Bertram33 User Forum

Has anyone updated their Bertram cockpit panels using the Starboard Marine sheet panels. Dave Pascoe had the article on the couple refurbishing the big Bertram and they used this product to replace old particle board panels. Regards, Bill

Bill.. While I haven't used Starboard for cockpit panels I know that at least one of us has. Al L.(lobsta1) has replaced the vertical permanent panels at the forward ends of the cockpit with Starboard panels which are hinged.. a neat idea which gives him excellent additional storage space. I will copy his idea as part of my rebuild. A couple of warnings about Starboard.. 1 - It is not a structural material, it will flex a lot. 2 - You have to pre-drill pilot holes when you use screws, otherwise the screws will cause the adjacent areas to yield and distort. 3 - It expands and contracts a lot with temperature changes, so if you screw something large together you need to elongate the screw holes. 4 - You can't paint it. 5 - It is almost impossible to glue it. I do know someone (a now retired professional builder of tanks and wells for fishing boats) who claims he used to weld it, using a hot air welding setup. I have experimented with several adhesive/glues and have found two that do a pretty good job, but if I was going to make anything large out of it I would still back the joints up with screws. On the positive side you can leave the stuff bare and outdoors and it won't deteriorate. It is very easy to work with using common woodworking tools. It is almost indestructable, it wont absorb water, and is easy to keep clean. Like boats and marriages.. being involved with it requires managing compromises! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

Frank, thanks, my 28 Bert has masonite or some other type cockpit panel, had them Imronned about 10 years ago, they need re-painting etc., you know, makeral guts, coolers, dive tanks, chairs banging etc., looking for something clean, durable and easy to wash. Neat idea those hinged cockpit panels

i just finished them today including the storage compartment under the gunnels.i used a different product called seaboard,it is more scratch resistant than starboard.i gave all the pieces to a company called weldednotscrewed.com and they duplicated everything to my specs.

Kevin, would share we me the sheet product you used please? Appreciated, Bill

Bill its trademark name is seaboard it has more of a textured surface than starboard.

Kevin thanks, I'll check it out

The guy I mentioned above says that Seaboard is easier to weld than Starboard. These materials are supposed to be pretty much identical. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

Seaboard dealer in Dorchester with decent prices. Al http://www.jfreeman.com/

I replaced my panels next to the engine boxes with starboard. They came out great. Real easy to work with. Mike

FWIW, you may want to think about PVC board - not structural either, much lighter than starboard, takes awlgrip really nice, cheaper, glue it with pipe pvc cement - be quick!, avoids staining like starboard. Downside is that it's softer so if you're slinging large wieghts or have a tendancy to pitch stuff into the garbage bucket and bank it, that may be an issue and of course paint scratchs. Alan.

Where do you get teh PVC board and how much does it cost? Buzz buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morhead City, NC

I replace those plywood panel with Starboard years ago. I hinged them and I now store lines in one side and life preservers in the other it works great. Jeff Now and Then

We are in the process of replacing ours now in 1979 33SF. We are using expanded PVC @ $60 per 4 X 8 sheet. We have already cut, machined, and predrilled and will likely install this week-end. Will post pics when finished! Gary xXx