Ray Hunt designs

FidelityJim · Post by **FidelityJim** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:37 am

I met a guy at an outing with a 28' or so Chris Craft that said that his hull was identical to a 28' Bert. I argued that Ray Hunt designed a lot of other hulls including Sea Rays but that the Bertrams were unique. His response was that Bertram sued Chris Craft over the design and won. Much like the Rybovich/Chris-o-vich suit. Anybody know the story? (Just in case I run into this guy again.) Jim Hart FIDELITY-Trustworthy

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 9:58 am

His boat is a 30. It was not identical to a 28. It was similar to a 31 (perhaps slightly better) and it was in fact designed by Ray Hunt for CC. Here are a couple of examples: http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... 15064&url= http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... =1645&url= http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... 76298&url= I had heard that Bertram had sued CC, but wasn't sure if it was urban legend. To be honest, if I had known about this boat, I would've bought one rather than buying a 28 and I'd probably still own it rather than my 33.

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 1:57 pm

From what I have heard the CC 30 Tournament Fish was supposed to be a Bertram 30 and replace the 31 Bertram, but some how or another it got fouled up and Chris Craft ended up with it. Now that same hull is streched by L&H Boats and they sell it as a 33' walkaround sportfish, a pretty nice one at that.

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:21 pm

She's a beauty. http://lhboats.com/all.htm

ckuppens · Post by **ckuppens** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:41 pm

I had also heard that Bertram also sold the 28 mold to pheonix and that became their 29.

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:56 pm

Everybody wants to be a Bertram when they grow up! Even Black Fin

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:11 pm

quote:Originally posted by ckuppens I had also heard that Bertram also sold the 28 mold to pheonix and that became their 29. Don't think so on that one. Bertram made the 28 until 94, and the late model Phoenix 29's are only 10' 6" where the 28 Bert is 11' wide.

ckuppens · Post by **ckuppens** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:13 pm

Hey could be bad intel!

ckuppens · Post by **ckuppens** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:05 pm

OK... Doug... This has been driving me crazy. I was thinking of the 29 SeaBird... In the 70's seabird sold their mold to Pheonix. I was in the market for a 28 Bertram/pheonix/30cc a few years back and stumbled across a mint condition seabird. Great boat.

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:01 pm

I'll agree with you on that one Chris. A friend of mine used to have a Seabird. It looked exactly like the Phoenix.

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:51 pm

Both are nice styled boats ............. But not built to the Bertram standards. I keep a piece of my hull that was removed for a thru hull on my kitchen counter that proves to me the quality and thickness of our hulls that were built for the roughest seas nature has to offer.

smanni · Post by **smanni** » Sat Nov 06, 2010 6:25 am

A friend of mine was rebuilding a 30 Chris Craft Tournament and I crawled all over the boat while helping. Let me tell you - it is built every bit as good as a Bertram. It was the same hull - higher freeboard - and a very nice boat. I have seen a few redone - they have a very loyal following, much like us. I understand the "urban legend" to be true (lawsuit).