Bertram33 User Forum

Tim, My new inflatable is a 11.2 with the air-floor. It is not as sturdy as the hard one, but close enough. You need to make sure it is pumped to the max. reason I chose it..space and weight. My cockpit will have a 150 cooler, 8 tanks, 4 sets of dive gear, inflatable/engine, dog, chair...etc. etc. When you are in the Bahamas paying $4.00/gal it makes a difference. I have a 15hp on this boat (rated for 10hp) with 4 people it goes faster than you want to ride. You get beat, if it isn't glass seas. I get just as much packed in this as I do the 13 hard bottom, but the hardbottom can take a lot more seas. Go for bigger if you carry it deflated. E.W. Dugan

Tim, I have the older BoatUs airfloor model. It is not the separate floor like the current models. Even so, I think it is more rigid than the slats. I have the 10' model. With 4 adults, it is REALLL tight for the 2 in front. Have a Nissan 5hp 4-stroke. Will plane with me alone & if conditions are right, it will with the Admiral on board. A few yrs ago I ordered the 10' portaboat at the Boston boat show. Then I took a bunch of huge cardboard boxes from work & made a full size model of the folded Portaboat. Brought the model to the Nites Off & got it up under the shrinkwrap. (this was in February!) Discovered the only place to store it was lashed to the bowrail coming aft. I could just see stuffing the bow & ripping the stanchions loose. Called the dealer & canceled the order. As far as the Merc inflatable, I believe they are PVC. If PVC is stored in direct sun, the UV rays may play havoc with them. Don't know about the current models, but a bunch of the older Mercs turned to a gummy, slimey mess. I honestly don't think the small size will be good for you. Remember, your kids are getting bigger every year. Plus when you throw in a softside cooler for the beach, lifejackets, towels, HH radio & other supplies, the fuel tank if it is seoarate, the available space gets real small real fast. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

the mercury inflatables are available in hepalon instead of pvc for about $200 additional.My friend has a 10'2" rigid zodiac made with pvc and it is starting to show wear from the sun after 1 summer here in florida...so i guess the hepalon is worth the upgrade.I am going to put his zodiac on my 33 to see how it fits. the potabote intrigues me but i dont think it can handle any waves like an inflatable.... Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

Tim, What did you wind up getting for an inflatable? You may have told me but I've forgotten. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA

Doug, i ended up getting the mercury hypalon air floor cant remember if it is 10.2 or 9.6..with a 5hp merc 2 stroke.i like the boat very much althogh i wish i got a 10hp merc.it fits perfect on the bow upside down bow to the windshield i strap it down with 2 straps and it rides great...i really thought when i bought it i might store it deflated but i can see now i dought i will ever do that...for one it is nice to have inflated at all times in case of emergency....the other thing i like about it being on the bow is it keeps the v beth cool... oh and the mercury inflatable was just rated #1 by power boat mag. Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

Good. Glad its working out. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA

Dave, Doesn't look like we reached any conclusions on this one....what did you end up doing ? I keep mine on the foredeck...which has it's pro's and cons. Pro's are: - It's out of the way - If positioned just right, we can open the forward hatch even when it's raining and get a nice breeze through the boat. Cons: - It's not easy to lift it up there, but if I stand the dingy on it's transom in the water and then pull, it's a bit easier. - Not easy to tie down with the limited cleats, but I have a scheme that seems to work. - Seems like I'm always tripping on the anchor. I guess the alternative is to either haul it into the cockpit, deflate or tie it sideways to the swim platform. What would really help me is to get rid of that anchor and I'm considering the installation of a small pulpit on the bow just to rig the anchor on that. Has anyone installed one of those mini teak pulpits ? I know, I'll want to do the windless once I get started !

Rick, i keep mine up there as well i use ratchet straps to tie it down and it workes out well....also when i hoist it up out of the water i find i get better leverage if i bring it up sideways... Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

Tim, Nice to have you back. How was the trip? How'd the boat run? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA

I bought a 10' PortaBote for use as a dingy (and also for exploring our local Bayous). The boat folds to about 10" in thicknes and weighs about 65 lbs. so it fits very nicely inside the cockpit. I bought a 5 hp Honda 4 stroke for power, which is the maximum the boat will hold. I've been very impressed with the Porta Bote on the water; but it really is only suitable for 2 adults & a kid or two and it also has the disadvantage that it isn't set up with a good place to tie a painter, so you have to secure it to one of the seats. All in all a neat little portable boat without the disadvantages of an inflatable (also have one of those but consider it a pain to use). The PortaBote goes together in about 5 minutes.

I just tow it for now. I will probably end up getting something lighter for Catalina, and use the Whaler just for the Harbour. David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator

I have a 33FBC and a 9'Whaler tender. I buy a Weaver Snap Davits for platform mount. Also buy a FULTON PERFORMANCE Swiveling Dinghy Engine Mount Bracket. That bracket let you mantain the engine in upwright position even the tender is 90 degre to any side. I use a 4 stoke Yamaha but the base can hold a 9.9HP. Also have in the foredeck four Snap davits bases and a electric davit for lifting the Whaler, I cant let the outboard there because the Base is about one foot long and not fit. I place the Whaler in the foredeck for mooring storage and in trips for move the boat to another beach I use the platform Davits. Is very easy to use this platform davits and is better than tow the tender. David

David, is there any chance you could send me some pictures of this? It would be extremely helpful to me, as that is along the lines of what I wanted to do with the Whaler. Thanks for the info. David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator

David My boat at this time is in total gelcoat and outside refinish proces. The Whaler is in my house. I believe the boat will be ready late this month or first week of August. I can send you the pictures of the Whaler with Davits and later in the platform when finish the boat. David Vila

Sounds good. David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator