Got my First boat!!!

Mhiggins · Post by **Mhiggins** » Aug 31st, '07, 00:11

I lived on the water my whole life and bought a house on the water about four years ago and just purchased a 1979 31 Bertram. Can't wait to take her out and and start fishing and cruising. Wish me luck. Mark

Capt. Mike Holmes · Post by **Capt. Mike Holmes** » Aug 31st, '07, 00:36

Mark, good luck - and welcome to the group.

Brewster Minton · Post by **Brewster Minton** » Aug 31st, '07, 07:06

Let the list begin. Good luck, and catch um up!

jeffery pagano · Post by **jeffery pagano** » Aug 31st, '07, 07:31

By the way, my sons and I ate at Brewsters Market in Hampton Bays two evenings ago. It was absolutely the best in quality and reasonable in price. Of course, as you walk in you cannot miss a picture of the 31 and the Brewster's smile.

Why don't we hold the next Rendevous in Hamptons Bays? great fishing, great food, ample space and reasonably in the "middle"?

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Aug 31st, '07, 07:47

Jeff,

I am lucky that I live "in the middle".

But even Montauk apparently is too far for some of the northern boats...

D

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Aug 31st, '07, 08:51

Great boat choice! Best of luck to you with your New purchase.

Carl

Harv · Post by **Harv** » Aug 31st, '07, 09:28

Dug wrote:Jeff,

I am lucky that I live "in the middle".

But even Montauk apparently is too far for some of the northern boats...

D

Dug,

it's not that far. Besides, I could use one short trip for a change.

In Memory Walter K · Post by **In Memory Walter K** » Aug 31st, '07, 09:45

Dug- In my opinion, it wasn't the distance. Walter

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Aug 31st, '07, 10:12

Walter, I completely agree.

Though I have to tell you that in all the time I did the organizing, that was the #1 challenge if you want to call it a challenge. No matter where it was, people bitched it was too long a drive.

Reality is that if the event is compelling, people will come. Those of us who have come consistently do it because we enjoy each others company, even if you have come by land like Harv and others have. Though Harv, I think you have burned more fuel driving the van than the boat would have particularly your Newport weekend!

I think I know what you are talking about Walter, and I can't argue for a second...

As an aside, send me your email address, and I will send you some pictures of the most intense bluefish feeding I have ever seen!!!! Close by to you!

Dug

Harry Babb · Post by **Harry Babb** » Aug 31st, '07, 11:05

Congratualtions and welcome aboard

Harry Babb

CaptPatrick · Post by **CaptPatrick** » Aug 31st, '07, 12:09

Mark,

Again, Welcome Aboard! Feel free to join in and/or ask any questions...

Jeffery, Dug, Harv, & Walter,

This is a classic example of Hi-Jacking a thread... Mike started the topic to say "Hi" & declare himself a new B31 owner. I don't recall him asking anything about where the next NE Rendezvous was going to be... Please don't reply with an apology, it isn't necessary & would only continue the off topic discussion.

If you have a totally different topic to discuss, other than the one that the original author posted, please start another thread...

Br,

Patrick

In Memory Walter K · Post by **In Memory Walter K** » Aug 31st, '07, 12:28

Patrick-I apologize. It was not intentional. Walter

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Aug 31st, '07, 12:32

Yes sir. Sorry sir... Oops! Not supposed to apologize, I take it back!

Again, with Walter.

Sorry for responding. I was baited! I swear! Damn, there i go again!

Mark,

In the true spirit, I could not be more psyched for you! Congratulations!

Good to have you aboard!

Dug

In Memory Walter K · Post by **In Memory Walter K** » Aug 31st, '07, 12:42

Absolutely...Welcome aboard the site! You won't find a better Boat, nor a better bunch of guys to help you should you need it...and we all do. Walter

AndreF · Post by **AndreF** » Aug 31st, '07, 12:55

Welcome Mark.
(Sorry about my rude friends)
As you can see, no one holds his tongue.

capy · Post by **capy** » Aug 31st, '07, 13:52

Mark,

Welcome to the bertram family.

What she got for power?

I've got blood family in new baltimore/algonac are you on a canal?

Musky fishing was good this year huron and I've been told with lots of perch in lake st clair.

Paul

scot · Post by **scot** » Aug 31st, '07, 17:42

Mark,

Welcome aboard and congradulations on your 31 Bertram purchase.

Go directly to the Bertram factory site and order yourself a hat.....now you have every right to wear it with pride.

Harv · Post by **Harv** » Aug 31st, '07, 17:50

Dug made me do it.

Mark,
Welcome to the boards and good luck with your new 31.
You will find this is the best group of people in the world.
Even when we make mistakes....

randall · Post by **randall** » Aug 31st, '07, 18:33

mark....what harv said is true...the boat is great but the people are better....you now have good friends all over the place........as Vic once said........"if you need my help and you dont ask...i'll be pissed".....or words to that effect...point is ...over time it has turned out.....there not just words

jeffery pagano · Post by **jeffery pagano** » Sep 1st, '07, 06:26

Welcome from a group of people who genuinely seek the best for your b 31 experience in terms of safety, assistance and fun.

I hope you can attend the next Rendevous located at..........Hows that for subtlety, Capt. Pat, Dug and Walter? Am I out of the "Hat house" (dog house" yet?

Jareb · Post by **Jareb** » Sep 1st, '07, 07:05

Mark,
Congratulations on your purchase! Can you post some pictures for us? I looked at a 1970 yesterday in Ft Pierce, but it wasnt worth the 40K asking price. The search continues.
John

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Sep 4th, '07, 10:17

Mark welcome aboard. Maybe you will want to bring your new Bertram to the Mid-Atlantic Rendezvous held in Atlantic City at the Trump Marina.

Leigh · Post by **Leigh** » Sep 7th, '07, 20:04

Mark: Congratulations! You are definitely in the right place to learn everything you need to know about your boat. I have a 1985 B28 FBC "Ptarmigan" which I keep at the Grosse Pointe Shores Park. We get up to the north end of the Lake quite a bit, so maybe we'll run into you. My boat has blue stripes w/ gold accents, blue bimini and outriggers. There are a lot of 28's on Lake St Clair, but not too many 31's, so I'll keep an eye out for you. We will be doing some Muskie and perch fishing this fall. Enjoy. Leigh

Mhiggins · Post by **Mhiggins** » Sep 7th, '07, 23:40

Capy, It has twin 454's for power. I live off Jefferson, just south of 23 mile and north of Brandenburg Park. I am about 500 ft from Anchor Bay. She is in a slip for now. The boat is the Believer.

Mhiggins · Post by **Mhiggins** » Sep 9th, '07, 23:34

Here is a pic of the boat. ( just found out how to upload pics photobucket rocks! )

Mhiggins · Post by **Mhiggins** » Sep 9th, '07, 23:45

Here is me and my dad, he taught me how to drive today. I did great docking it and it handled beautiful! I got alot of looks going down the Clinton River and also down Metro Beach. I still need alittle more time on the lake so I don't run ground. The depth finder wasn't working up top and the sonar and gps at the bottom are really old and couldn't really read them. Gonna replace them this winter.

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Sep 10th, '07, 07:25

That shot brings tears to my eyes. I remember the day I handed the check to the previous owner and a bunch of friends and I piled on to drive her home. And my father.

I was so damned proud. And I still am whenever he joins me on the boat.

What a shot. It is one you will remember!

Oh, and the boat looks great!

Dug

John F. · Post by **John F.** » Sep 10th, '07, 10:41

Great shot and really nice looking B31. Has she always been a Great Lakes boat? She looks it in the pics. Enjoy.........

Mhiggins · Post by **Mhiggins** » Sep 10th, '07, 11:23

Hey, thanks guys. Yeah she has always been on the Great Lakes, mostly on Lake St. Claire for Muskies. She is named after the Believer muskie lure because the original owner invented them.

Rawleigh · Post by **Rawleigh** » Sep 10th, '07, 11:36

Wow, that would explain why all the metal work is in such good condition! Looks fairly original, a lot like my boat! The only thing that I see that I would change right off is to go back to a surface mount forward white light on the face of the bridge. That would lower the light source so it won't hurt your night vision as much. Good luck! You will have a blast.

Dug · Post by **Dug** » Sep 10th, '07, 11:49

Keep all the aluminum well covered with Woody Wax, and you will be psyched at how it looks.

I am a recent and complete convert. Amazing stuff...

Dug

Brewster Minton · Post by **Brewster Minton** » Sep 10th, '07, 14:30

clean looking ride there

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sep 10th, '07, 15:49

Thought they quit making that boat thirty years ago? She looks new. Zowie!

bertram31.com

Got my First boat!!!

Got my First boat!!!

Good luck

Who is online