Bertram33 User Forum

my 2 cents if you will. No doubt the diesels perform better. I would venture to guess the average repair on a diesel is much more and that annual maintenance is more expesnsive. Antway this is a great article to read on the subject a little old due to the fact he states diesel is cheaper at least here it is always more than gas. http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasDiesel.htm

Annual maintenance on diesels is very cheap. Oil and fuel filters and you're all done. Every 2-3 seasons change the impellors. On my Cummins I have the after coolers pulled apart and cleaned every 3 seasons.

my real point is I have had both and when my diesel engines had a problem it was no doubt much more expesive to fix than gas

I think we are close to having a gas VS diesel debate, one that we and I'm sure most other boat forums have had before. I'm not trying to do that here, just trying to stick to facts so that others can make an informed decision. There will always be those that just can't justify the added cost of operating a boat with diesels. I can't explain why that is but it just is. My point is that if you want the performance and operating efficiency of diesels then nothing else is "right". If you're looking for the cheapest way to go cruising or fishing , then I can't understand why you're looking at buying a boat at all , you should be joining one of those clubs where you rent time on one. But since we're talking about having a Bertram 33 of our dreams here, I think it's a shame to just write off a diesel one because "maintenance costs more". It doesn't but, yes repairs will generally cost more when things go bad and the novice will find them going bad more than with gas motors. But I will say this, when I bought my boat I thought I would be OK with the gas motors. After the first year when gas went to around $3.00 a gallon and then kept going up, it did hurt my ability to pay for gas and I kept looking at the flow meters as I approached 18 knots and felt the boat vibrate and work it's nuts off trying to go up the back of a large wave, and I felt that the boat needed more. I'm sure the newer 385 HP gas engines are impressive but that still won't make it as economical as diesels . I am very happy with the performance of my boat now and super glad I bit the bullet and did the repower. I also understand that some here just can't do it but if you can swing it,it's really worth doing and it's worth the money if you can afford it. I just don't think that any of us bought a Bertram to have the cheapest on the water experience.

Well to further the conversation. To properly maintain a diesel by the book it does cost a lot more. From the parts to the labor involved. Down here diesel is more than gas so a percentage of the savings is right out the window. The only undisputable fact here is that diesels use less per hour and no doubt can deliver the performace. If you are a do it yourselfer you can save some money. I like to use my boat not work on it. As far as the if you can't afford it rent I do not know that was my point. Let's face it all boats cost money to run if I had my dorhters mine would be about 17 feet longer and far more expensive. My point was it is an age old argument and really the 33's are right on that edge of having no choice but diesels.

Well I'll add my two cents in..... I have gas in my B-35 new 8.1 fuel injected, yes diesel would be great motors but I am very pleases with the all around performance and the operating cost of the 8.1. I brought my boat from North East MD to Sodus Point NY my fuel consumption was .75 miles per gal. When I'm out fishing/trolling and close one engine down I burn 1 - 1 1/2 gal p/h. Granted gas engines do burn more fuel per/hr but the gas installation was also 50k less. At 3200-3400 RPM I can cruse at 20-21 knots and burning 30 gal/per/hr. Gas may not be the right solution for everyone but in my case only fishing 2 - 4 miles off shore (Lake Ontario) and trolling all day I will burn 10 - 12 gallons in 6 hrs of fishing including running out and back to the dock. The 8.1’s added 50 hp per engine over the previous 454's and you can really feel the power, push the throttle to 3,000 rpm and she is up on plane with no effort. I have only run the boat at WOT once on the sea trial and the GPS read 37.4 miles/per/hr. Gas was the right solution for me, good luck with your decision. Mike

I agree that the 8.1's are a great option. If it had not been for ethanol and the fact that I got a deal on a set of running take out diesels, then I would probably have gone that route as well. That being said, with boat prices the way they are right now I'd try and buy a diesel boat. Excluding the one 1987 SF that has the crappy peninsular diesels, there are 10 diesel boats that are listed at $65K and under. Franco, If you do decide to re-power with gas, stick with the 385hp versions. There's no need to go with the H.O.'s as you'll only gain on the top end. As the H.O.s can wind up to 5K+ rpms, I suppose you could cruise them at 3800-4000 rpms, but I wouldn't recommend that with these heavy boats. Having spoken to the Crusader and Merc reps at several boat shows, they'll tell you the H.O.'s are best suited to I/O's and go fast boats.

Thanks for the posts thus far. The discussion has certainly been eye opening. I like the honesty and passion embedded in the opinions posted. Is anyone familiar with this boat?http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1978/Be ... ted-States Anyone from North Carolina who could check it out?

Franco, You will find information on the rebuilding of this boat on this site. It is under one of the tabs on the left side of the home page. I believe if you are going to buy one of these classic boats you should purchase the very best one you can afford. The amount of time and money spent on a redo will never be equall to what you would be able to sell it for. Thats why we call them a labor of love. This boat is probably the best example of that. If you can afford it you should go see it and probably buy it.

Schultz, Thanks for the heads up and your suggestion. I am currently trying to reshuffle things to be able to purchase it, but that will take time and the seller seems to be pressed for time.I dont know if I will be able to pull the trigger quickly enough. Looks like an excellent boat and the guy did a lot of work. Regards Franco

Hope it works out for you. If not time is on your side. I looked at over 30 of these Bertrams all over the US for over a year before I bought one and could not be more pleased with it.

Is there anybody out there in the Ft.Lauderdale area who could look at a boat for me in order to determine if it is worth the trouble? Looks like it might be a good candidate for a repower. Help! http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/Be ... ted-States . Thanks in advance. Franco

While this boat may in fact have 8.1 Mercs, the pictures shown are not from the engine room of this or any 33 Bertram, or any other Bertram for that matter. The engines are way too close together. Also, that's not the gennie for the 33 either. I'd call the broker.

Also the the 37,000 price tag is the suggested weekly auction starting price!! Key word Auction and the pics of those 8.1s are probably from the Sea Ray that is docked next to the Bertram!!

I think Frank knows the owner of the boat in Wanchese and I believe he's been on the boat. He posts on here or you could PM him. He goes by IRGuy. Buzz