Bertram 31 – Full Restoration

[Niels Mastrup]

I purchased a Bertram 31 FBC mid last year following multiple years of looking at various fishing boats. It is in fair condition with a sound hull making it my ideal choice for a project boat. I have trolled the various websites detailing project boats and have seen several that caught my eye and with Tony’s input started to put together a project list to start the discussion on final project scope. We hope to get started in the next 30-60 days. I have attached some pictures of the boat and hauling it out and getting it over to Seaboard Marine.

Mechanical: Bulk head to transom

Cummings 355/370 6BT’s + Motor mounts

6BTA 370 Tier I with ZF220A gear  + mounts

Appropriate Props, Prop strut

Prop Struts

Oversized rudders

Fiberglass integrated fuel tank

Trim tabs

Hydraulic steering

Electrical – all new

Tranducer Through hulls – All new

Through hull bonding system

Bait tank system and pump(s)

Fuel management system

Batteries

Battery boxes

Windlass – Bow and Flybridge controls

New Flybridge controls including motor sync

Salt water wash down

Fiberglass and paint:

Fiberglass repairs as needed

Gelcoat vs Paint ?

Cockpit deck lighting In flaring and on deck – Where to mount or have integrated in flaring

Engine box lighting

Underwater lights (transom)

Fiberglass Hardtop, Stainless steel frame with full Eisenglas

Solid fiberglass Front window and sliding side windows

Bow pulpit

Full west coast stainless steel railing package

Outriggers

 

Bottom paint

1 user thanked author for this post.

Scotth

Topic

[Jason Reimer]

Corey how’s the progress coming on the Bertram do you have any updated pictures? Did you guys guys have to beef up engine stringers or did you just through bolt and epoxy aluminum for engine mounts?

[Niels Mastrup]

Steering ram question

Tony/Corey – I read the post about the leaking steering ram and saw the SBmar Seafirst ram. This looks to be a well made unit. Will be using this for my boat?

Niels

[Niels Mastrup]

More Pics of progress

Thought I would post a few pics from our visit to the boat following the holidays. Its coming together quickly. The new Gel coat looks awesome.

[Corey Schmidt]

After Xmas Progress…

Sure do… lots has happened to the boat since the last time I posted. The hull and flybridge have been fully painted and buffed. The engines have been installed and the engine hatches are finalized. Bait tank has also been set and installed as well.

Windows were decided upon and the holes were cut… the tinted glass will be ordered and glued in soon.

Next up will be finalizing the anchor windlass.

Following that will be to fix up all of the loose ends such as fuel plumbing, DC distribution, Instrumentation, installing the props, etc. etc.

[Jason Reimer]

Bertram project

Corey do you have and updated pics of the Bertram project? I would love to see them. I am doing one right now as well and like to see your great ideas and progress.

[Niels Mastrup]

Thank you for the update Corey, very pleased with the progress and look forward to more pictures as project makes progress. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the team at Seaboard!

Niels

[Corey Schmidt]

Progress in NOV

Exhaust system is just about set and the decks are almost ready to go down… still need to set the engines, shafts, rudders, tank vents, etc etc etc.

…much more finish work to be done!

[Corey Schmidt]

Engine Compartment

Here are some pics of the newly painted engine compartment…

[Niels Mastrup]

Looking Good!

Thanks Seaboard Marine crew – The progress is excellent and looks great.

Niels

[Corey Schmidt]

More Progress…

More progress being made on the 31 Bertram project with much of the hatch work and steps, etc. getting finalized before paint.

[Corey Schmidt]

Ready for paint…

With the running gear fully engineered and complete, it’s time for paint and other boat related work. Pictures of the flybridge being painted below.

[Bill Fuller]

Tony,
I figured with 350 HP and 13/8 shafts you would be going with something like this.
Actually thought you might go 1/1. Will be interesting to see the performance numbers, both high speed and low speed.
Bill F.

[Tony Athens]

High-end Acme 17″ 4B props and 1.23R gears..

Tony

[Bill Fuller]

Hi Tony,
Just curious what gear ratio you plan to use?
Bill F.

[Tony Athens]

31 Bertram Restoration

Bill,

In the case of this particular restoration, his struts and logs & steering gear were in amazing condition and because of lots of things, we decided to reuse both.. New AQ 22 1 3/8″ shafts & seals though…

Tony

[Bill Fuller]

Bill D.

I have attached a picture of the rudders and struts that Tony built for my boat back in 2000 when I put the Yanmars in. Now it has good control on one.

I assume that this new repower/restoration will get something similar or probably better. Also, many of the Bertram 31s were actually sold with B28 rudders.

Its nice that Corey keeps updating the progress. I would love to see more. And I have actually considered taking the drive up to Oxnard to see first hand what they are doing.

Bill F.

[Bill Desmarais]

Bill,

I owned a 1977 Bert 28 FBC for 17 years. Repowered it in 2000 with new Crusaders.

I upgraded the rudders to the stock rudders on the 31 Bert.

After that I could steer the boat to either side on one engine.

Easy upgrade to the 28

[Niels Mastrup]

Thank you for the update Corey – The boat looks great! Can’t wait to see it when I get back.

[Bill Fuller]

Corey,
Off topic question for you.
I know you guys were tearing apart a 28 Bertram a while back.
Any chance you have a set B28 struts laying around?
There is a guy on the Bertram 31 site looking for a set.
Thanks
Bill

[Corey Schmidt]

Update – End of August

So, just as a quick update on this project, after the STBD engine fitment and alignment, now the PORT engine is being fitted and aligned. The flybridge has been re-glassed and the front cockpit windows are also being “glassed-in”…

Lots more to do but some good progress is being made!

[Author]

Replies