bertram31.com

I recieved the sample bow chock today.

A moment I thought would not come soon enough!

I am quite pleased with the results, and sent out some pictures to a couple of the people who have already sent me checks to take a look.

I believe it is time to place the order with the manufacturer finally as I believe that the sample is absolutely up to par. I want to offer one more opportunity to anyone who would like to join in.

I currently have checks from:

Doug Crowther
Mike Pelham
Rod Nichols
Harry Babb
Terry Howard
Ernest Fielder
Mark Poirier
Bob Higgins
Bill Beardslee
Scott Deskins
John Formica
Bruce Sweet
Vic Roy
R. C. Reisher
Timmy K. AKA Thudd
Ian Upton

If you did not recieve pictures it only means I don't have your email address. I don't have a photobucket account or the like, or I would be happy to post.

If you would like pictures, shoot me a note at bertraman@yahoo.com and I will send them immediately.

If you would like to order a chock, send me a note asap, as I am not going to delay for those who have paid and have been patiently waiting for months.

We are one step closer to a real success!!!! I am psyched!

Dug

Hey Dug,

why not post'm up here for all to see?

Harv - send me your email address (think I have it but let's be sure) and I'll email you the pix Dug sent me this afternoon....the original they copied and the copy side by side - amazing what they did. You, being the Official Geek of B31.com, can post up the pix.

royvictor@cox.net

UV

Ya gotta like that! Good work Dug.

Thanks, ScottD

Dug-

Looks great. Thanks for all your efforts.

John F.

Looks great.
Is it SS?
What is price w/senior citizen discount?

Hey Dug

I give the Bow Chock shown in the pics 2 Thumbs Up.............It looks really good to me

I'd say place the order and move forward.

Thanks

Harry

Andre' - it is solid stainless steel. Most of us non-broke dicks have paid up front to make it happen months ago...figure 350 or so, but for you it will be more since you laid back and let us pull the wagon.

Now I could put in a good word for you if you take me to lunch tomrrow since me & the Bride are going on vacation to Miami Beach on Wed. for a whole week.

Yo fren'

UV

Andre'
You do realize that if you buy Vics lunch tomorrow the rest of us will want lunch also...........Mike Andersons sounds good to me!!

Harry

Lunch is no problem fellas, hell I'm getting a big tax refund!
Mike Anderson's it is, Harry, if UV agrees. Are you in town?
Since I already had an extra bow chock, I decided to wait while still spending $$$ on other toys. But Dug did such a good job, it looks well worth it, expecially w/the discount.
UV do I pick you up at your office or house?

Andre'
I am not presently in Baton Rogue. I am planning a trip to Texas and beyond soon. I will try to arrange it so that I can meet you and Vic for lunch. It may be 3 weeks or so.

I'll be in touch with you guys when I get plans firmed up

Harry

Those pictures look awefully familiar!

Vic is right, solid stainless steel.

Harv, thanks for posting the pictures. Much appreciated.

Andre, Vic is right again. If you want one, let me know and get me a check for the $325 asap. I am placing the order damned quick, as we have all waited for this since roughtly April of last year.

Would love for you to have another!

Dug

Looks good Dug, please disreagrd my picture request. The new one is the one without light holes, correct???

CMP

Mark,

Sorry, I missed your disregard note! Oh well, you get shots twice!

Yes, missing the light hole. This will keep your anchor locker dry.

Solid cast 316 stainless steel, so no more pitting chrome.

FOR THOSE OF YOU CONSIDERING JOINING THIS ORDER, YOU NEED TO GET ME YOUR CHECK BY FRIDAY. IF THAT MEANS OVERNIGHTING IT TO ME, OK.

THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN ME CHECKS DID SO IN EARLY MAY OF 2007. I WILL NOT CAUSE THEM TO WAIT ANY LONGER THAN WE HAVE ALREADY!

WE HAVE TO BUY A MINIMUM QUANTITY, WHICH WE HAVE MET. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ORDER MORE UNLESS WE HAVE ANOTHER 15 OR MORE ORDERS. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ORDER ONE IN THE FUTURE, AS I WILL NOT STOCK THEM. THIS IS A ONE TIME ORDER, UNLESS YOU WANT TO BUY A MINIMUM QUANTITY YOURSELF (which of course I would be happy to facilitate!).

So if you want one, and you are not in on the order from May, I need the check by Friday, and we will be happy to include ya!

Dug

Dug, looks fantastic, worth the wait.

Cheers,
Rod

Dug,

My name should be on the list. Thanks.

Terry

Terry,

It is!!!!!!!

No idea why or how I re-named you. Now you have an alias!!!!

Dug

Hi, I live in SPAIN (EUROPE) so if you are agree I'll mail the $$$ to you.
Let me know your address.
Thanks.

M.

Shoot me an email at bertraman@yahoo.com if you haven't already.

Dug

Dug,

It looks great!

In retrospect, the only thing that I think would make it nicer would be to have threaded studs on the bottom so the whole thing is blind fastened.

Did you get my email?

Ian.

To quote UV, "The enemy of good is better". It's better kind of original.

Terry

Now here is the question - without using a torch, how am I supposed to get the old one off. I got a big screw driver and a wrench or socket on the nut below. The guy in the v birth turns the wrench or socket, and I can't hold the screw driver. I go down to the v birth, turn the wrench, and he can't hold the screw driver.

No, wheaties is not the answer.

Its doing the C/X soak now.

My only other guess is acid. After that, its heat, but I am not real good with heat.

Is there another trick?

If you are not planning on salvaging the old could you spot weld the screw heads so they don't turn?

I'm not sure if you can weld these types of metals anyway...

Wouldn't be a problem if 'ole Dick Bertram thought of blind fastening them to begin with:)

Ian.

if i only had the cashish!

You should try to put Vise Grips on the screw driver to gain leverage. If the vise grips slip off of the screw driver shank put them on the handle....kinda screws up the handle but may be worth it

If you have ample room in the Vee Berth area you could use a Nut Buster to split the nut............you can purchase a Nut Buster at most of the better autoparts stores

Old timey but a Hack Saw blade will work....saw the bolt off between the hull and the nut..........you'll be pumped up and buff when you finish with the hack saw. LOL

Harry

Drill the head away, while holding the nut & itll drop right out.
Wayne

Ernest,

My suggestion would be to either carefully drill the head of the screws or use an angle grinder inside the anchor locker to cut off the nuts.

I love my angle grinder. It has gotten me out of many jams...

Dug

Ernest,

I would not sprint to remove the old chock until the new one is in hand however...

Once I place the order (which should be Monday), I am not entirely sure what the turn around time will be. I believe the hard part is done, which is to get the sample that is acceptable.

We may have more waiting in store for us... I will know for sure when I place the order and write the check.

Dug

Thanks.

Y'll should just see the scramble at my dock when I spark a torce or start with the angle grinder. They collect their kids, say a few quick Hail Marys, and evacuate the area.

Apparently, if you crash into a bulkhead with your boat, fall off the dock a couple times, accidently start a small fire in the parking area, and more recently, run over your own cooler with your pickup truck, people start spreading some rumors. But, I don't let their negativity slow me down. No sir.

And, for the record, that bulkhead suffered no damage from the accident. Zero.

Ernest, its just that our "yacht basin" neighbors don't want you touching off another meth lab fire in their trailers. The long island contingent would love the Bolivar Yacht Basin. Makes Venice look like its Italian namesake.

True story, I found a crack pipe in our bay boat the other weekend. I tried hard, but no burnable residue left over.

Ernest,

And I thought I was bad! I do have everyone take a few steps back away from me when I pull out a power tool still.

Though that is an absolutely undeserved reputation! I swear!

Dug

Well my story is similar

I had a 244 Chaparral once and to remove the exhaust manifolds I filled the bildge full of water.........really full....... and had a friend stand behind me and continously spray me and the engine with water while I burned the bolts off of the manifold with an accetelyne torch.

Harry

Harry,

Here is the thing that you can explain to people...

IT WORKED, DIDN'T IT!

Dug

Thats right Dug

The manifolds came off........new ones went on........did not blow up the boat, my friend or myself.........It did work

You will not find most of my day to day practices in the Chilton's repair manual.......LOL

Harry