Bertram33 User Forum

Scary as it sounds, mine is done and there were no big surprises. The good news is that we are narrowing in on splashdown in the next few weeks. A few somewhat minor changes form the initial quote but I must say JBW stuck to their quote. The trick is to find a shop that is doing this type of work routinely. These boys in RI knew exactly what they were getting into thus knew how to price it and the result shows it. Ideally, find someone that has done your exact boat before. Again, they had done a number of older Berts including a 33 so they knew the pitfalls. One thing they did do was to change the side exaust which they strongly recomended - I can send pictures if you want. The extras come from falling into the "while I am at it" trap. I have prectically redone my entire boat including counter tops, blinds, electronics etc. Control your emotions and it should not get out of hand. All said and done I am still satisfied I could not find a better set up for the money I have into this. Plus, this is going to be way cool having new power!!

George, send them on[:D] I'd love to see your pictures. by side exhaust do you mean the moved the exhaust to the side? Or did you have that funky side exhaust which exited on the side closer to the rub rail? I have seen the latter on the later model Berts, mine's a 72 and just exits out the back. Though switching to side exhaust would be a little more piece of mind regarding CO2 and the swim platform (more for the gen than mains). BTW,which panels did you go with I was quoted prices on a basic and delux? only about $75 difference. The bummer is I have both upper and lower stations so that's 4 panels total. Congrats again! John

I've got a ton of pictures of both Georges and mine, I'm just waiting to get a couple of pics when they hopefully put my engines in next week. Then I just have to figure how to send them all to David and let him put two slide shows together for evryone to see. As George said, Johnson's Boat Works is very experienced in repowering. You might want to consider driving your boat up. He does have a couple of owner/yard combo repowers going on this winter that he's assisting on, but the owner is doing most of the work. As George said, most of the add on's are things that you decide, as long as I'm here, I might as well also do this. The side exhausts are at the waterline, 18" forward of the stearn. He has removed the velociject exhausts all together, filling them in, fairing them and will repaint area, I hope it's going to match! Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

John, There's another 33' SF in New Jersey repowering with remaned Cummins 330's this winter. He's having a yard in Delaware do it (no sales tax is a nice feature!). He was talking about launching sometime in April. JBW takes the tach gauge out of the base instrument package and then matches it to a nice teleflex set and customizes to the original dash. Much nicer look and he adds warning lights to the face wall below the steering wheel, where the engine hour meters are currently. Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

Well I've got some numbers together for both Yanmar and Cummins, the Cummins re-man price was about the same as the Yanmar new?? The rep was saying the even the blocks of the re-mans were new with new style exhaust. The reality is it's still too much for me now. I was trying to arrange things, but no matter how you slice it it comes to $50k++ and thats if there's no big problems. So for a while longer it will be gassers for me Can you say E-T-H-A-N-O-L ???? BR, JohnD.

Brian and George, Any word on the sea trials yet? The anticipation is killing us. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Killing you? It's killing me! I just checked in with JBW yesterday and they still haven't dropped in my engines [:(!] For the past couple of weeks, he's indicated next week, next week. I need to have a chat with him this weekend. I going up tonight and spending the day tomorrow working on my projects. George should be nearly ready to launch and I know he is anxious. I expect he'll be going in shortly. I'll keep you posted. Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

Yea, mine is done and just needs to be tested for props. Should go in the water next week. Can't wait! The boat still needs to be put back together (interior, cockpit, bridge) but that should have happened this week. I have already told them that the boat is leaving RI for my marina on May 12 (weather permiting) and they were comfortable with that. Brian (and others), don't you think we should expect to get the boat back the way it was dropped off - down to the littlest things? Eddy did a maticulous job on the repower (I mean awesome) so I would be surprised if he is not thorough in this regard but I am getting concerned about details. I will do the salon myslef this weekend if it is not already done since I have counters to replace and generally want to move towards closure. They are great guys that really know their stuff but I am going to freak out on them if it goes beyond the 12th. I doubt he will do that though - he is just too good a guy. Brian, did he even get the engines yet?

I would feel that if you've got a "package" price, they should replace whatever was removed. Leaving the boat in the exact same condition as it was before they started. That work should be baked into the "package". If however it's a "Time and Materials" job, that's a whole other ball of wax. I've done it this way and had to watch them like hawks and in some respect manage the project myself. I don't like working that way. I'd expect that next week they'll throw several guys at your baot and knock it out in short order. Just try to make clear what you expect and if you can withold file payment until you get satisfaction. Just like they don't want you taking the boat before you pay. Don't pay until everything is they way you want it. best of luck JohnD

Quick update: Engine room is all buttoned up, floors in, cabinets and new counter all in, huge mess totally cleaned up and will put the carpet back down next trip. Looks like normal again. I did it myself but they did say they would do it unless I wanted to do it - which I did. Bridge is also put back together (by them) and man did they clean up the wiring nice. There is not one stray wire under the console as compared to the nest that was there when they started. Left to do is the generator and replacing the cockpit floor. I plan on puting the cockpit panels and coaming back myself next weekend. He also needs to paint old and new exaust - primed and ready though so should happen this week. Last is a test ride to select props although he seems very sure about getting that right in short order. What a process!

George, Are you still planning on heading north on Friday? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

I think I am pushing it off until Sunday so my brother can be part of the maiden voyage - he has tons of time into this project and deserves to come. This is all predicated on resonable seas and Eddy nailing down the few loose ends. We are scheduled to water test Th or Fri. and he seems to be geting caught up - most of the boats he did are now gone and in the water. Basically leaving me and Brian in the shop. I am finally feeling like this is going to happen. Honestly, I never expected to be this involved having now put my boat back together myself. Feeling like he was behind, I decided I just needed to dive in and help move it along. Ideally, he could have done a better job finishing the little stuff but I still feel like I went to the right guy! Yea, its a bit behind schedule, and yea I should not have had to do all the loose ends, but the core project came out very nice and is what I expected. I think Brian is ready to kill him but I also think he will tear through that job in a week now that he has room to work and nothing else on his plate - and the experince of just having done mine. I will report back once we are wet!

Are Brian's engines in the boat yet? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

As far as I know, they are not in the shop yet. Again, that could happen in a days time so no big thing. Brian can update you as I am certain he spoke to Eddy this weekend - we were both there both days working. He is definitly late on agreed upon dates and is officially eating into boating season! My wife was marginally anoyed that we could not use the boat over the past few days - that will turn into totally pissst if it continues much longer. Since she pays the bills....

Brian, How's that Soundings article coming? You should be sure to include all the details about your harrowing ride durnig the tow down to Johnson's. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]