bertram31.com

Been sitting for ? years...
Workin on saving this old girl...
















The floors have literally decomposed...

oh my!

Very very salvagable ......start cleaning and sanding and glassing and painting.....that's the cheapest part and the most time consuming......engines are a bit more expensive but a cakewalk compaired to everything else.....

Harry

We can prove that shes been sitting there since 1987... Who knows how long its really been sitting there... prob over 30...

Wow, opening windsheilds, that is really old school. It will be fantastic when she's floating again. Good luck.

WOW shes got the steps on the pillasters
a diamond in the ruff
Wayne

Aint nothing wrong with that... She's almost brand new.
Seriously though, I'd like to see her after a good chlorine bath and a date with a pressure washer. I bet the old gal will clean up nicely.

So Whaler, you've now got two 31 projects?

the peeling paint on the formica and the "planter" in the bilge look bad, but I didn't see anything horrible. I know of a 31 coming out of a barn this week on LI ... that FBC is a nice winter project.

john
what kind of iron does she , or had in her

Clorox and water 50-50 sprayed liberally over everything is a start. Wait an hour and you will be shocked. Then a hose. Scrape the loose interior paint and you'll find formica underneath, probably in better (non-faded) shape than mine. Use stripper on what won't come off easily, then Liquid Gold to bring it back to life. Again, you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you have steps on the pilasters, you have one of the heavier indestructible hulls, vintage early 60's. Further verification of that will be if you can't find a plate with the hull number. Then look for painted or magic markered numbers in hidden places, ie: behind a panel, on the side of the hull under the V-berths, etc. You've got a gem to get started on. All the best! Walter

If you have access to a hot water pressure washer it will clean it right up nicely.

John,

I am going to assume this is the boat you have been working on for a couple years now? Or is this another?

Either way...wow!

Just think, if she has been sitting this long, how much wear and tear she has been saved!!!!!

Dug

Nah, shes not mine... Just one Im trying to get my hands on...

i see the light bulb going on, over bobs head

Everytime I've spoken with the owner over the past 10 years he has said he's going to fix it himself and that he is keeping the boat for his kids.

is that the one in the field on shelter island?

Its almost as dirty as mine!

With team Lico/Phoenix/Whaler you guys could get her well on a way to a new life..BH

Just needs a little Tide mixed with water, she will be ready to go! You will be amazed once she's cleaned up...and highly motivated.

cwj i am standing right along john`s side as he taking the pictures. the bert has a unused set of marine power 454. i was hoping she had the stock 427 chevy (1967) because this is the year of the boat.i have the bertram 20 project after the interior on my 31 is complete . the rest of the year is tuna time and possibly a hopeless try at getting a big bass.

no answer on the Shelter Island question ....
or is it a So Hampton location ?

i know theres one sittin in a field on shelter island.

thats it randall.

john,

how is Summer Winds coming---are you looking to switch project boats or looking for a second project?

I saw one sitting in So hampton about a month ago ... a FBC or sportfish ... looked like it had been there a while too.

I have not had much luck with regular bleach, the outdoor stuff seems to blow it away.

I think the proper ratio for that project might be 2 parts bleach- 1 part water, 1 part vodka, endless parts $$$

That looks like the top of Bob Lilco's head in the 6th picture.

Lots of clean up. I have had good luck with soft scrub with bleach and use a very soft brush. I think this boat is beyond compound and was. Good luck guys. This is really a project boat, and beats the one that Tom purchased last year. That was the one with the tree growing out of the bilge.

i have had good luck with comet with bleach. make a paste the consistency of mayo and keep it damp by gently misting it. after a few hours brush with a soft brush....presto!!

sometimes a good coating of mother nature can protect the gelcoat, if that gelcoat is not crazed like your other 31 you might want to consider this one as your primary project

Kinda pipe-dreaming on actually getting this one... Need to convince the guy to sell it... No idea if thats going to happen... The gel-coat is in suprisingly good shape... Summer Winds is still the primary project, slowly but surely...

I just cleaned up a friend Carolina Skiff last week. You will not believe what 1000 psi water right at 240 degrees will do to mold and mildew on fiberglass! Melts it right off!!

John wrote:Need to convince the guy to sell it...

Ask Tanya Harding to help convince him......she has tried and true methods.....

Harry