Bertram33 User Forum

My broker is trying to trade my SeaCraft towards this http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... 13104&url=

Looks like its got most of what you want. Price seems a little high, but nothing that can't be negotiated. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Holy Cow dudes the 35B does not rock at all compared to the keeless 33B. The 33B is not as bad as the 28B; but she is a RLDT compared to the Cat 3208 35B. The 35B a lower foredeck, larger bow flare, larger usable cockpit. Now I like the 33B's that have the two staterooms; but if you are buying it for fishing and a little cruising you need to look at the 35B. The 33B has a nice fiberglass cockpit like it's 28B cousin. You have to wait until 1982 for the fiberglass cockpit to appear on the 35B. In 1981 the 35B got the forward seating Flybridge. Some other things I find odd with the 33B 13/8 shafts for the diesel boats as standard and a single strut. The 35B has 1.5" shafts and two struts per on diesel boats. The 33B is known for busted forward bulkhead, while the 35B is known for rotten rear salon bulkhead. I think the biggest difference is price the 35B just cost more especially if you want the forward seating flybidge, fiberglass cockpit and teak interior. Good on finding your Bertram. Charlie

Charlie, The 33SF has the largest cockpit of any boat under 54 feet in the Bertram inventory at 122 square feet. The 35 is 96 square feet. Not counting the engine boxes, I'll bet the 33SF still has over 100 square feet of cockpit space. Also, since the SF is about 7 inches lower than the 35 I'll bet there's no noticable difference in roll (keel or not). Not sure where you're getting the info on busted forward bulkhead, as no one on this website has ever complained about it. All that being said, I do think a 35 would be better overall fit for Bill, but given that he wants diesels, a hardtop, the tournament style bridge, and a price tag of less than $70K, an early model SF (1979-1985) is probably his best bet. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

I believe a 33 will fit me better, most notably because all the things I want will make a 35 out of my price range. I know that boat seems a little expensive at 87K, but this is definately a strong buyers market. Hey can anybody give me an idea of what kind of cruise to espect out of that boat with the lowere HP cats?

One nice thing about the 33 SF model that nobody mentioned is the easy access to the engines, which is (and has proven) to be important to me. Everything is a trade-off. I've got the Cat 3208T's rated at 260 HP. Some are listed as being 270, but I believe them all to be the same engines. The Twin-disk MG 502-1 gears that Bertram put into these boats were rated for a max HP of 255, which appears to be why the 3208T Cats were not the 320 HP variety as is usually found for this engine. Charlie is right about the shafts too, they really pushed to the side of small with 1.375". I don't see how the number of struts make any difference though, that is all about unbraced shaft length. In my opinion (and not all share it), it seems obvious that Bertram ordered the standard 320 HP 3208T engine de-tuned to 260 HP to fit the light running gear that they put in. Good news about all that is the engines last forever, bad news is the boat is a little pokey when fully loaded down. Back in the day, people didn't need everything to be a go-fast boat, I guess. And I suppose I can't bitch about it being too pokey when compared to the gas-powered 33. Anyway, all that being said, full fuel and loaded down with everything, and with a clean bottom, I get 20 knots with my half tower. Fouled bottom? Forget it, you'll go overboard to clean it after 5 miles, the boat just won't plane. I just had her out twice last week with four people, ~150 gallons of fuel, and a clean bottom, and I was cruising at 22 knots and topped out at 28. That was unusual because I usually try to keep her full of fuel to reduce possible moisture, but I'm starting to think about revising that policy and see if problems develop. This boat/engine config absolutely NEEDS trim tabs to cruise properly. I do wish I had more HP. It seems that there are very few repower late-model SF 33's for sale, so if you find one for a decent price grab it quick. I think these boats would be happiest with engines in the 330 - 370 HP range. I believe that the weight of the 3208 in the belly helps stabilize the ride. However most repower boats will have the lighter cummings or yanmars. I would love to see how these boats would behave with 375 HP CAT 3208TA's in them... that particular boat/engine combination doesn't exist yet as far as I can tell. One of these days maybe mine will become the first one. Rolling? Are you out adrift in medium seas? If so then yes she rolls, as does every boat. If you're running it's not an issue, there is no unusual roll, even in a beam sea. I've been out in very heavy seas and this boat is extremely stable. But again, my heavy engines in the belly and low CG of the SF are helping me out. The FBC 33 model and the 35 are both quite a bit taller, and would tend to roll more when compared to a 33 SF, everything else being equal. I'm sure that the little keel on the 35's tend to and were designed to compensate for that. I've seen some nice sized waves running through our Marina during hurricanes, and I can tell you that my boat rolled and pitched WAY less than ANY other manufacturer's boat of similiar size. There is a B35 with the lighter cummings 6BTA's in our marina too, but I couldn't tell if it rolled less or more. It was the only other very stable boat in the mid-30 foot range. I guess my point is that rolling really isn't an issue at all, with my boat and how I use her anyway. Only time I've ever really noticed her roll at all is when completely adrift offshore in 2-3 foot seas. Show me a boat that doesn't roll in that, and it'll be a barge Sean "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

Doug I am not trying to throw cold water on the 33B; but I have to ask where are you getting your numbers? PBG lists the 33FBC at 12'6" and a 72 square foot cockpit.The early 33FBC boats had a reputation of being "Tender". Must be something to that because Bertram did lower them to 11'6'. I guess if you want to call engine boxes cockpit space go right ahead. Sometime a few pictures are worth a couple of thousand words. Go to www.bertramrendezvous.com click to Past Rendezvous, click on 2005 and look at pictures numbered 170. The boat with the tuna ball is my 35B and the boat to the left is Mike's Shot&Beer 33SF. Now look at 168 see the height of the 35B (orange tuna ball). Other shots show bow flair of the 35B. too bad we don't have anyside by sides of the transoms. The 33B has higher sides. I have always said the 35B is a 31B on steriods. Interestingly both boat have just about the same height for flybridges. As for forward bulkheads they are a problem on boats that get run offshore. Flexing stress cracks show up in the bow sections of 33B's. In fact it is pretty common. Charlie

Having fished a lot on both a 1988 33 FBC and a 1977 35. I don't think there is much difference in the amount of roll. My 33 has a drier ride. As far as forward bulkheads breaking loose I've only seen it one time and that was on my friends 35. You have to run one hard into a head sea to break the forward bulhead loose. That's exactly what he used to do. I like both boats, because I wanted to use my boat for cruising too. I went with the newer style 33 FBC because I liked the interior layout better. Buzz buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead City, NC

Charlie, My comments were for 33SF, not the FBC. In reality, I belive the 35's have far more in common with both 33's than they do with the 31. The beam, deadrise, and cabin design on the 33's and 35's are all very similar. The only real difference is the keel on the 35. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

quote:Originally posted by CB35 As for forward bulkheads they are a problem on boats that get run offshore. Flexing stress cracks show up in the bow sections of 33B's. In fact it is pretty common. Charlie That's Pascoe talking right there, and I don't buy a word of it. We've got way more 33's here than Pascoe has ever come near, and no one has ever complained about it. I've never seen it on any of the boats that I've looked at. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Doug... Before I had "Phoenix" surveyed my surveyor said to look under the V berth at the wooden frames.. that it was common to find one cracked (I think it is the second one from the bow, right under the removable cover under the mattress). Sure enough, mine had cracks port and stbd. I ground out the adjcent wood, and filled the cracks with thickened epoxy. So far, so good! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

Bill very nice looking boat. I also have an 83 it should cruise 21-22 knots. I see that it has a little over 2000 hrs. you should think about having the valves adjusted. I just had it done and it made big difference in smoke and throttle response. George

Oh boy, here we go... who's girl is better. Won't ever agree. They all have their charms and quirks. You two fight about this every year. But I have to agree with Doug on this last one. Having been on both a B31 & a B35 many times.... the B35 sure seems a whole lot like a B33 FBC with a bigger cockpit, and not so much like a 31, Rambo juice or not. Also the 33 and 35 were Dave Napier hull designs, while the 31 was the original Ray Hunt design, of course. It's funny though, I said that the 33 and 35 were alike a while back too.... was told that they "were totally different platforms" Sean "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

My 86 FBC has had the bulkhead repaired also and I think I might have cracked it again running in a nasty head sea late in the season.(Rookie mistake #1) When we pulled all the extra gear out of the port locker forward we noticed a split in the floor. We have a friend that has looked at a dozen 33 FBC in the last 6 months. There was one in New Rochele with Yannmars in it. The bulkheads were seperated and loose. It was primarly used to run out to the Canyons. Brian

Well, you guys are the first owners on this site who've claimed to have an issue with the forward bulkhead. Brian, Refresh my memory. Do you have an SF or an FBC? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]