Experience

Post by **Admin** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:09 am

Hey folks, I wanted to take a moment to generate a list of the level of experience we have here on the forum. As some members are much more experienced with their boats than others, and can be looked to for insight or help. I have just over 1 year of experience, but have done a number of things myself. Still, I would rate my experience as relatively low. David Sumich Bertram33.com Forum Administrator

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 7:32 am

David, Eight years with my 33SF here. I winterize and re-commission myself but I still have to hire people from time to time. Take Care, Rick

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 6:19 am

While this is my first Bertram ,which I've had for a little over a year,I've worked on boats all my life. From epoxy/fiberglass repairs, tabbing repairs, gelcoat repairs, repowers, holding tank fabrication, rubrail replacements, paintwork(IMRON and others), wood repairs,railing repairs, aluminum and stainless welding and fabrication, etc. Most of this work was on my own boats, some on the Betram and most for the fun of doing it and the satisfaction of having nice older stuff. As I`ve mentioned in another thread, I restore cars and other stuff for a living , so working on my, and other peoples boats is just about as fun as it gets for me. The only things I won`t do myself are engine machine work,prop repairs and canvas/ upholstery work(can't seem to get the hang of a sewing machine) I'll also have the bottom soda blasted by someone with more experience than me. That's about it,I guess I'd rate my experience level , "pretty experienced." Frank Price '87 SF "JEANNE CLAIRE' Rowley Ma

Jose Jaen · Post by **Jose Jaen** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 5:04 pm

Hello David; We have owned Blue Chip for 5 years now and have participated in a very extensive trasformation of this great '93 33FBC. Sea sickness is among my weaknesses so I don't stop to fish often. However my wife and I take long cruises covering 200 miles in one day sometimes (Miami to Harbour Island). Throughout this time we have installed a new generator, gradually replaced the entire electronic package, the bilge pumps, the marine head and the windlass. We applied wood flooring with removable segments in the cabin facilitating maintenance work on the engines without dealing with carpets. Last year I noticed some loss of power not attributable to barnacles, overloading nor prop problems so work was done on fuel injectors and turbos which made a significant difference in cruising speed; from 20 to 23 knots at 2400 revs on the 3208s. Diesel tank was emptied and cleaned. Fuel efficiency also improved. At the same time the raw water cooling system was thoroughly cleaned. Sometimes I wonder about the cost effectiveness of what has been done and spent but the conclusion is always the same; we own a very reliable vessel that fulfills our needs and that a large sum would be required to replace her for a similar boat. In a way similar to Frank, I restore patients knees and get involved (at least as a observer)in the repairs above described but personally perform the routine maintenance checks such as batteries, filters, strainers, impellers and shaft packings. Often times I consider Blue Chip as my psychiatrist, keeps me sane. Regards, Jose Jose Jaen Blue Chip 1993 33FBC

banispeter · Post by **banispeter** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:34 pm

Jose: Read with interest your statement on noticing loss of performance with your 3208's. I own a 1983 FBC and have had my cat dealer tell me the motors are 320's while almost everyone I know says Bertram didn't offer them in that year and they are likley 260's. Very confusing at this point. CAT says serials and arragment #'s are specing out at 312 so they are the 320's. I turn up to about 20 knots WOT turning 20x22 bronze on 1 3/8 acumet 22 shafts. Looked into changing out the 502 gears for 5050A's, replacing the shafts with 1 3/4 and putting on 21 x 27 3 blade nibrals or maybe 4 blades but for the time I get to use it up here in the frigid north not worth it (like 25K). I'm trying to fuigure out (1) what motors I have and (2) what props to turn. The prop question is answered by the hp and gear/shaft limitations. Was this the kind of problem you solved with injector/turbo maintenance? Peter L. Banis KNOT AGAIN Boston, MA

billb · Post by **billb** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:16 am

Peter: do they turn up to 2950 at WOT? sounds to me like they are 260 or 270...i dont think that 320 were offered in 1983..... Bill

RJC2628 · Post by **RJC2628** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:41 am

Greetings, I am new to the forum but I don't understand what took me so long to find this site. Excellent! I have owned SCOUT (a 1980 33 FBC with 3208T Cats [3500 hours]) for 18 years, believe it or not. I do most of my work myself, and keep SCOUT in the water and liveable and operational year round in the Northeast. I am enjoying the forum, keep it up. One never stops learing about something as complex as a boat.

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:25 am

Welcome Ron, we are glad you found us......an 18 year veteran with a 33 is fantastic.... can you give us more info about your boat such as prop and shaft size speed and fuel economy...also any out of the ordinary things that you may have come across in your 18 years,,,,, Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

RJC2628 · Post by **RJC2628** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:54 am

quote:Originally posted by photo finish Welcome Ron, we are glad you found us......an 18 year veteran with a 33 is fantastic.... can you give us more info about your boat such as prop and shaft size speed and fuel economy...also any out of the ordinary things that you may have come across in your 18 years,,,,, Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

RJC2628 · Post by **RJC2628** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:16 am

Hi Tim, et al. I'll have to dole out my experiences over several postings or I'll jam the bandwidth.. The CATS are 270 hp and shafts are 1 3/8ths. I spun one shaft due to a crack emanating from the 90 degree keyway. The other shaft and the replacement for the broken one have a radius in the key way so that problem has been eliminated and that was a decade ago. I have had no problems and no concerns with the 1 3/8 shafts. Props are 21 x 22 x 3 cupped Nibral. I spun a few blades over the years on the original bronze props, but that problem went away with the Nibral. I run offshore in most any weather (Bertram Wx we call it) and have not had any problems with running gear since. My experience does not agree with the isseus raised about shaft size, at least for the 270 hp Cats. I have replace just about everything at least once!! Even a block. Believe it when they tell you CATS are "throw away engines". I developed a pin hole in a cylnder wall due to cavitation corrosion ( be sure to add the CAT cooling system conditioner) or a casting defect and had to replace the block (ouch), so I have actually thrown one away, no sleeves to replace as in Detroits. I agree with the discussions that the boat is under powered with the 270's. I address this not with big plans and big bucks, but by keeping the boat as light as possible. I am a 3/4 time live aboard so the "stuff" builds up. You have to be conscious of weight at all times. For instance, I am between generators (I actually put in a 1650 watt inverter and I may not replace the gen) and the 500 lbs I am light has made a noticable difference. The boat cruises at 2550 at ~20 knots in pretty much any conditions burning 15 gallons per hour. I would also like more, speed, but not worth the hassle and expense to repower, and you can't beat 15 gph at today's fuel prices. Had a hard top done by J&J Marine Fabricating, Somerset, MA several years ago and it changed the whole feeling and look of the boat. Well worth it and the radar is out of my eyes. Well more later. Ron

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 3:23 am

Ron, Welcome aboard. Where do you keep the boat? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

RJC2628 · Post by **RJC2628** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:07 am

SCOUT is located at Shipyard Quarteras Marina in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston Harbor. I've kept a boat there since it opened in 1983. Was as Consitution Marina before that, and on Cape Cod in the '70's. SQM was a world class marina in the '80s and '90s but current owner has not kept it up, unfortunately. I get sense that many forum participants are in the Boston area, true? Ron

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:11 am

I thought that was you. You and I actually spoke a few years ago when you were up at Salem/Marblehead. You were on a mooring off of the West Shore of Marblehead. We had a discussion over whether the 375hp CATS would fit in the FBC's. Always nice to welcome another Mass/North Shore member. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:19 am

Welcome Ron, Pretty impressive that you keep her going all winter around here and I look forward to hearing more about that. Also nice to hear that you have 1 3/8's shafts....I do too and have snapped one in the 7 summers I've owned it. Only thing I can think of was that it was slightly out of alignment. I didn't hit anything and was running at about 2500 rpm w/ 310HP, 454 Merc's. It broke just aft of the strut, so somewhere near Squibnocket off M.V. is a starboard side prop in about 30 feet of water ! Someday when I hit megabucks, I'll buy the diesels and the 1 1/2"ers.

GMarty · Post by **GMarty** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:12 am

Welcome Ron! I too use my boat (86 FBC) for some offshore stuff as well as a place to spend weekends in the summer. I generally love the boat. I would like to get your take on the notion that the 33FBC is not very good in the real rough stuff. That is to say, can she serve as a good offshore boat? I have always heard they roll too much to be considered a great sea keeping boat. I am very much considering converting to Cummins from gas but have some reservations about her as a fishing boat. I really do not want to start over with a different boat as I have done many upgrades to this boat That being said, she has performend well on those occasions where the seas kicked up.