? You going to trailer her or run her up?

Mark

Trailer.....when boats start heading south in a month or two, there will be lots of inexpensive trailers returning north.

[PeterPalmieri]

Congrats Steve, It will be a good excuse to come out and visit when the bert arrives back on the island