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Wet and Wild - Bertram 31
by Peter Bohr
Bertram 31's attraction continues, 30 years later
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It's been more than three decades since the Bertram 31 sparked a revolution in the design of pleasureboat hulls.
Back in 1958, Dick Bertram was a crew member on the America's Cup contender ,/Vim, when he noticed a small power boat frolicking with surprising ease in nasty seas off Newport, Rhode Island. He eventually located the remarkable boat and its designer, Ray Hunt, and ordered a copy for himself.
Bertram christened the boat ,/Moppie and set off to Miami, where he proceeded to devastate a field of ocean racing power boats. ,/Moppie's success launched the Bertram Yacht Co. and made the deep-V hull the design of choice for oceangoing power boat hulls.
Before the Bertram/Hunt boats, high-speed hulls had rounded midsections with flat sections aft. But the deep-V hull has a sharp V shape that's carried all the way aft to the transom. Coming down on a wave, the V acts like a wedge that cuts through the water, rather than pounding down upon it.
Between 1961 and 1983, Bertram produced more than 2,000 deep-V hull 31-footers in three configurations. The Flybridge Cruiser -- with an enclosed cabin containing a separate head compartment, a galley, a convertible dinette and berths for two -- was the most popular model.
The Bahia Mar, with an express helm and a small cuddy cabin containing a head compartment and twin berths, was a favorite utility boat with charter and dive boat operators.
But the unquestioned classic of the 31 trio is the Sport Fisherman. Its sleek, simple lines are stunningly beautiful in a way more modern boats often are not.
Moreover, the 31 Sport Fisherman's immense cockpit, low freeboard and walk-through cabin (only drop curtains separate the cabin from the cockpit) have made it the icon of sportfishing boats among serious anglers.
Beyond all this, the Bertram 31 Sport Fisherman delivers downright thrilling performance. Twin engines -- two 330 hp gasoline MerCruisers were standard fare -- take the boat to a top speed of more than 30 knots.Cruising speed is 23 knots, with fuel consumption of 27 gallons per hour. And that deep-V hull can handle the most wicked waters while giving a comfortable ride.
The Bertram 31 Sport Fisherman was such a happy design that it required no dramatic revisions, despite its long production run.
Of course, judged by today's technology, any 30-year-old design will be found lacking, in some respects. The 31 Sport Fisherman has a relatively steep V-hull shape, by modern standards.
More recent deep-V boats have less deadrise, with the benefit of better fuel economy. The 31 Sport Fisherman is a quasi-displacement hull: It does rise to a plane, but it takes plenty of horsepower, gulping lots of fuel, to get there.
More modern designs also incorporate tricks -- such as wide reverse chines -- to mitigate the deep-V hull's tendency to roll when abeam of the sea.
But perhaps most annoying of all, the 31 Sport Fisherman drenches its occupants. As one experienced Bertram dealer put it, "I wouldn't say it's a wet boat. I'd say it's a REALLY wet boat!"
A bimini top and curtains can go a long way toward keeping the skipper on the bridge dry. Still, the boat is best suited to warmer climates.
Should this classic tug at your heart strings, you'll find plenty of examples around -- ranging in price from $25,000 to more than $100,000. The former sum will buy a fixer.
Higher-priced boats have often been lovingly restored and repowered with diesels. One hot setup uses twin 350 hp turbocharged, straight-six Caterpillar 3116 diesels, which give decent fuel economy and speeds of 35 knots.
Keep in mind that the earliest 31s have entered old age. Besides needing new engines and electronics, they may require gelcoat work (Imron paint seems to be the preferred solution to badly deteriorated gelcoat) and attention to the plywood cockpit sole (drop-in aftermarket fiberglass shells are available).
Thankfully, hull blisters are rare.
Sure, the Bertram 31 Sport Fisherman has its faults. But when you want to turn heads at the yacht club or turn high speeds through heavy speeds, the 31 Sport Fisherman is still tough to beat.
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This article first appeared in the May 1994 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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