bertram31.com

<div><embed width="480" height="360" src="http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc431%2FCubetilla%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"><a href="http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1" target="_blank"><img></a><a href="http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc431/Cubetilla/" target="_blank"><img></a></div>

I just bought Cubetilla that is located in Guatemala. I am willing to refurnish it. I really don´t have any idea of how much money I need for the job. Can someone help me with a worst case escenario estimate? TX

At first glance, it looks clean. What kind of power does it have and is it functioning?

Cummis 6BTA and they are working well.

You've got the right engines for the boat. From the photos, it looks cosmetically OK. Work HAS been done on it as I see elongated portholes cut into the hull in the bunk area and new side panels in the cockpit. The interior (dinette area) looks standard. Given all that, what is your definition of refurnish? What is it that you'd like to change? It's a perfect fishing boat for Guatemala. I will tell you what I tell anyone who has just purchased a running Bertram 31. Don't change a thing until you have used it for a season or two. By that time you'll know the boat well and what you really like and what you'd like to change or adjust. Enjoy it and welcome aboard!
PS-I would have to guess that labor costs where you are will be a lot lower than where I am in the Northeast U.S.

looks great to me at first glance is the boat mainly used for pleasure fishing ?

Yep, it has been used just for pleasure fishing in the atlantic cost of Guatemala. I am part of a flyfishing operation down here http://www.threeamigosflyfishing.com and we want to expand our service to deep water fishing. That´s the reason I bopught it. The idea beyon refurnishing is that we want our clients to go fishing in a very nice looking boat.

I been thru several pictures of the blog, an I can tell that you have a very very nice lookin boats.

I also saw a craiglist post where they say that a custom refit can be made under US$30,000.00 http://wilmington.craigslist.org/boa/2235063364.html

I just want to have an idea before I decide to move forward.

Many thanks in advance for the help that I am gonna need from you all.

Ernesto

$30,000 US is unrealistic up here for a refit. A good Paint job will eat up most of that, if not all of it. You already have the engines and the larger shafts, so you have a chunk of change you don't need to sink into it. But if you want pretty, up here in the States, depending on what you do your self and what you have done, you could easily go up to $100,000.

I would make sure she is seaworthy, update what you need to for fishing and give her a season or two and see how the business goes. If it goes well, then have at her.

Thanks.

I was wondering how you guys are seeing the picture of his boat. This is what I see on the screen:


<div><embed width="480" height="360" src="http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc431%2FCubetilla%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"><a href="http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1" target="_blank"><img></a><a href="http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc431/Cubetilla/" target="_blank"><img></a></div>

I tried to copy and paste this but no luck.


JR

jackryan wrote:I was wondering how you guys are seeing the picture of his boat.

You probably need to download the latest Flash Player... http://www.adobe.com/go/getflash/

Ernesto- I have fly fished in both Panama's and Guatemala's Pacific waters and the boats there were no fancier than yours. Your big cockpit is an advantage as is the speed and agility of the 31 Bertram.

Assuming everything runs as it should, deck is not soft, bulkhead not rotted, windows not leaking or frames corroded away...I'd say you'd be done...other then cosmetic work if you felt the need...Pics look good to me I fish on her the way she looks.

Wanna start upgrading and painting...skys the limit.

I ditto what Walter said,

"I will tell you what I tell anyone who has just purchased a running Bertram 31. Don't change a thing until you have used it for a season or two. By that time you'll know the boat well and what you really like and what you'd like to change or adjust."

Make sure she is seaworthy, reliable meets all Regulations and safety requirements and run her. You'll see a paln start coming together as to what works for you and how best to spend the allocated budget.


Those be some Big Arse Rudders...don't think I've seen ones quite like that before, could just be the picture too I guess...

Ernisto,
Welcome!
Agree with Sim, enjoy then change. You'll be an informed consumer. With your business you obviously know boats, so it will come to you. Tell us about those rudders. I see what appears to be a braze line about where the original ended. How do they perform? The originals like that ( I have them on mine) are not much but that looks like overkill.

More pictures.
http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc431/Cubetilla/

The original name of CUBETILLA was "MAR AL V" (Hull # 314615) She was brought to Guatemala the 25 of Sep of 1985 by Jose Van Houtven. He is an addict fisherman who, at his 77 years old, decided to sell.

I dont know much about deep sea fishing. I decide to bought it after I found this website and got convince that she was worth it. 2 weeks ago was the first time a ride a Bertram 31, so I cant tell much about how it feels cause I dont have references. The only thing I can add for sure is that some day I want to have a boat like Island Girl or Buddy Boy.

Thanks for the advice, and you are welcome to Guatemala if you wanna go fishing.

Regards

Sport fish with added bulkhead?

Looks like it to me.

For the engine check out, the best I have found so far is Johnny at Rio Dulce. They maintain quite a few cummins on the pacific and at Rio Dulce. The fuel is very dirty generally so polish the fuel, and you might have to change injectors (dont have them rebuilt there in the city). We were only getting 18 months of service on new injectors, before the tips started leaking, and I used a fleetguard filtration system. The zinc are generally not changed regulary there, so you will want to do that, and you might want to acid rinse the cooling system, which we did without taking everything off, and it generally made a difference on temp. Watch the temp guages closely, since the water is warm and heat rises there very quickly in the engines if there are cooling issues.

For the boat upgrades, the pool of talent in Guat is scarce, but the glass work is cheap compared to the US. You would need to supervise the work to make sure you were getting everything done right once you had your plan. Have them quote it only labor, and you supply the materials, or they will do everything very lightly on the glass.

Brian

Thanks for the advice Brain.

Ernesto,
Welcome to the board, your boat looks real good, that the first time I've seen portlights on the hull sidea of a 31 Bertram.

A word of advice to you and everyone else on the board. Please check out the wiring especially the 120 volt side, the large 10-3 black wire that feeds all of your 110 volt outlets tends to dry out and cracking on the 3 wires inside I have found to be a common trait of the early 31's. Could be a potential fire hazard.
It's done by removing the duplex outlet and stripping back an inch or 2 of the outer insulation, I have found that everyone I have checked needs to be re-wired, especially if the boat has been in the tropical heat or if the boat is over 25 years old.
Enjoy your new ride.

Hello again Guys,
Found oil in the expansion tank of the heat exchanger. Suggestion welcome.
(I searched for an answer in the forum and I think, correct me if I am wrong, the problem might be in the oil coolers and the best place to get them is at Lenco.)
TX in advance for your help.