Newbie with a Riva B-25

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 2nd, '17, 16:52

Hi guys,

So it isn't a 31, but..

I have been lurking here for quite a while, salivating. For a number of years it has been clear that at some point it would have to be a Bertram. While that sounds straightforward enough, it also means that I would have to import one - as I live in Oslo, Norway, and the Berties are slim pickings here. The pier at my house is too small to accommodate a 31, but a 25 fits - so a 25 it must be (or possibly a 28, but we're pushing it. Also, I am partial to the Ray Hunt hulls)! So far so good.

While the 25-board was still alive and kicking I did some hanging around there as well. Many clean and tempting member boats for inspiration - both original and creative. However, I did develop a bit of a yearning for the Riva Bertram 25. I think the beautiful hull lines are further emphasised by the Riva's rounded screens and nice woodwork inside. So I started to look for a good one..

..and found a lot of neglected crappy ones. Some were just dogs, others were "recently restored" and looked equally terrible. And a few were nice. After a lot of searching, I settled on a very honest and good-looking boat in Italy - got tickets, went and saw the boat and fell in love. Partially restored. The bits that are restored are brilliant, and the ones that are not are in very honest, good shape. Engines and transmissions are oldish but well maintained, hull is undamaged with a new coat of Awlgrip, superstructure is undamaged and looks great, and the interior is restored. The owner has been obsessive with details on the ground that he has covered, but hasn't done anything halfway or made cover-ups on the bits not yet addressed. Biggest worry is the original tank. Will have to get back to that.

Contract is signed, but the boat is still in Italy - can't wait to get it here!!
Looking forward to sharing the journey with you, and hope I can play even if it isn't a 31..
Lars

ford351c594 · Post by **ford351c594** » Jul 2nd, '17, 17:33

that is a beautiful boat. enjoy it.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Jul 2nd, '17, 17:52

On behalf of Capt. Pat, welcome aboard.
Beautiful boat.

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Jul 2nd, '17, 22:48

Lars

Welcome. Sure looks like a Bert. Nice looking boat.

We welcome all everyone. Over the years we have even let Hatteras owners play here.

So don't be shy.

Charlie J · Post by **Charlie J** » Jul 3rd, '17, 03:22

welcome lars

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 3rd, '17, 04:00

Thanks for the welcome!

The boat is coming from Santa Margherita/Portofino on the Liguria coast. A lot of Berties there! My 25 was sharing storage with a nicely refurbished 31.

The marinas were full of B31's. Here a couple of 31's next to two 28 Moppies. I counted ten 31's in this marina alone.

And in Portofino, next to a pair of mahogany Rivas

Charlie J · Post by **Charlie J** » Jul 3rd, '17, 05:00

beautiful pics
how long is the boating season there

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Jul 3rd, '17, 07:33

I think the curved windows and stainless frames were the best improvements Riva added----too bad they didn't make 31's.

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 3rd, '17, 07:49

Craig Mac wrote:too bad they didn't make 31's.

Yes, but Capt. Pat (and a few others) took care of that...

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 3rd, '17, 08:08

Charlie J wrote:beautiful pics
how long is the boating season there

Thanks. The pictures are from Italy, but soon there will be an update from the boat's new harbour in Norway. Season is four-five months here in Oslo; starting early/mid May, and going out end September. The beginning and end of that season may be outside what you guys would call boating weather, but I like it.. Summer is nice. Water temperature hovers round 70-72 degrees, and no sharks..

This is the pier at my home outside Oslo. You can make out Oslo in the second picture.

The Coronet is sold, and pier waits for new inhabitant!

Charlie J · Post by **Charlie J** » Jul 3rd, '17, 10:02

nice country

John F. · Post by **John F.** » Jul 3rd, '17, 10:40

Welcome. Beautiful boat and beautiful place.

Craig Mac · Post by **Craig Mac** » Jul 3rd, '17, 13:04

looking at the restored 31 in the indoor storage---the windows frames look pretty bright----do you think they are just polished aluminum or do you think they were fabricated out of SS?

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 3rd, '17, 14:14

Craig Mac wrote:looking at the restored 31 in the indoor storage---the windows frames look pretty bright----do you think they are just polished aluminum or do you think they were fabricated out of SS?

I was wondering the same thing. I know that the alu rub rail was replaced with SS, but I am not sure about the window frames.

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Jul 3rd, '17, 21:33

Tell them to join the board so they can tell us if the frames are stainless. Also they look like the rudders are old style. If they upgrade to the bigger rudders the boat will handle better.

Yannis · Post by **Yannis** » Jul 3rd, '17, 23:14

That Coronet was the very first boat that made me wish to someday get a boat of my own, back in the mid-70's !
I think they had 90 hp engines? Or 2X90 ? Chryslers?

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Jul 6th, '17, 06:20

Welcome...

Great looking Boat, enjoy it in good health!

scot · Post by **scot** » Jul 6th, '17, 21:30

Nice looking 25, I like the Riva version of the 25. The rounded front windows really improve the lines on the boat. I'm also partial to the inboard V8 versions, best riding 25 Bertram built and no issues leaving it in the water. Nice find. Enjoy.

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 7th, '17, 04:43

Thank you guys!

Those of you who have experience with B25's: Do I have to cut out a section of the deck in order to remove the gas tank? I assume the screwed-down part in the lowered section is way too small for tank removal?

scot · Post by **scot** » Jul 7th, '17, 20:12

I'm not certain but I believe it will come out through the double hatch in the lower section of the cockpit sole. The hatch is almost as wide as the glass box stringers.

Rocket · Post by **Rocket** » Jul 18th, '17, 15:57

You do not want to try to remove those tanks unless you absolutely have to, they are tucked forward and outboard wrapped around the center depression in front of the v drives.

Joseph Fikentscher · Post by **Joseph Fikentscher** » Jul 19th, '17, 07:58

I have newer tanks. The PO cut the lower floor out and had to raise it an inch or so for the new tanks to fit. Aluminum, 50 gallons each.

Joseph Fikentscher · Post by **Joseph Fikentscher** » Jul 19th, '17, 08:02

I guesss I can't post facebook pictures here. Maybe a URL.
https://www.facebook.com/enduranceb25/p ... =3&theater

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 19th, '17, 16:14

Thanks all, that's useful. Sounds like I have a not-so-fun task coming up. Still curious to see how much needs to be removed to get at the tanks. I don't even know if Riva used the same tank layout as Bertram originally did. Fingers crossed.
Joe: Nice webpages and boat!

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 19th, '17, 16:19

Saga continues on getting the boat home. Got to excercise my ancient Italian from uni days, quarreling with Italian shipper that kept finding new excuses and delays. Got rid of him and found new shipper - Danish this time - and hopefully I will have the boat at my pier in three weeks.

Yannis · Post by **Yannis** » Jul 20th, '17, 01:37

Lars,
How do you ship her? On a cradle? If yes, where did you find it? Could you give an idea of cost for cradle, shipping and insurance?
Thanks.
(I would guess the route is Italy/Gibraltar/North sea ?

Joseph Fikentscher · Post by **Joseph Fikentscher** » Jul 20th, '17, 08:04

A little late but Gert on this board probably could give advice on shipping.

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » Jul 20th, '17, 21:18

Actually what Joe said. But I bet Gert could hook you up.

He does not jump on too much anymore, just send him a PM. Just put his name in the search function and you will get one of his posts then you can send him a PM. He is somewhere up in your neck of the woods.

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 21st, '17, 07:45

Shipping on the back of a large truck/low loader. No cradle, just adjusted supports and tiedowns. The complicated bit is securing oversize permits in all the countries they are passing through. Italy is particularly complicated, and a couple of the shippers said no thanks to the Italian permit bureauracy..

Checked out maybe a dozen companies, and the cost of handling, shipping and insurance ranges from EUR 7k to 10k. Ouch.

Yannis · Post by **Yannis** » Jul 22nd, '17, 00:14

I thought you would have done it by sea....yeah by truck it is indeed complicated.
I remember I was looking at several 28's before I finally bought mine locally, that were in Spain, Italy, France...
A true ordeal, accentuated by the fact that the 28's beam was over the highway limit so that circulation had to be modified, a "follow me" car infront and a police car behind (I would have to also pay these guys separately), plus the exorbitant highway fees...
On the other hand, the sea freight required a cradle that was nowhere to be found, I had mails come and go with an old Bertram employee who could not find the exact boat dimensions because the files were in paper form and were sitting in boxes with all other files of the era after Bertram moved from one site to another over the years...
Lastly, the agents representing the shipping companies were charging anything they felt reasonable (to them)...in other words I almost had to fly over, jump into a boat of unknown seaworthiness and sail to Greece, hell, I had to buy locally which I did because I was lucky to find a 28 close to me. 31's were, and still are, abundant here too, but I didn't want a 31...
Good luck.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Jul 22nd, '17, 07:32

Large yacht owners are sometimes looking to off set relocation costs since those relocations do not usully have paid charters. I've used charter yacht services to tow boats from one location to another for half the cost of over the road or float on ships.

Yannis · Post by **Yannis** » Jul 23rd, '17, 01:00

From Portofino to Oslo it should be over 5000 miles by sea.
The idea of towing is good, only the distance is a bit of a problem here !!!
All Bertrams in Europe, hundreds, even thousands of them, all came aboard a sea freighter. I'm VERY glad that I didn't have to deal with the transport...let alone subsequent electrical systems conversion from 110 to 220, CE certification, VAT,...bla,bla, until you reach a point that you're tired with the boat before you even saw her.

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 24th, '17, 09:23

Taking a break from the logistics and spending a few days in Madison on the Long Island Sound with family. Any tips on what to do and where to eat from you guys familiar with the area?

mike ohlstein · Post by **mike ohlstein** » Jul 24th, '17, 10:35

Lars wrote:Taking a break from the logistics and spending a few days in Madison on the Long Island Sound with family. Any tips on what to do and where to eat from you guys familiar with the area?

The Long Island Sound is 110 miles long...... Where are you?

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 24th, '17, 12:02

Madison, between Guilford and Clinton.

mike ohlstein · Post by **mike ohlstein** » Jul 26th, '17, 14:00

You're out east...... Do you have a boat?

You should go across the sound to Greenport. Walk around, see the town. Some good restaurants there.

New London is ok....

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions ... ticut.html

Mystic is nice too.

http://www.mysticaquarium.org/

mike ohlstein · Post by **mike ohlstein** » Jul 26th, '17, 14:00

You're out east...... Do you have a boat?

You should go across the sound to Greenport. Walk around, see the town. Some good restaurants there.

New London is ok....

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions ... ticut.html

Mystic is nice too.

http://www.mysticaquarium.org/

Lars · Post by **Lars** » Jul 26th, '17, 20:39

Thanks Mike.
No boat here - I am feeling the pains of withdrawal. Perhaps an unskippered charter. Will see if we can get to Greenport as you suggest. Been to Mystic a few times, really nice.