my 1961 Bertram 31 history

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 12th, '15, 16:43

Hi, I purchased a 1961 31'Bertram flybridge in Fort Lauderdale last year and I'm trying to find out previous owners and get some history on this boat. I purchased it from Jose Portela ID #31106. He is an older gentleman who acquired it in 2008. I don't know who he purchased it from but I believe he bought it in Fl.
On the flybridge a small plaque with Pinky 111 WXD 2669 was the calling number. I'm just wondering if any one has any info on the boat. The serial # is on the title but can't locate it on the boat or hull #. Where do I find this on a 1961.I'm restoring the boat and looking forward to finding more info. thank you Al

mike ohlstein · Post by **mike ohlstein** » Oct 12th, '15, 17:47

It's possible that you have hull #6 of about 1860.....

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Oct 12th, '15, 20:12

The hull numbers became part of the hull, molded in on the transom in 1972. You will probably find numbers written on different parts in the boat that matches the hull # you have.

Look on the transom, in the bilge area. They some times printed them on that part of the Hull. Others found them under the V berth.

If you have #6 like Mike said, it might be the earliest version we all know of. I don't believe we have come across Hull #1 as of yet.

Maybe Capt. Pat will know if any of the members have come across #1.

MikeD@Lightningshack · Post by **MikeD@Lightningshack** » Oct 13th, '15, 03:12

My 1969 had the Bertram hull# printed on a paper placard that read Bertram Yachat & Whittaker Corp. I would bet your Bertram hull ID number is on the transom, inboard stern about 3 to 6" above the keel or the bottom of the "V". Right behind the aft bilge pump. It is a placard that is basically a piece paper maybe 4x6" that was laminated into the fiberglass. You won't see it unless you carefully remove the paint and clean the surface. I found mine only when I had the tank out for replacement.

Tracing the history can be very easy if the vessel was documented at any point. The Coast Guard makes all of this information readily available. If it was documented you can even call the Coast Guard directly and request a "Master Carpenters" certificate. This document was required to document boats before HIN were started. The Master Carpenters certificate will have the hull number also. The Coast Guard was extremely helpful in uncovering the history of my boat. They were responsive and informative, unlike any other government agency I ever dealt with. My former boat had a handful of different owners but was originally called the "Lobster House" and was owned by a fish company in Cape May, NJ.

Bertramp · Post by **Bertramp** » Oct 13th, '15, 08:59

There was a thread a few yrs back regarding hull numbers and including them in your signature.
Lots of info.
We came to conclusion that approx 100 were made each year....

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Oct 13th, '15, 16:20

I agree with Mike: it would be the 6th B-31 built. Longtime Bertram engineer Lee Dana confirmed in an email to me that the first fiberglass hull popped out of the mold was hull # 31-101, so Al's would be #6. The original wooden Moppie that Dick Bertram raced and won in the 1960 Miami-Nassau race was used as the plug to build the split mold from which all the 1860 or so B-31 hulls were layed up. Nice find, Al; how about posting some photos for us.

Pete Fallon · Post by **Pete Fallon** » Oct 14th, '15, 00:43

Al,
The hull number for the early 31's were on a piece of paper glassed into the hull up under the Port V berth. Lift up the plywood under the cushion and look just under where the plywood meets the hull side. Piece of paper with Bertram Yacht a Division of Nauta Industries Miami, Fl. on it, should have the hull number in black magic marker 31-106 and a date, that is the date of the keel lay up. I sold my 1961 express last year she had the paper tag 31-186 12-13-61 printed on it, hull 85 the last boat they layed up in 1961. Your boat is hull number 5, they started with hull 101 so yours is hull #5. Mine is now living in the American Virgin Islands and was repowered with small diesels after being a gas boat all it's life. I had it for 37 years. Other places to look are on the back of the head ceiling panel, on the bottom of the galley drawer or under the cabin sole floor boards. Welcome to the sand box enjoy the boat.

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 06:55

Thanks for all the info, I will continue my search. I forgot to mention that my flybridge was not molded on it was attached with
@ 30 bronze bolts. I will read instruction how to send pictures and forward a before and present . thanks again

Navatech · Post by **Navatech** » Oct 15th, '15, 07:06

alscars55 wrote:I forgot to mention that my flybridge was not molded on it was attached with @ 30 bronze bolts.

I believe that's par for the course... I.e. AFAIK none of the flybridges are actually molded as part of the cabin roof... The flybridge is a separate mold... That's certainly the case for my 46' and every 31 FB that I have seen...

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:14

I read instructions for posting pictures with photo bucket. Downloaded pictures but I can only copy and paste one at a time.
This is the boat when we purchased

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:16

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:18

Working on boat outside in

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:21

Very rainy spring this year, moved the boat inside

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:25

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:27

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:31

getting ready to

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 15th, '15, 16:35

Sorry to have to post this way. I tried copy and paste all 8 but when I posted it was all the same picture.
Here is a recent one, starting to see a small flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Still a long way to go

PeterPalmieri · Post by **PeterPalmieri** » Oct 15th, '15, 21:09

Lookin good

MarkD · Post by **MarkD** » Oct 15th, '15, 21:31

Looks great! Keep the pictures coming. Love the progress.

mike ohlstein · Post by **mike ohlstein** » Oct 16th, '15, 06:51

Looks great.

If you're going with gas power, you'll need to replace the fuel tank. The old tank will be fine for diesel, though you might want to clean it out a bit.

Oversized rudders are one of the best modifications that you can make.

And get rid of those trim tabs. The 31 doesn't need them.

Tom Curran · Post by **Tom Curran** » Oct 16th, '15, 08:20

Great pics..keep up the good looking restoration

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Oct 16th, '15, 14:29

You are doing spectacular work!!!! Beautiful!!!!

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Oct 18th, '15, 14:02

Very nice. I like your bow rail. Still looks classic, yet sturdy and streamline. Nice job on the windows too. Keep the pictures coming.

Yannis · Post by **Yannis** » Oct 18th, '15, 14:24

Great ! Why didn't you pull the antifouling up to the chine all the way fwd ?
Enjoy your boat !

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Oct 19th, '15, 20:59

Yannis

Painting the bottom up to the chine all the way is the argument of the century. It is really a matter of choice.

Stephan · Post by **Stephan** » Oct 20th, '15, 09:28

alscars55 wrote:Sorry to have to post this way. I tried copy and paste all 8 but when I posted it was all the same picture.
Here is a recent one, starting to see a small flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Still a long way to go

Wow- that looks fabulous.
Did you rebuild the front window frames or fabricate your own or something else??
Best,
Stephan

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 21st, '15, 08:45

Hi Stephan, I built a mold on the boat,removed the mold and brought in in my shop and made a complete new frame all out of fiberglas. I also made the side window frames new all out of fiberglas.
It came out fabulous. I still have the mold if anyone is interested in purchasing .
Here are a couple of pictures.

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 21st, '15, 08:53

alscars55 · Post by **alscars55** » Oct 21st, '15, 08:55

MikeD@Lightningshack · Post by **MikeD@Lightningshack** » Oct 21st, '15, 09:26

Wow... what won't people do for these boats!

Impressive work!

One thing I learned on my winshield install.... the tie rods that hold the top down to the window are important structural members.

Intuition makes you think that the window are needed to hold the bridge up. Occasionally when the boats bounce around the top of the bridge feels upward forces. So the windows hold the top down also. Lots of glass at Top an Bottom window seam is the onlyway to carry the loads. Or if you leave the tie rod in you can use less glass.

I used a Holmsey insert. I thought my project was laborious. Childs play compared to what you did.

Thanks for sharing.
Mike

John F. · Post by **John F.** » Oct 21st, '15, 13:35

Boat looks great. Your f'glass windshield frames are pretty incredible. Nice job.

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Oct 21st, '15, 13:56

kickass

PeterPalmieri · Post by **PeterPalmieri** » Oct 21st, '15, 14:34

Tom Curran · Post by **Tom Curran** » Oct 21st, '15, 17:40

Over the top man!
Keep it up..

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Oct 21st, '15, 20:51

That is quite a mold.

Boat looks great, keep up the great work. It will be well worth it.

JIMO2 · Post by **JIMO2** » Apr 23rd, '17, 11:18

Hi, I'm John from FRANCE
I buy a 1961 B31 too
For your perfect information, it's the hull number 173 from the 11 july 1961...

If you still have the mold, I'm very interested by.

Please contact me directly by mail :

jean.morel@polytek.fr

Thanks and regards
John (Jean en Français)
+33 6 07 25 85 33

alscars55 wrote:Re: my 1961 Bertram 31 history
by alscars55 » Oct 21st, '15, 08:45

Hi Stephan, I built a mold on the boat,removed the mold and brought in in my shop and made a complete new frame all out of fiberglas. I also made the side window frames new all out of fiberglas.
It came out fabulous. I still have the mold if anyone is interested in purchasing .
Here are a couple of pictures

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Apr 23rd, '17, 22:26

John

I have not seen Alscars55 post in quite a while. If you click on his name, you should be able to send him a PM. That would be your best bet on this one, if you want to track down his mold.

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Apr 24th, '17, 14:46

Just read through this thread fast-----I didn't see anyone refer to the two part bridge------

I have only seen one other boat like this----it was an early boat as well---blue hull with a tuna tower call the "Stroker" last time I saw it it was docked in Point Lookout, NY-------

Pete Fallon · Post by **Pete Fallon** » May 11th, '17, 16:19

Alscars55,
The bolted on fly bridge makes sense because the original hull configuration was a sedan model (311), no Fly bridge . Someone either got ahold of the mold for the fly bridge or maybe it was added before the molds were destroyed in the Carl Herndon era at Bertram in the late 80's.
I looked at that boat back in the early 2001 or 2002 It was owned by an old timer and was berthed behind a condo complex near Hillsboro Blvd off Route 1.
Your doing a great job on the refit.
Pete Fallon

Wallacearts4821 · Post by **Wallacearts4821** » Aug 25th, '19, 21:46

I once owned hull number 4. I purchased it on Long Island and kept it in Babylon, Asharoken and in Montauk. I sold the boat around 1980 to several NYC firefighters.

Wallacearts4821 · Post by **Wallacearts4821** » Aug 25th, '19, 21:50

I once owned hull number 4. This is the Stroker, a blue hulled 31 with full tower. At the time it had twin 440 Chryslers in it. I purchased it on Long Island and kept it in Babylon, Asharoken and in Montauk. I sold the boat around 1980 to several NYC firefighters. Today, I own another 31 by the name of Honey Bee that I renovated. I keep it behind my house in East Hampton, NY.

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Aug 26th, '19, 20:50

Hull #4 is probably the oldest we have come across any members owning. Did it come from the factory Blue or was it painted? I remember reading that Bertram made Hull #1 Orange. Never found out if that was true or not.

mike ohlstein · Post by **mike ohlstein** » Aug 27th, '19, 12:15

Jaded Lady was a very early boat too, I think.