Cummins Marine Diesel Repower Specialists Forums General Discussion Bertram 31 – Full Restoration

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    Topic
  • #18434

    Niels Mastrup
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Patriot
    Engines: QSB 5.9
    Location: Oxnard
    Country: United States

    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.
Viewing 11 replies - 41 through 51 (of 51 total)
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  • #21776

    Woo
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Obsession
    Engines: 6BTA5.9M3 (370) x 2
    Location: East Coast
    Country: Australia

    I’m with you on the 370 choice. And the stainless…. No aluminum on my boat.

    Nice work so far.

    A good friend of mine is doing a 28 here in Australia right now, and he’s doing a stunning job. Sadly the 6BT won’t fit, so he’s choosing between Yanmar 4 and 6 cylinder options.

    #21739

    Niels Mastrup
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Patriot
    Engines: QSB 5.9
    Location: Oxnard
    Country: United States

    Hello Bill – Thank you for the comments and very nice catch! I am based in Reno, NV but grew up in Southern California and look forward to getting back on the water fishing. I will defer to Tony on the engine recommendation specifics but basically Tony and I discussed several options and based upon my intended use, this is the engine he recommended.

    What I meant by the comment of a “west coast rail package” is I have noticed the railing on several different Bertrams and I preferred the higher railing that comes further back towards the cockpit. One feature I do want to include, a bow pulpit with toe railing. These seemed to be more prevalent on west coast based Bertrams vs. east coast based Bertram’s where many of them don’t have bow railings at all. Regarding my obsession with stainless steel, I just like it.

    Thanks for the comment on the windlass controls this is very helpful as it appears you have practical experience vs marketing literature.

    Niels

    #21731

    Bill Fuller
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Audax
    Engines: Yanmar 4LHA-STE
    Location: San Diego, CA
    Country: USA

    Niels, Tony,
    A few questions:
    Why the 370s rather than the 330s? I would think the 330s would be a better choice, especially hear in SoCal.
    Why stainless steel support work for the hard top? I would think aluminum would be much better.
    Again for railing system, Aluminum at greater than 1 inch diameter?
    What do you mean by a “Full west coast stainless steel railing package”?
    Niels, look and my boat, Audax, and Noel May, you might get a better idea of what you are looking for rather than looking at Shooter.
    Also, I always found the foot operated windlass switch on the bow a pain. I use controls on the bridge and a remote when I want to operate from the bow. Works really nice. Just an idea to think about.
    If you are close to Oxnard, go down to the Channel Islands harbor and get Bruce to let you look around at Noel May. Tony did some really nice things on that boat.
    Tony, don’t answer if you don’t want to, just wondering who was working on the boat. Anyone I know?
    Great project!
    Good Luck!
    Bill
    PS where are you located?
    I attached a picture from a week and half ago.

    Hayden-Dan-and-Me-with-230-pounder-7-31-2017-1

    #21728

    Bill Fuller
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Audax
    Engines: Yanmar 4LHA-STE
    Location: San Diego, CA
    Country: USA

    Niels, Tony,
    A few questions:
    Why the 370s rather than the 330s? I would think the 330s would be a better choice, especially hear in SoCal.
    Why stainless steel support work for the hard top? I would think aluminum would be much better.
    Again for railing system, Aluminum at greater than 1 inch diameter?
    What do you mean by a “Full west coast stainless steel railing package”?
    Niels, look and my boat, Audax, and Noel May, you might get a better idea of what you are looking for rather than looking at Shooter.
    Also, I always found the foot operated windlass switch on the bow a pain. I use controls on the bridge and a remote when I want to operate from the bow. Works really nice. Just an idea to think about.
    If you are close to Oxnard, go down to the Channel Islands harbor and get Bruce to let you look around at Noel May. Tony did some really nice things on that boat.
    Tony, don’t answer if you don’t want to, just wondering who was working on the boat. Anyone I know?
    Great project!
    Good Luck!
    Bill
    PS where are you located?
    I attached a picture from a week and half ago.

    Hayden-Dan-and-Me-with-230-pounder-7-31-2017

    #21680

    Niels Mastrup
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Patriot
    Engines: QSB 5.9
    Location: Oxnard
    Country: United States

    Update – End of July visit to Seaboard Marine

    I was able to stop and visit the Seaboard crew on a recent visit to Oxnard at the end of July and got these pictures of my boat. They are making excellent progress and have really cleaned up the under deck area and engine compartments. Decision was made to totally gut the area due to a lot more rot than first pass review. Very pleased with progress of the project! I’ll try to get more photo’s posted on a regular basis as time permits.

    Niels

    #19715

    Niels Mastrup
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Patriot
    Engines: QSB 5.9
    Location: Oxnard
    Country: United States

    Awesome Tony! I am very excited to see that the project has started, its going to be a lot of fun and especially when it is done and we are fishing.

    I will be calling you soon to discuss some specifics.

    Sincerely,

    Niels

    #19158

    Tony Athens
    Moderator
    Vessel Name: Local Banks
    Engines: QSB 6.7 550 HP
    Location: Oxnard, CA
    Country: USA

    Guess what?

    Look at the pics.. The clock is ticking!

    Tony

    #18542

    Rob Schepis
    Forum Moderator
    Vessel Name: Tenacious
    Engines: 6BTA 5.9 330's - "Seaboard Style"
    Location: Long Island, NY
    Country: USA

    Understood on your plan.  If you’re still working then that makes good sense (or cents)- go make a buck doing what you do best and let the pro’s do their thing this way all moves fwd as it should.

     

    Regarding my engines – I purchased her with the 330B’s.  Luckily the prior owner was “onboard” with the Seaboard way so when I took possession there were already several nice upgrades in place so I had an excellent starting point to continue with further customization and add-ons.  They are certainly not the same engines that shipped out of Charleston 15 years ago!  Regarding engine choice – If the same boat was side by side with QSB’s, I still would have opted for the mechanical B, it was my “target power”, but that’s just a personal preference, others would totally disagree with that comment….they all have their advantages, I’m just a bit old school…

    #18529

    Niels Mastrup
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Patriot
    Engines: QSB 5.9
    Location: Oxnard
    Country: United States

    Thanks Rob – While I originally planned to be hands-on, I realized a couple of things as we got closer to the project, #1 besides raw labor this is not in my skill set to properly rebuild and re-power my boat in a timely manner, #2 My current work schedule would not permit adequate time to make progress and would drag out the total time required to complete. My goal is to have this boat fishing before I retire and done in a manner that with proper care and maintenance (learning this from this site), I will have a great, reliable fishing platform for 20+ years. 

    Thanks for the comment on the 330B as that describes what type of engine I am looking for. Did you consider the QSB series before making your decision?

    Niels

    #18518

    Rob Schepis
    Forum Moderator
    Vessel Name: Tenacious
    Engines: 6BTA 5.9 330's - "Seaboard Style"
    Location: Long Island, NY
    Country: USA

    Thanks for bringing this to the forum.  That is going to be quite a project.  Will you be “hands-on” in the project in order to control costs?  I have a friend with similar vintage Bertram 31 Express that is used 100% for offshore fishing and he loves it.  He repowered her w/ Yanmar 4LH’s (must be 15 years now) and she cruises great and sips fuel.  My present boat has the 330B’s and 220A gears, you will love these engines for the unmatched combination of simplicity, reliability and performance.  And getting direct from Tony they will have all the needed SBMAR mod’s to make them bulletproof.

    #18515

    Niels Mastrup
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Patriot
    Engines: QSB 5.9
    Location: Oxnard
    Country: United States

    Bertram 31 – Full Restoration

    I thought I would add to my post to clarify why I am putting my project on this forum. This project is a goal I have been working towards for a long time. I have the opportunity to go forward with it and I want to do it right. Over the past couple of years while doing research I came across the project completed by Seaboard Marine, “Shooter” awhile back and started reading various forums on this site. This is what led me to Seaboard Marine and Tony to see what they could do to help build my dream boat, a 31′ Bertram. The intended use of my boat is sport fishing Southern California Islands and occasional dive trips. I am reaching out to the Seaboard Marine community for input as this project progresses as I value your practical feedback on various topics posted. I have an open mind to new ideas, my primary criteria when considering each issue of this project is function and durability. I do not have an unlimited budget and acknowledge I will have to make some tough choices. First consideration is entirely focused on Structural, Mechanical and Electrical. Once we clear this hurdle, I will have to evaluate what accessories and cosmetic issues to address. Looking forward to your thoughts and advice as we progress.

    Niels

     

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