A nice day on the water......

[AndieMac]

Today we took an American exchange student, friend of my son, out for his first boat trip.
He liked the thought of game fishing, so I called a mate who is based at the east coast township of St. Helens. The small town is well known as a game fishing location.

My mate owns an older (1978) model Bertram 25, with new motors, and is a very keen fisherman, with lots of good gear (rods, reels, lures etc..).
It was pretty sloppy conditions today, but very warm. Only out for 3 hours, but bagged ourselves 4 nice little tuna, and a couple of yellow-tailed kingfish (fabulous table fish).

The boys saw a massive school of dolphins, a seal and plenty of albatross.
I think we may have some more boating converts.....

 

[Blackfeather]

Fab pics.

Very jealous when I see that weather.

 

[AndieMac]

Just for the fisher-folk.....

The skipper told us that nothing would happen until we hit the 320 foot depth, which was exactly where the first strike occurred, with 2 degree rise in the water temp.

BTW, he is one of my best mates, but I do cringe everytime I see the boat name.......the fishing scene here is very macho

 

[epervier]

Andie, you can seriously piss people off, with photos of sunshine and warmth, up here at the moment it's -3c at night, with a best daytime of +3c, punctuated with snow flurries

Great pictures, thank you.

 

[AndieMac]

Andie, you can seriously piss people off, with photos of sunshine and warmth, up here at the moment it's -3c at night, with a best daytime of +3c, punctuated with snow flurries

Great pictures, thank you.

The nice pics and stories that came from the Med and Britain during our last winter gave me a boost during the bleak period........just trying to help

Remember its a good time to visit at the present

 

[BartW]

Hey Callum, it was your turn to send us some sunny boating pics, to sheer us up during such a cold winter!. well done !
I am very impressed how clean and nice this Bertram looks, has she been maintained that good over all these years, or is she refurbished ?
pls keep the pictures comming.
best rgds Bart

 

[Major Catastrophe]

The nice pics and stories that came from the Med and Britain during our last winter gave me a boost during the bleak period........just trying to help

Callum, bleak period. What bleak period in Tassie? Does it involve a biting wind, rain and snow....usually at the same time?

 

[AndieMac]

Hey Callum, it was your turn to send us some sunny boating pics, to sheer us up during such a cold winter!. well done !
I am very impressed how clean and nice this Bertram looks, has she been maintained that good over all these years, or is she refurbished ?
pls keep the pictures comming.
best rgds Bart

My mate has owned her for 20 years and always keeps her like this. He is also the guy that does all my mechanical work, clever man.
The old Bertram absolutely flies.....the six cylinder chevs, with new long stroke engine blocks, flat top pistons and cam work, spin high pitched 4 blade SS props, with the power to put you over the transom, if he leans on the throttles too hard.

 

[BartW]

My mate has owned her for 20 years and always keeps her like this. He is also the guy that does all my mechanical work, clever man.
The old Bertram absolutely flies.....the six cylinder chevs, with new long stroke engine blocks, flat top pistons and cam work, spin high pitched 4 blade SS props, with the power to put you over the transom, if he leans on the throttles too hard.

after 20 years, still looking like new? your friend gave that boat the respect and treatment that it deserves

What engines are in there, is it the 220HP's ?
must be doing well over 40++kn ?
I don't think that mister Bertram ever had that speed in mind with this boat ?
really nice !

 

[AndieMac]

Callum, bleak period. What bleak period in Tassie? Does it involve a biting wind, rain and snow....usually at the same time?

I guess it must be relative Major.....generally the lights go out on boating by late May, and come on in early September.

Its no warmer than a good summers day in Britain, but there is more consistantly dry, warm days from Jan. to April.
Just have to make the most of the season, to have pleasant memories during winter.

 

[MapisM]

the lights go out on boating by late May, and come on in early September.

Urgh, boating all year round but 3 or 4 months, and you say that you need pleasant memories to go through winter...
That really hurts. Though I guess I'm still lucky, compared to those north of the Channel!

 

[AndieMac]

after 20 years, still looking like new? your friend gave that boat the respect and treatment that it deserves

What engines are in there, is it the 220HP's ?
must be doing well over 40++kn ?
I don't think that mister Bertram ever had that speed in mind with this boat ?
really nice !

She has the old style, in-line sixes, with more cubes supplied by the 192 C.I. blocks. They started off life as 165 h.p., but by now certainly approaching 220.

Curiously he also owns a late model larger version (Caribbean 26) of the older style, with V6's, but prefers to use the 'old girl' because of her solid feel in rough water.

With the game-fishing guys here, they rip and tear their way out to the continental shelf at great speed, for the biggest fish and see who can endure the biggest waves.....

 

[RogerRat]

Thanks, great post. As you say it helps to see the nice weather and pics of fish we don't see up here in the middle of winter. We have snow flurries/ sleet here this morning and it's not too warm either.

I used to have a very similar 28fter like your friends Bertram. I think it was a Starcraft but probably a rippoff of the Bertram as so similar but that had a single V8 petrol to a Mercruiser Bravo leg. I really like that boat.

Keep the pics coming and we might be able to cheer you up in the same way in 3-4 months time.

 

[AndieMac]

Thanks Roger....I'll look forward to the upcoming trips..

btw, I still think your signature is still one of the best I've seen..very funny