To offset the weight fo the Yamaha 350s on the stern, Stallings and the restoration team converted the old engine wells.
Legendary Bertram® 31 Gets Most Unusual Repower Solution
The Bertram® 31 is arguably one of the most famous faces on the water. Designed by the legendary Ray Hunt, the boat, which was in production for 25 years, remains a favorite of boating and fishing fanatics worldwide. For Bertram® 31 enthusiast Butch Stallings of Mobile, Ala., purchasing and then taking on the complete restoration of the 31-foot vessel was a dream come true.
“I have always wanted a 31 Bertram,†said Stallings. “When I purchased this one in 2005, my intention was to restore the boat back to its original, pristine condition, but I wanted to look at different ways to repower the boat.â€
The same year Stallings bought the Bertram®, Yamaha introduced the F350 outboard – an offshore giant capable of delivering more power and thrust than any other outboard of its kind. Stallings wanted to make his Bertam® into a real show piece and what better way to do that, he figured, than to power it with twin F350s. Knowing that much of the water around him was shallow bay water, he also did not want to deal with the hassle of under water propellers. Though his decision was an easy one to make, the task itself was not without its major obstacles.
First, the boat’s original engines were situated mid-ship, so there were weight distribution issues to address when installing the 350s on a bracket on the stern. But before the project ever began, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf, completely washing the Bertram into the bay – upside down. The Bertram’s® refurbishing team, consisting of the the crew from Dog River Marina of Mobile, recovered the hull and boat and then slowly restarted the restoration – this time many steps back from where they originally began.
With the help of Sonny Middleton of Dog River Marina, Stallings purchased the twin F350s from Ships Chandler in Destin, Fla. To help offset the weight of the stern bracket with the F350s, the restoration team converted the old engine wells into spaces for air conditioning, generator and other storage. In addition, the interior received a complete overhaul.
“Most everything in and on the boat had to be custom made by Dog River Marina and its vendors,†said Stallings. “We started this project in 2005 and finally finished in the spring of 2009. The process was long but most definitely worth the wait as the finished product was given an overall vessel rating condition of “Excellent (Bristol). A vessel that receives this type of rating is considered maintained in mint fashion - usually better than factory condition, loaded with extras - a rarity.â€
Stallings, who has chosen Yamaha to power several of his boats, has not been disappointed by his decision to repower his 31 Bertram® with the F350s.
“The 31 Bertram with the F350s is very fast and fuel efficient. This is an extremely recognizable boat and nothing but the best would do in terms of workmanship and power. I wanted something that fit the boat’s style and also delivered the performance and dependability I needed,†said Stallings. “Everywhere we go, other boaters stare, take pictures and some make it a point to turn around for a second look. It is truly a remarkable and beautiful boat, and more than likely the only one of its kind in the world. The expertise from the team at Dog River Marina coupled with the addition of the Yamaha F350s helped us create the show piece we desired and we could not be more pleased with the results.†Y
