Sportfish became FBC

[Sean B]

Well this has to be the ultimate example of thread hi-jacking: - Started out as a thread about buying a boat. - A long discussion ensued. - End story about the trip home from hell, during which half of the boat's systems broke down. - Start talking about this other, way cool boat. - Another long discussion begins to ensue. Give the girl a break! Start a new thread! Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

[Capt. Ed]

quote:Originally posted by dougl33 I could be wrong, but this boat looks like a gas conversion Doug, Now I'm just a dumb country boy, and perhaps a little slow to catch onto things... but which part of the ad's headline gave it away? lol 33' Bertram Yanmar Repowered Sport Fisherman

[dougl33]

D'oh! Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

[Miss B]

Now that's funny - a Bertram33.com classic!

[dougl33]

It just dawned on me. Just because it says "Yanmar re-powered" doesn't necessarily mean it was gas. It could've been converted from Cat to Yanmar! Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

[Rissa]

LOL Sean. Makes no difference what is disscussed in a thread. This is not an info thread after all. It is about Do's and Don't about buying an old used boat more or less. Capt. Gene, We did have the boat surveyed. We also had 2 mechanics go over the engines. Lesson 1. Do not trust ANYONE! lol We have numerous parties we could sue, if we were so inclined. That would not fix our problems. We got a good hull after all. We just paid to much. In hindsight I think the best you can do is figure out what you want to pay, add in replacing the engines, generator, and any other parts that are old and out of date. Make your offer with these factors in mind. If the seller is not interested then keep looking, or get a written warranty. Look at service records and also look at the boat manual. Remember when the "31's" are all gone, the "33s" will be next on the list of the Bertram classics people want. Even with all our problems we still have a better constructed boat than if we had gotten a brand new boat. They just don't build them the same anymore. We will enjoy, all be it expensive, refitting this boat. When we finish Everything will be new, and done right. We did most of the electrical replacement/replacements already, and it is all good. We just don't get the extra year we had counted on with the engines. Now we will have loads of questions about what engines will be the best, most affordable replacements to go with..... I will start a new thread. LOL Marissa DeWitt "Miss Missy" Ocala, FL 1977 33 FBC

[rnanaples]

Wow just read your story. Hope all is well now quote:Originally posted by Rissa We have not lost heart. Just don't want to see the boat for a while. There is more to this story but it was so long when I finished I figured I better not even try to get everything in. So this is just the highlights. THE TRIP FROM HELL It was a beautiful day on Oct. 16th, 2007. We started our engines with no problems. We had minor difficulty with the wind in the harbor, but left without incident. We cruised along at a nice idle speed to the Jupiter Inlet Bridge, they would not open it for us. So we stopped to lower our antennas and outriggers so we could pass. We lost power to one engine. Very strong current pulled us quickly into service walk at another bridge. We got the engine started again after a few attempts. We continued on our way until we came to Port St. Lucie Inlet. Lost both engines, could not get them started again. Speeding boats washed us aground just outside of the channel, in 1.6 ft of water. Called Boat US. Got towed to marina in Ft Stuart. Tow boat driver ran our boat into moored sailboat. No damage, just one very angry bearded man. We met Willard. He spent then next 2 days working on our engines and exhaust system. We left around 11 am to go to the Port Saint Lucie Lock. We made it with time to spare. No problems. We reached Indiantown Marina around dark. Found a washer and dryer. Good fortune was ours. We left the next morning. We lost all steering at the rocky Ft. Mayaca Lock, 3.6 feet of water, hit a rock, bent prop. We cruised across Lake Okechobee with no steering, a bent prop, in water that at some times hit 2.6 feet. (We knew we went aground in 1.6 ft. ) We stopped at Roland Martin’s Marina. Found a diver/mechanic named Rick. Steering fluid was gone, so Rick filled the steering fluid, bled the lines, pumped up the pressure, great, steering works! New props? No problem? Wrong answer. They had to go on long trip to locate new props, first set was too large. The second set was too small, third set was just right. So 5 days later we are off again. We went through the next locks without incident. Slowed to idle past a small marina engine started acting bad. We called Rick. (We already knew he was the ONLY big boat mechanic in the whole area) He met us in La Belle. We stayed in motel there 2 days. New carburetor on the port engine, it ran great. We packed up our stuff and left. The engine only runs for 5 minutes without problems. We turned around went back to motel, called Rick, got old room back. It was something with the electric ignition. He fixed that the next day. Alas, there is a tropical storm brewing, with high winds, so we waited 2 extra days in the motel. We made it through Franklin lock without incident. Just after passing through the lock the other engine started knocking. We just traveled slowly to Ft. Meyers. Called Rick. Oh No!!! He is sick with food poisoning! Of course it was a Friday afternoon so we could not find anyone in Ft Meyers who would help us out. Did I mention they were having a boat show in 2 days so were could not stay? So we left on a prayer. Ut oh, we have no steering. No problem we knew what to do. Pulled out my trusty bicycle pump and wallah, we had steering! It didn’t last, as the fluid had all leaked out again. No where we stopped at had any. We made it to Venice with no steering, one engine going knock, knock, knock, and 6 to 8 ft seas. John took an 8 mile hike to the nearest store and got steering fluid. We were off once again. Lo and behold the knocking engine is now running right! ( a miracle after 3days knocking) So we had steering, we had both engines, seas were calm. We were screaming along at 18 mph. Engine with new parts blew up! Knocking engine carried us through. We still could steer as long as I kept pressure on the steering pump. We limped from just north of Venice to Clearwater, dodging crab traps from hell! We lost the steering for good, at dusk in Clearwater. Steering fluid tripped the circuit breaker, so as we were calling for a tow, we lost all electric power. (Do you know how hard it is to tell someone where you are without any kind of navigation?) What else could possibly go wrong, you might ask; well out of no where, the wind cranked up 10 to 15 ft seas. John found the tripped breaker so we did at least get our power back. This turned out to be a good thing. We got towed all the way home. A 4 hour tow which ended at 2 am on November 6th, 2007. We are thinking seriously about renaming this boat the S.S. Minnow! Marissa DeWitt "Miss Missy" Ocala, FL 1977 33 FBC