bertram31.com

A few of us were fortunate to get a ride on Gary's Bertram Nautec Racer.
The cockpit held 5 of us for a quick trip of wave hopping at about 42mph. The boat is very interesting in that it has one engine behind the cockpit with a v-drive and one engine in front of the cockpit with a z-drive. There is a single rudder amidships that does absolutely nothing until the trim tabs are engaged, and then she banks over smartly and makes her turns. She also holds 600 gals of gas and has a water ballast system as well. She may not move like a Fountain or a Cigarette, but nothing else has the colored history of a Bertram. Once again, thanks for the ride Gary.

I see the Bertram, but what's that blue thing in front of it?

hell....my boat will go 42....

3 hints: Griffin, Nassau, early history..........

VERY interesting looking boat. I'd love to see it in person.

Actually, I think it's one of the ones, (or the one), that Lee Dana re-designed in concert with Riva Boat Mfg., out of Italy... All of the early B31 race boats had the engines side by side, some forward of the helm, some aft.

Interesting vessel. I'd love to do an article about it.

It was represented as being the 1965 Bertram Miami/Nassau race boat.
Looked like a 31 hull, engines aren't original, pretty cool boat. Charlie thought it might be the one pictured in the Legend of Bertram book with only the tip of the bow still above water. Boat is supposed to do mid fifty's but with no seats and five guys standing in the little cockpit he kept it reasonable on Saturday.

Yeah, all the Bertram race boats had their engines aft, side by side. Just like my boat!

Not long after Dick Bertram founded Bertram Yacht, the Rittmaster family (of NY) acquired Bertram and called it Bertram Nautec, and not long afterwards named their son, Peter, as president (a little nepotism). According to "Legend", Peter was mostly interested in being an ocean racer, and led Bertram's racing program for several years which included the building of the reverse-transom Bertram 31 raceboats in the late '60s. According to "Searace" by John Crouse, Peter Rittmaster won the July 30, 1969 Hennessy Grand Prix off Long Island in one of these boats that looks like the one pictured. It was labeled "Bertram Nautec 31 Special" and was named "Master Moppie" or "American Moppie", depending on which account of the story you read. I have no idea how many of these were built, but they were very competitive on the ocean racing circuit around '68-'70, at which point Don Arronow began dominating the sport. You have a very nice collectors classic!

As Patrick pointed out, it all began with Dick Bertram and Sam Griffith in the 1960 Miami-Nassau race.

Tommy

As Doug said, the boat is supposed to do around mid 50's. Gary had mentioned it was a bare hull when he found her. He was still trying to work out some of the "bugs". 42mph was still an exhilerating ride with 5 people standing on board and the conditions that day. Gary also carries a picture of the number 8 from page 43 in the Legends of Bertram book. Note the exhaust location on the port hullside. The starboard exhaust, which looks identical is located right next to the cockpit area, as can be seen in the dockside photo.