Bertram33 User Forum

Hello all, I figure I would introduce myself, as I have been lurking here for a while. My name is Tom, and I have been looking at Bertram 33 SFs for a bit. I have looked at two of them. One of them, I have looked at several times, but I was unable to purchase due other circumstances. But I keep going back to her, this time I just might purchase this time around. At this point I am waiting to hear back from the seller as to when the engines will be up and running so I can listen to the old mills running. I will not be able to perform a sea trial with this particular boat, but I am confident that I will be happy with her. This past weekend, I took the wife out with me to look at the boat and she was very happy with the size of the rear cockpit. She also liked the cabin layout and thought that even though its smaller than our current boat, it will better suit us, and the way we use the boat. Our current boat is a 83 Silverton 34C, and her and I both have the same complaint. It has a very small cockpit. It gets small quickly with 4 or more people on board add a cooler and its very tight. My other complaint about my current boat is that the helm is at the forward part of the bridge. I cannot see what is going on in the cockpit when I can running the boat. My wife’s biggest complaint is that the Silverton does not have a separate shower. When looking at the 33SF, it meets our requirements as far as what we want. The particular 33SF I am looking at is a gas powered boat, (big blocks) as is my Silverton. I repowered with the big blocks when I originally purchased it, as it needed a motor. The 33SF I am looking at is a 1986 (newer cabin layout with no lower helm) in good condition structurally but will need some work cleaning/updating to bring her back to her glory, but that is what I like to do so it’s right up my alley. I will hear back about the motors later today or tomorrow. Once the motors are up and running, I will return to the boat to perform compression and leak down tests on the motors. If all goes well, shake hands and pay the man!!! Lets see what this week brings.

Welcome and good luck. You'll have to keep us informed and I hope everything goes just like you want it.

just after I posted my original post, I recived an email from the seller. I have videos of the engines running. They sound great! I will go out to hear them myself this week. do a final inspection. A close friend is a surveyor, he is going with me to walk down the boat. If all is good at that point, I will fork over some money.

Tom, Welcome aboard. I see that you're in Mass. Where's the boat? There are a bunch of us Massholes here and we know most of the boats in the area.

Hi Tom Welcome aboard. Good luck with your inspection & survey. We've been very happy with our '86 SF. Replaced the gas tank last year, so be sure to check that out.

Welcome aboard Tom, hope all goes well. Gerard is right, be sure tank has been addressed or get a $10K discount. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

The fuel tank is my only concern with the boat. What I do know is that the boat has been sitting for a while, so that is a cause for concern. At the price that has been negotiated, I am still in a good spot even if the tank is junk. I do not plan on launching the boat for the upcoming season. I want to ring the entire boat out to and replace what is needed. I am planing on re-powering in the next 2-3 years, I am hoping that the fuel tank will hold out that long.

Welcome to the board, lots of info in the older threads on here

If its an 86, the fuel tank will probably be OK (but maybe not).

LOL Doug, I howled when I saw the disclaimer Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

Hahahaha love it! (but maybe not) 1986 33sf 330 hp Merc. (x2) 8 O'clock Braintree Ma.

Hey guys- Quick update, the survey went well. So well in fact he said he wants to buy it if I back out for any reason. I will be paying for her on thursday this week. I will have her delivered to the yacht club in the coming weeks.

Congratulations!!

Congrats Tom. I see you're from Mass. Where will you be keeping her?

Doug, I am a member at Braintree Yacht Club, so Ill be keeping her there. Tom