Some old Bertrams for AndieMac

Bajansailor

Bajansailor

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And everybody else who likes Berties! :)

Here are the first couple of pages from an old 1977 catalogue - there are also pages illustrating the 33', 35', 42' and 46' Convertibles, and the 42', 46' and 58' yachts, which I could scan and post here if anybody would like to see them as well.

I have also included a price list from 1977 - US$ 60,000 for a twin diesel Bertram 31 was a fortune then, and today many of them on the 2nd hand market have asking prices considerably higher.


BertramrangeP1.jpg



BertramrangeP2.jpg



Bertramrangepricelist1977.jpg
 
Thanks Martin, just have a massive lift for the day :)

Looking at the photos from that era, the 26' was sold here (built under licence) as the B25, the 28' exactly the same, but we didn't build a 31' in that shape, but a few were imported from the US.
Our 31, built early 80's here, was a much more modern looking boat with a large cabin and small cockpit.
The 25 was the most popular with twin 6 sixes, but the 28 with twin V8's was just unstopable with a massive 28 deg. deadrise and huge weight, mind you they did enjoy a drink.

Cheers mate.
 
No worries mate, I thought you would like these!

And as for hangin' around 'ere, well, most folk in old Blighty are in bed (apart from Kwackers) as it is coming up for 0500 there, but bed time here, and I think almost 1400 hrs tomoz with you in Tassie now, hence I figured you would be about......

There are now 3 Bertram 25s here (I think they are the American predecessors of the 26 shown above), two of which have been much modified - one now has a big outboard on a bolt on transom bracket, while the other was retro-fitted a couple of years ago with a big Cummins diesel on a straight shaft drive - that was a lot of work. Looks very nice though, and she goes well.

And there is a 28 (used to be 2, I think one went to Triniland), and a couple of flying bridge 31s as per above.
28 deg deadrise, oooh, real 'blood and thunder' machines, but they will probably cope with pretty much anything thrown at them even at 20+ knots.
 
Continuing on a theme of small flying bridge motor cruisers from the 70s, here are a few photos from a Coronet 24 catalogue - this must be one of the smallest powerboats ever to sport a cosy flying bridge!

And re the 'sports cruiser' version without the FB, I wonder if design has really progressed since then - all of the sports cruisers nowadays seem to have very steeply raked and small windscreens (or are they just wind deflectors of sorts?), hence the driver has to stand to see over the top - but that isn't much fun if a lot of spray is flying about.....

The Coronet seems to have a good take on this, where you can still stand and look out in good weather (altho' woe betide doing a crash stop, and clobbering your neck on the hatch edge), yet if the weather turns typically British, its easy enough to slide the roof shut and retreat 'below'.

Coronet24P1.jpg


Coronet24P2.jpg


Coronet24P3.jpg
 
One thing that did pull up both the 25 and 28, was a big growler through the windscreen, always on barways and being driven by beer and testosterone fuelled skippers heading out to prove what they were made of.

One particuarly memorable time in a 28, the wave came through the screen and took the rear cabin bulkhead with it as well. Thankfully all crew members were on the flybridge and unharmed.

Once out at sea though they just put their head down and start ploughing...;)


There are still a few old Coronets about and well liked, but with a self draining cockpit and subsequently high topsides, the narrow boat has the fly helmsman pretty high above the water.
The Bertie 25 had the whole arrangement a lot lower and more stable, but no self drainer, as does my 23.
 
Last edited:
Bajansailor said:
No worries mate, I thought you would like these!

And as for hangin' around 'ere, well, most folk in old Blighty are in bed (apart from Kwackers)

And there is a 28 (used to be 2, I think one went to Triniland), and a couple of flying bridge 31s as per above.
28 deg deadrise, oooh, real 'blood and thunder' machines, but they will probably cope with pretty much anything thrown at them even at 20+ knots.
Click to expand...

Yeh
Just been talking to me Bruff in Freeport (Bahamas the terwat!) He had a 28 in Blighty in the 80's
Small world innit!
It's light here now
Must get back in me coffin!
 
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