31 Softop Express Weight

[ranjr13]

The specs give a range of weight for Bertram 31s of 12,000 - 15,000lbs depending upon engines and gear. I believe this spec is for all models. Has anyone actually weighed a soft top express? Ours has old smaller tank (170), Yanmar 4lh-ste 230hp engines, glass decks that replaced original wood, teak swim platform, etc. Looking to compare for trailer/tow vehicle design. The info posted on this site for Cardinal is a help, but trying to see if any difference for an express vs. fly-bridge. Thanks.

[Carl]

1962 31' Express
440 Gas
Weighed with a topped off, original 162gal tank.

Travel lift registered the boat at 14,000 lbs

[ranjr13]

Interesting, thanks - heavier than I thought. Thanks Carl.

[Yannis]

I remember somebody having said that earlier boats were thicker, thus heavier, than more recent boats.
I cannot recall until when, or from when, that was true.

[Tony Meola]

Bob

Actually they weigh as little as 10,000 lbs depending on the year. The earlier models, pre 1973 oil crisis were heavy boats. The hulls were thicker then the bean counters got involved when the oil crisis of 1973 came around.

The Fly bridge models were probably the heaviest but if it had the 3208 cats in here, then they really had some weight.

Our 75 is rated at 10,000 lbs in the brochure. The travel lift that pulls us does not have a scale so I do not have a weight when full of fuel and now with the diesels since the repower.

[ranjr13]

Thanks, Tony - ours being a '64, but with small Yanmars, fully loaded, I'm guessing 13,000 based upon the input/specs/gut thus far. If I do go the trailer route so I can have the convenience of moving it home, moving it around when I want, I can easily then run it over a truck scale and post accurate numbers for others who might be interested. I just wanted to sanity check it while considering our present potential tow vehicle and working with a trailer builder to build it strong enough, but light enough to safely handle.

Thanks for the input.

[Pete Fallon]

Bob,
1961 31' Express Hull 85 12-13-61
1997 454's Mercruiser FWC Hurth 63a Trannies
Composite 3 piece PVC Foam decks White oak cockpit supports
22' Rupp Single Spreader Outriggers 4' Lee Jr bases, 2 40 gallon live wells,4 bilge pumps
3 group 31 Lead Acid Batteries ! Danforth 23s anchor, 1 Danforth 16s anchor 25' 3/8" chain 4 Jack stands
Fiberglass side, cockpit, cabin overhead All bronze thru hulls and Bronze rudders, 106" Monel Shafts 3 bladed Bronze wheels aluminum rub rail. Only 3 coats of bottom paint and regel coated hull. All hardware stainless steel
172 Gallon Fiberglass original tank, 25 gallon PVC water 6 gallon holding tank. Soft top with SS bows, 3 SS antenna bases
!5000lb triple axel rooler and bunk trailer
Weight on scale at Tropical Shipping Port of Palm Beach for deck load to St Thomas USVI June 2014 total 14,458.US LBS
Pete Fallon

[ranjr13]

Pete - that was a 15,000 gvw trailer (3-5,000lb axles) and it handled it okay? And the gross weight for shipping (14,458) was boat and trailer? That's lighter than I thought, thanks.