Bertram33 User Forum

This may sound hairbrained but here goes. Having grown up at a sea ray dealership I have always thought large of the little aft cabin. Having said that has anyone ever contemplated doing such in a fb cruiser forward of the engines. The ladder going down would present a little problem but with the newer hinged t ladder it would be a non issue. There is nothiong there that cannot be repositioned in order to mkae this happen. I have a 78 and no side cabin it really doe snot look like it would be hard to accomplish

I've got a 78 FB also & you have totally lost me. Are you talking about trying to duplicate the newer boats with the side cabin? What ladder are you talking about? Not saying you can't do anything, but I am confused. Al

I'm sure anything is possible but if you want a boat like a Sea Ray I would sell my Bertram and buy a Sea Ray. Most people who want a Bertram don't want a Bertram that looks like a Sea Ray. How would you ever sell it? Buzz buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead City, NC

Rich, Do you mean you want to add a cabin in the bilges in front of the engines where the water tank currently resides? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

You mean he wants to turn the area in front of the engine room where the water tank is into a cabin. I get it now. Wow you would have to be really short. Buzz buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morhead City, NC

bingo thanks for putting it the way I should have it goes form side to side of the boat so i do not know how you would have to be short(other comment). It seems like wasted space to me I really do not know of anything that could not be repositioned. As for wanting to make it like a sea ray the main point is to use some space that I do not consider very well allocated. There would still be ample storage underneath what would be the bed for the water tank etc. quote:Originally posted by dougl33 Rich, Do you mean you want to add a cabin in the bilges in front of the engines where the water tank currently resides? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Maybe its different on a 78, but the forward bilge on my boat (1986) is packed with the following: water tank (against the bulkhead) a/c intake (starbord side) hot water heater (starbord side) a/c condenser (port side) holding tank (under the steps) I don't have room to put these things anywhere else. Where would you put the water tank? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

On my 78 the water tank is centerline & going under the steps. AC compressor is to stb. Hot water tank is on the port side. If all that were taken out or repositioned to the sides, (there goes the balance) that would still leave less than 5' height at the center of the bilge to the cabin floor. If you were thinking of raising the floor, what about the galley on the portside & the lower helm on stb side? How would you access this space fwd of the engines? I've been all over every square inch of the NITES OFF. I'm sorry but I cannot visualize what you are envisioning. If you want to make use of wasted space, then put in access doors on the cabin side panels. This opens up a phenomenal amount of storage space under the gunnels. Al

I have a 70 gallon water tank in the middle of that area plus a hot water heater and my A/C. What would you put in that area a bunk running side to side? Buzz buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz OFF Morehead City, NC

Ok here goes. I was going to do an instant hot for the hot water granted it won't allow it to heat the hot water while underway but I never take a shower then anyhow and my genset is always pumping 110 anyway. The ac compressor would have to be moved as close to the side of the hull which it already kind of is so it may stay where it is currently positioned. This leaves the water tank which I admit I cannot figure my thought was to buy the hull confomring type tank that would fit between the stringers. might lose a few gallons capacity but that would do it. As for the length of the bunk the boat is over twelve feet wide so I would think if you could eek out a 7 or 8 foot long space it would work. That would leave roomd for the ac unit inside a bulkhead in the remaining area. Granted it would make engine acess tighter (a lot). With the extra little room and the easily accesesable sotrage underneath the bunk you would pick up I think it would be a winner. As I can sense though it must be a real crackpot idea. Just makes a lot of sense for me as we do a lot of weekend cruising here in fl where we stay on the boat. in closing once again for what is in that area that is hard to get to, it just seems like a lot of wasted space.

Wouldn't it be easier to try and add a second stateroom like the post 1980 FBC's? I know the electrical panel is on your starbord side going down the stairs, but what else is in there? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]