Looking to purchase a 33' or 35

BillChaser · Post by **BillChaser** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:37 am

I am curious as to the downside to the Volvos? Many charter boats here in NC run them Some models even get 10,000 hrs, the same way with many commercial boats in Alaska

smanni · Post by **smanni** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:45 am

I think volvos are fine - I know guys that have them and love them. I believe the real difference is the local support. If you have a local support system buils up - and they are GOOD - then volvo is a good choice. My own diesel opinion - and many disagree - thats fine, is any low RPM diesel (I put the low/high difference at 3000 rpm - so anything above 3k is high to me) that has a good local support network, and not an engine model that is a proven trouble maker. I mean proven. There is plenty of misperception out there about any engine model. If you know someone who had a problem with that engine - you think it stinks, even if 99% of the other owners never had a problem.

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:12 am

Bill, As your offshore runs are only 40nm, you may want to consider gas as they can be be had for relatively short money these days. The later model gas boats carry 310-315 gallons. The 454's generally avg about .65 KNMPG (or around 30-32gph at 18-19 knots). The fuel injected 8.1's get a little better milage and can cruise at higher speeds (22-23 knots), but there aren't really any of those for sale yet. I have 300hp 6BTA's in my 86 FBC. I cruise at 22-23 knots and burn somewhere around 20gph. That's somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.125 KNMPG. I'm not a big fan of Volvos. They seem to be smokier and noisier than the Cats, Cummins, or Yanmars. But, as Sean said, many guys love them. I would do a search on boatdiesel for the model Volvos that boat has. If they seem ok and you have good service in your area I would consider them as well. As far as SF over FBC, how big is your family? I had a 28 for a coupe of years, and the cabin on the earlier SF's (79-85) are pretty much slightly larger versions of the cabin on my 28. It seems a little cramped to me. Another nice feature in the 86 and up SF's is the stall shower. The salon and the second stateroom (only available on 80 and up) in my FBC are perfect for my needs, but I don't fish. Starting in 90, the FBC also had a stall shower. Problem areas: The cockpits on both models can be spongy as they are cored. Its really not a big deal to re-core as the entire cockpit pops right out. On heavily fished boats the generator can be a ball of rust. The only other "problem" area I can think of is the velocijet exhaust on all gas and some diesel boats. These are the things that look like mail slots at the after upper corners of the hull. They make the boats very quiet, but the vents tend to break away from the inside of the hull and will dump exhaust water and fumes back into the hull. Again, this is an easy fix. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

BillChaser · Post by **BillChaser** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:02 am

I jsut came out of a Carolina Cl;asic with a 454 in the Fall, no thank you for the gas. The only gas engine I am interested in is an outboard. My family consists of 4 the boys are 4 yrs old and 1 year. The 4yr old is as practicied an offshore fisherman as you can be at that age. But he's tired of riding on the floor of the 20' Sea Craft for 45NM to go wahoo fishing. I want life span and reliability more than anything, and I want to keep fuel down to about 100 gallons a trip. I like to take the peopkle fishiong with me that I want, and not because they can pay for the fuel. I also like the cockpit layout of the Sf and the overhang, large engine spaces. I found myself paying a mechanic to do things on the classic becaude he knew how to get to them, not because I didn't know how to do it. I also feel the bridge layout on the SF is a little more family and fishing freindly for me, Chase can sleep in on the bench in front of the console, and when Finn is 2 he can go in a car seat on the navigators chairs. The downside is I do not know where to put a bait freezer on the SF. Bear in mind guys I need to find a running boat that I can fish this year for under 70K done. I was going to build an new carolina style express in the same size range, but the wife wants a place in the Bahamas in a year or two, and I cannot afford both. So I need a stable fishing platform that can take a family in Big water comfortably, and is relible , and economical to run. P.s. Has anybody relocated the Gen on an SF?

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:36 am

Bill, All boats have the same bridge layout (i.e. tournament) starting in 1982. The FBC first came out in 77 and had the controls mounted directly behind the wind screen. When the SF's came out in 79 they came with the tournament helms. Not sure why Bertram used the 2 different types for a few years. This boat has been listed for sometime. I'll bet that $70K would buy it. http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... 75087&url= Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

michael · Post by **michael** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:40 am

Bill I installed an onan generator below the cabin floor up against the engine room bulkhead. It just fit thru the 1st hatch as you walk thru the salon door. It is a little noisy but I use my boat for fishing so on an overnighter it does not bother any of the crew. My boat had a spare fuel tank at the stern where the generator would normally be located. I oppted to keep the tank just to have an extra 100 gallons of fuel on board plus saving the generator from all the water that goes thru the cockpit hatches. Everything is accessible on the generator so it was a good fit. The only thing to watch out for is that the exaust on the generator is lower than the thru hull on the side of the boat which can cause water to back up into the generator while underway. I installed an anti siphon break which took care of the problem. I had to mount the break behind the head in order to get it up high enough. My boat is a 79sf Michael 33SF

BillChaser · Post by **BillChaser** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:33 am

If it had a hard top/ frame top I would seiously consider it. I don't leave int the dark without radar, and I dojn't want to spend 20K on a top off the start

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:58 am

Bill, I sent you an email. Give me a call. Buzz buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead City, NC

smithmk913 · Post by **smithmk913** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:56 am

We raised a family of five children on our '87 FBC. We've owned for 19 years. two stateroom setup makes life a lot easier on your overnights. Give me a call if you would like more info. Boat located in the keys. 317-965-3322. We were about a week away from putting new Cummins engines in when 9/11 happened. Perfect boat/hull to still do.