Bertram33 User Forum

Thanks everybody for the warm welcome. I'll let you guys know how the tank swap goes as well as some other projects I have in mind.

Sean / Frank, unless I'm mistaken, both boat leveller (insta-trim) and Bennett, wire their tabs the same way (where left switch activates right tab and visa versa). The theory is that the tabs control bow movement (not stearn movement) Since a mono hull boats contact patch with the water is a triangle / tripod (hydrodynamically like an arrow pointing forward - front most point being the bow and the two other points being each stearn corner). Raising the right side of the stearn ( by lowering that sides tab), has the opposite effect on the bow - lowering the left side. This is the standard convention that I've always seen with respect to tab operation. If there are others, I don't know them. BTW, each company has a website that describes this same convention.

John, On my last boat I installed a new set of Bennetts and they pretty much gave the option of wiring it either way. Of course you're right in saying what does what on the boat, it's just that I have learned over time to use the switches to activate the tabs and what the action they have on the boat is as natural to me as steering the boat or using the left or right throttles or shifts to control the boat's movement. I like it the way it is, first and foremost because I've always had it that way and second because I don't think I could ever get used to the idea of the left switch controlling the starboard tab and vice versa. Maybe some of the other guys can chime in on how their setups are. I thought all Bertrams were this way. Sort of a thinking man's boat...

If Frank's boat is set up the same as mine, well then I think it must have come from the factory that way. At 22 knots in calm water and a headwind my hull likes to walk around on the chines a little anyway, unless I'm heading dead into the wind. The angle of the headwind has more to do with my running attitude than me messing with the tabs. Take one away somewhat to level the boat out and it slows down, I'd rather run a little crooked. When running with the wind (or in no wind) in calm water the tabs rule the running attitide completely. In rougher waters it's hard to tell what small changes in one tab position are doing, except that any setting other than all the way down will slow me down. At least that's the case on my setup anyway, I still think the tabs are undersized for the boat. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

To be honest, the only reason I knew this convention at all is that when I bought my boat, I had to rewire much of it and I was sure my switches were wrong (being that each switch controlled the opposite tab). I ended up researching it and while it made sense, like you, I would have been more comfortable with the idea that left controls left and right controls right. Also, on my boat dropping the port side of bow (lowering starboard tab) does cause my boat to veer to starboard (also opposite the tab switch). I'm surprised the B33 likes full tabs for speed.... my boat likes different tab amounts at different speeds but full tabs at any speed over the planing hump slows me down. At full speed, I have to use very little tab or my bow digs in too much.

I have a feeling that my boat , being quite a bit lighter in the stern than Sean's, needs a little less tab at speed. Since I have gas engines, I rarely(never) cruise faster than planing speed, so I always use the tabs. I do know that at over 20 knots they no longer help my speed any and so are not necessary. In a following sea of any size I won't use tabs at any speed . As Sean says, to level the boat you kindof want to add more tab on one side but you can't because they already are all the way down, so you have to retract the other one and lose speed. This is where I'd like more.

Frank is right- the 3208's make my ass heavy and so my need for tabs is greater. There is a cut-off point around 24 knots where the tabs actually slow me down, but I don't spend too much time running at that speed unfortunately. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

My Tabs are likes Johns, left switch pressed on top brings the Port Bow down (activates Starboard Tab down) and vice versa for right. Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

It closed for $36,711. I got in at 26k and went to 30K. Went out for a sub and it closed. I was almost a 2 boat owner. I just couldn't let it go for that low. At that price I would have shipped down to mexico and sold it. Not a lot of nice boats down where I am and the ones they do have they get top dollar for. I tried. SF

I was lucky enough to be the winning bidder on this 33. I have previously owned a 28 & 38 Bertram and it's great to be part of the Bertram family again!!!

Congrats Bobbie, why to go!!! Welcome back to the Bertram family. Where are you located? 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... xandra.jpg[/img] HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Congrats....I am glad a Bertram lover got it. Sea ya on the Sea's

Nice to see it went to someone here. Congrats! I cannot tell a lie, I contacted Mick myself about the boat and left him an "out" if the auction didn't pan out.

The interior of the boat was in verty nice condition, he sent me some additional photos. Steve

Bobbie, You got what appears to be a great boat at about half price. I'm sure that you'll want to install A/C and the shipping will add up but it's still a smokin' deal. Being a fresh water boat doesn't hurt a thing either. Congrats.