bertram31.com

Ahem...
Thought I'd introduce myself.
I thought I should prove myself not a spammer...
http://www.scsloan.com/images/bertram31_0002.wmv (Careful it's big)

In all sincerity, I've been lurking here for months and have benefited greatly from the archived experience/knowledge and shared expression of values.
Thank you.

very nicely done, welcome aboard

Your in,welcome aboard...Russ

Get your ass to Greenport this summer.

It will be nice for Dug to not be the whitest guy at the party........

Welcome aboard! What took you so long?

Nice job on the video, you in the biz?
Welcome aboard!

Classic intro!!

Now that's a great entrance!

Welcome aboard.

Well, I'll be reading your posts and looking for a chuckle each time.

Way cool...welcome aboard.

UV

GREAT video !! Welcome !

love it..... maybe i need to re-enter! :|

Stephan,
Welcome to the Forum!
What do you do for an encore?

That was one Great Introduction, although I have one question.
Is that an Electrical Panel right behind the Bowl??

Okay 2nd question, what does she have for power (the boat).
Looks great, best of luck with her (the boat).

Awesome looking family too, they will have a blast on that boat.

Carl

Welcome aboard, Stephan!

By the way, the video was not too long at 4.5 minutes 'cause the music was great and the pics of family and boats were outstanding. Your biggest problem from this point forward will be how to top your first post! I think my first post was something like "where's my hull number", and you jump in the sandbox with a pro-level music video that captures what this Board is all about! As Mike O said, there's a spot for you at the Greenport Rendezvous this summer, and also one at our N.C. Rendezvous at Harkers Island June 4th.

Holy Crap, .... That was great ..!!!

The only thing that may top that would be coming into Greenport with a Coast Guard escort..

Welcome....

Ray

beautiful children all american bertram family. yea you made a splash your on.

Wow! What a delight! Thanks and welcome aboard!

Glenn

Great looking family and great looking boat. Welcome.

Again, Welcome aboard, Stephan, and thanks for the excellent video...

It took a while for it to buffer through my satellite hookup, but was worth every minute.

Best regards,

Patrick

Nice, and welcome.
Thought you were a spammer for sure.
What an entrance!

Well Stephen just set the bar for the next new comer. Welcome. Great Vidio.

Maybe that should we should take the music and make it the welcome theme.

Can't wait for the next posting.

You certainly have my vote.....jump on in the waters fine! ! ! !

That's a great intro a great story and a great video.

Looking forward to meeting you and hearing more from you

hb

Welcome Aboard Stephan, cool video.

DQ

Thanks for all the warm welcomes, glad you liked it..

Mikey -Not in the biz just occasionally get over focused...

Carl - Yes! the ac/dc panel is in the head directly behind the throne. Ain't that somethin'? Engines are unquenchable Crusader 454s, but lordy the joy in leaning the loud sticks far, far forward.

Tommy - What the hell is a hull number any way? It's much more than a number and the only thing it really does is confirm the title is wrong. Ah, marine short fiction. The boat's name is Axe (was Easy Rider) for a bunch of reasons, not the least of which it makes the wooden boat types nervous... but they've been nervous before.

Best,
Stephan

Well,

It's much more than a number and the only thing it really does is confirm the title is wrong

You been lurking for sure on that one Stephan. How true! Bought a 1973 and found a 1967, who cares...as I finally have one and thats all that matters.

DQ

By the way, now you need to explain the story of buying one boat and coming home with the 31.

I was watching American Idol and flipping through the web with the iphone checking out the sandbox. I came across this. But the phone coudn't play the video. After reading the thread I had to tell Maureen I have to go up and check something out.
Man, this has American Idol beat. I mean beat. What's better that this?

Yeah, Yeah the alchemy of turning a Dusky center console into a FBC…

Well it went like this: Spent two years scouring the web sites, local yards and the odd back yard. Found the Dusky in November of 2009. Owner was a contractor and all of the toys were up for sale. Nice boat, had what I was looking for- a little cuddy for storage, a porta potty and maybe a nap every now and then- after all I know I couldn’t afford a B31. It was clean-real clean- just like the owner’s truck, shop, tools, etc., good vibe. He didn’t want to sell but his asking price was fair and when I offered it he stuck to his word. Then I found out his 15 yr old son was crushed. So we made a deal, the boy gets good grades and they get to take it out fishing… Pay the man, get the hauler, have it launched, the seller puts an extra $50 in gas in it for me, can’t go better. Run it, family rides, pull it, store it, success..



Spring 2010 rolls around and after some marathon sanding, painting, polishing it’s back in and we’re fishing. Oh yeah, it was named “Beaver” complete with a vinyl picture of a beaver. Well that wasn’t in the cards for a married guy with a daughter so before it went in I polish the transom and call the painter. (Cue the foreboding music) But the painter lives on a hill top and being the spring of 2010 in RI that means his house flooded- so he’s a little behind, but he’ll get to me as soon as he can and he’s a great guy… so we launch without a name on the transom. Da Da Dummmmm.

Memorial Day we all go out for a ride and I climb down off my wallet and fill the tanks. Leave the keys for my sister’s family and get home in time for naps/snack.



Phone rings around 5:00pm. Turns out they had a great ride but the bilge blower wouldn’t shut off (vapor detector) and, yeah, there’s fuel in the bilge….

Freak out.

Haul ass to the boatyard. The launch driver was way cool, he shut down the bilge pump and thought I might be back… I pack Dawn, kitty litter and zorb towels around the offending port tank and have it pulled, towed to a friend’s shop, and then stare at it.

Turns out the joint at the top edge of the port tank was welded on a Friday or somethin. Cracked good. The floor has to be cut out to get at the tank and I can’t find a re-placement tank other than custom. We are sad.

My buddy says it’s a nice boat –other than the present bomb qualities- if I want to trade it in on one of the used boats he’s got that would be ok… Whatcha’ got? A nice Whitewater center console with a Volvo Diesel, a Bertram and some bigger stuff… Whaddya’ give me for the Dusky? … WHAT I PAID FOR IT… Chest tightens… BUY BERTRAM....

Darling- Uh, Capt. Rick says the Dusky is real bad, gonna take weeks and lotsa money to try and get it right… but he’ll take it as a trade… do you like either of these? Holding breath…. Ooh the one with the little cabin looks real nice, 1972!?! Well, I like it. Can we do that one? Uh, Sure, I think so (sweating), you’re the best…

Pay the man with the contingency that no matter how cheesey, crooked or wrong the name goes on. And we rejoice, take Dad fishing and well you know it from there….

Ok.... That was it.... if I have to walk to Greenport this year I'm coming just to listen to Stephan tell some more story's....

I've heard a lot about the infamous Bertram Juice.. Can you imagine that stuff in this guy.... man we can sell tickets to the locals...

Stephan... have your reservations yet...???

Ray

Man did you get lucky on all counts. I would have been nervouse as hell wtith all that gas in the bilge.

You can't go wrong with the 31. Does it have Diesel or gas? If gas we will all assume you know about the dreaded ethanol issues with the fiberglass tank.

Well again welcome and good luck. You will find everyone here a very helpfull and really talented.

Stephan,

Welcome aboard! Can't wait to meet ya! I keep my boat in the Mystic, CT area, so we are not that far from each other. Let me know when you venture out, and perhaps we can meet for a drink! I'll drive further to meet you, since you have those unquenchable 454's and I run diesels. I hear ya on the unquenchable!

I look forward to seeing you on the high seas!

Best,

Dug

Stephan, Welcome to the sandbox....youll do just fine with this group...local too im from just up the road...ohh the Bertram juice....a must for the new guy right Brew?BH

Excellent intro. I had not checked the video, then one day later I see we've got 2 pages of comments, I had to see what's up. This is all making me really want to go to Greenport.

Greenport is great! Hell, the rendezvous is great, doesn't matter where! And the Bertram juice? All clear as long as you watch out for Brewster's boat. Just ask Bob...

Stephan,

Great to see a guy in a similar situation to me on the site.

I bought my boat back in November and plan on running to green port. I have a 20 month old son and hope to enjoy many years on this boat with the family. I also didn't think a B31 would be in my budget and am happy to have a 454 powered B31. Often dream about coming up with 80k for a set of cummins. With a 90 year old house and at least one college to pay for, maybe more down the road. This is a pipe dream at best.

I also have a flats boat that I fly fish from, back in may I was on the flats with a couple of buddies and in a matter of minutes the entire deck was covered in gas. Not sure what to do we ran back to the ramp and put the boat on the trailer. I siffened the remaining fuel into my truck. The tank is
under the console but above deck and same problem leaking at the weld.

As you've already observed there is a great bunch of guys around here, I've noticed some interesting things that come up often. Catch phrases like "ask me how I know", "the enemy of good is better". If you've got a good idea and other guys aren't doing it already there are probably good reasons why.

Such a good hearted bunch, there are lots of good reasons to own a B31 but this site is by far the best reason.

BTW my Dad (74) also was the first to get a ride on the boat. He's also making the run to green port with me. My wife, son and mother will drive out to meet us.

Thanks again gents for the warm welcome.
Dug- your invitation is kind, perhaps Pt. Judith or Block Island for a visit when the water warms up?
Bob H.- I dwell on the pictures of your boat. The clarity, commitment and consistency you’ve demonstrated in that project is inspiring and a welcome oasis from the confused, cash-strapped compromise I’m undertaking. If bertram31.com is the round table, that boat may be Excalibur.
Pete- isn’t it nice to think of all of the “ask me how I know” stories we won’t have to tell because of all these guys?
On the topic of Bertram Juice, uh, actually, I think people did sell tickets but the proceeds didn’t go to my bar tabs or legal fees…. (Ray- I can’t wait to tell you about the radio station I sold with the assistance of a stripper, the Great Springdale Coyote Hunt of 1999, etc.) and the whole, “…how come there’s nuthun’ but ICE left in the cooler!” show was wholly incompatible with married life and fatherhood. Sooo in addition to being a Patriots/Red Sox loving whitey, I’m a quitter…..
Best,
Stephan

Stephan, Im just pround to sit at the table with this group...I only know one way to do things...may take me a while but Ill get there.. BH

Stephan, Sounds great!

And I finally got access to watch the video (firewall stuff...)

Best intro to oneself I have ever seen! Ya, you are in in my book!

See you when it warms up a bit!

D