B31 in Tow

[Harry Woods]

The January 2018 edition of Long Island Boating World cover features a sharp looking B31 on a trailer that appears to being towed by a Volvo sedan. This is Craig Mac's publication and maybe he can post the picture and explain what it is about.
Harry

[Craig Mac]

I received a lot of comments on that picture---it was not a photoshop.

The picture appears on the new Bertram website----unfortunately they had no details regarding it.

I do know that the car had a front Florida license plate and with that tow vehicle (Volvo Amazon P1200) was not going far, also the way it is blocked up on the trailer.
I am guessing that the boat was being moved from the Miami factory to somewhere close--possibly a boat show. I am guessing in the early 60's based on the cars (some that were cropped out)--my only question is those bow lights. Most of the boats that sported them were in the later 60's-----

[SteveM]

Here's a link to the picture.

[Tony Meola]

Looks like the boat is sitting on a shipping cradle. Looks just like the one we have.

I remember the lights being on some of the earlier models. I actually thought they were seen more on earlier models. If I remember right one of the members here has the docking lights. I actually believe it is Fred Haas boat that has the lights. Don't remember the year of his boat but he also has the 3208 Cats in his.

Actually as I think about it I believe Mike had them on his, and Rawleigh still does have them. Not sure what year Rawleigh's boat is.

[Yannis]

I absolutely love the looks of these lights.
Had it not been for the hassle of new wiring and perhaps waterproofing the cabin, I would put them in.
Albeit without needing them at all, as I never cruise after dusk.

[Carl]

[quote="Yannis"
Albeit without needing them at all, as I never cruise after dusk.[/quote]


It's never dark if you have light...

[Yannis]

Carl,

My next boat will be a Vancouver 27.
I figure, when I will have no extra money to spend on diesel, I’ll buy a boat that will be costing next to nothing to own and run...
As it will be a sailboat, I will then be able, or even forced, to cruise by night!

[Bertramp]

I remember those docking lights..... I think made/sold by a company called "Barnegat Docking Lights".
I also remember how they ultimately leaked and became a pain in butt, with most being pulled and the holes glassed up.

[Rawleigh]

Mine is a 1966. Those are Morse aluminum docking lights. The salt eventually ate the aluminum housing after 30 years and I now have Barnegat lights with the flush cover on them. I love them, but some don't like the way they look.

[Tony Meola]

Steve

I believe at some point the Barnegat Lights were used by Bertram.

[Charlie J]

I had them on my 71 fbc

[Yannis]

Charlie,

If you stuff them with sikaflex all around, do they sill leak?
Provided they are not alum, which as Rawleigh confirms, do leak.
But doesn't plastic break from the sun too? And the various stresses?
Their price, as I just saw, is exorbitant!

[Charlie J]

this was 20 years ago
yes the originals were aluminum
I replaced mine with the plastic
and yes seal them up with silka flex
you should be ok, they do take a beating being on the bow
thought they looked cool, but were just a pain in the ass
never used them, but they came with the boat

[Dug]

Alchemy had them. When they worked they were awesome!!! But as Raleigh said, these in the picture are Morse. They are pot metal aluminum and I had to replace a couple times, eventually moving to the plastic version. None worked for long. The last straw was a particularly bad trip offshore and on the return run, one lost a light bulb eyeball ripped out of the hull leaving only just wires hanging. That was it.. They had to go. Never worked and then broke.

Alchemy now has a FLIR.

Dug

[Rawleigh]

I must say mine work well at night for spotting crab pot buoys and floating debris. My boat lives in a boathouse so they don't get much UV to degrade the plastic. I also got the flush mount clear plastic covers that make them flush to the hull. So far I like them It all depends on how you use your boat and what waters you are in.

[mike ohlstein]

My '73 had them, but I spent so much time in very rough weather that I was afraid they would wind up in the Vee berth. First I replaced the crappy metal ones with plastic bodies...... but the eye-ball bulbs kept winding up on the ocean floor.

I glassed the holes over 15 years ago and bought a flashlight.

[Rawleigh]

I think having the outside flush polycarbonate lens to protect the inner light may make the difference.

This is one of the newer models with the lens molded into it. My lens was separate, but I think I bought them in the mid 80's.

http://www.barnegatlt.com/Specs/32Hull.htm