Following Seas

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:13 pm

How do the 33 FBCs handle steep following seas?

Post by **dougl33** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:28 pm

Define steep? I find that the boat handles exceptionally well for the conditions I'm likely to be out in. The FBC rocks more than either the SF or a 35 while drifting, but I'd bet that's about the only difference. What other boats are you cross shopping?

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:39 pm

The rips in Montauk can be 6-7ft and tight. I am shopping the 35B and the 35Viking. It looks like the 35B won't sleep my family though, from what was said here on this forum. I was hoping that the day bunk would sleep my daughter who is 5'10" OR that my wife and I could sleep on the couch. I rather not have to get creative to make it work, no blow up matterases etc... Thanks Jeff

Post by **dougl33** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:34 pm

I think the FBC will give a better ride than the 35 Vike. We looked at a 35 Vike a few years ago as a replacement for someone who lost a 33 in a yard explosion. Overall we were not very impressed. The layout was nice, but maintenance of the gennie, air conditioning, and stuffing boxes would have been a nightmare. Also, for a boat that's 6+ inches wider than a 33 Bert, the engines were closer together. On a Cat powered 35 Vike, I could not sit in the bilge between the engines without turning my shoulders side ways. Finally, the Vikes are a slower boat than both the 33 and 35 Berts. What's your price range?

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:46 am

Upon completion of the sale of my 30 Grady I should have about 65K for my next boat. I figure that in this market I would look at boats that were listed as high as 99K. There is an 83 FBC with 315 Yanmars asking 50K that looks like it is in need of updating and that was just from the listing pictures!

CB35 · Post by **CB35** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:16 am

If you are buying a boat for fair weather cursing get a searay or bayliner. If you want a great all weather boat get a Bertram. The 33 FBC has a larger interior then the 35B. The 35B is a fishing platform, period that you can overnight. Now for my comments on the 35 Viking. The 35V has a weird hull shape. The hull has a "plow" shaped hull with a modified V. It makes a nice cruising boat; but not a good offshore runner. I just went out and measured my 1984 35B. The Day Bed is 74"X 21.5" The salon floor is 99.5"(wide)X 108"(long) John D's futon works. Most boats had a little couch along the rear bulkhead. that equals a single bed. I had looked at a nice couch that would run length wise; but went with a love seat. My boat is a fishing boat first and foremost. Most of the time the couch sits in my office and boat has a big table and four folding chairs in the salon. If you want sleep on an over night tuna chunk just sleep on the floor or flybridge. I get forty winks in the v-birth. Bottom line if you want quality get a Bertram if you want a floating condo get a bayliner or something like that.

Mike_Lenz · Post by **Mike_Lenz** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:00 am

Jeff, I also have a B35 and I overnight on her all the time. First I made an insert for the V which converts it into a bed that is comfortable for my wife and I with plenty of extra room. Second I made a couch in the salon that pulls out to a queen size bed. If I need more sleeping room I also have a blow up mattress that I put next to the extended pullout couch which sleep one more person comfortable with room to pass by to the head or out to the cockpit. As far as the ride I have been in stuff I should of never been in, in the first place and she has never let me down. I think that you will always get a pro-Bertram response from this website because we all know the quality and ride of the Bertram boats. I agree there are other great boats out there but you will never be disappointed with a Bertram in any size...... Good luck, Mike

CB35 · Post by **CB35** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:18 am

Oh you asked about following seas. I have not met a following sea either my 28B or my 35B could handle. I an talking 10 foot breaking seas in the inlet also. Not many boats can run with a Bertram in following seas. Once the headseas get above 5 feet it gets painful at 18 kts. Either quarter them or slow way down. The 35 Bertram is one of the better headsea boats near her size and the 35B can take a pounding without breaking anything (except your back). The 35B has a big bow flair and 19 degrees at the transom and a keel. Point her at the backs of the waves an just go. When you find a few good candidates let the guys here know where. A couple of trained eyes know best.

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:38 am

Thanks for the feedback! how about the 33 in following seas anyone have an opinion? There is a 33 in Westchester, NY that I may take a quick look at this weekend. Thanks Guys keep the advice coming

Jeff

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:58 am

There's no keel on the 33's, but they run very well in a following.

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:15 am

Thanks, I thought that I saw someone say that they were scary. I think I trust your opinion a little more "Admiral". Nice Hardtop and enclosure. Did you add that? Jeff

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:08 am

I did. I bought my boat back in 2002. It was a very clean gas boat with a bimini only (no enclosure). I have since added the hardtop and enclosure, and re-powered with diesels. I like to think of it as a rolling restoration. For what its worth, I think any boat with a decent v (15+ degrees of deadrise) at the transom should be ok in a following sea. Its the modified v's with flat after sections like Posts and Oceans that are scary in a following. Last summer we tried to make a late in the day run from Cuttyhunk to Block Island. There was a good 4-6 foot head sea with an occaisional 8 foot thrown in. As Charlie noted above, you need to slow down to make for a comfortable ride in those conditions. As I did not feel like pulling into Block at 10pm we turned around. Presto following sea and I was back to running at 16+ knots.

CB35 · Post by **CB35** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:26 am

Buy some boats get screwed with. Like moving water tanks and generators forward. When you get too much weight forward then the handling goes out the window. No offense to Doug; but I consider hom a fair weather cruiser. I have been out in some big sheeeet. Spent the night in my 28B at anchor in 10-15 foot breaking seas whipped by 45 kt winds with much higher gusts. You could hold your hand in front of your face and wiggle your fingers and you could not see a thing; pitch black. I would have pulled the anchor; but not being able to see the breaking waves (we sure could hear them coming) I did not want to get beam to and get rolled. So we sat on anchor until the gray of early dawn. Things calmed down at first only 8-10 with a few breakers. We pulled anchor and trolled towards home. I got back and started looking for a 35 Bertram. Got caught in a squall with a bunch of other boats 31's coming back from a New England Rendezvous. This time a direct headsea. The waves were so steep at 6 konts my engines came out of the water as we crested every wave. I was able to get up to 18 kts as the seas fell; but the 31B's fell far behind at 12kts. That is when Tom Ward upgraded to a 38B. When you put 2 tons of cast iron in the belly of a 35B (3208 Cats) they will pretty much run through anything. Maybe John D will chime in as he had a 35B with gassers now 3126 Cats. John got good ride on my boat one day. Now it was not rough; but John said he my boat wit heavy twin diesels was much different boat then his. I have toyed with the idea of someday repowering with lighter diesels and adding a couple of water ballast tanks for when the going gets rough. Hate to give up the cast iron in the belly; but why drag it around when seas are calm. Just an idea. Good luck on your process of finding the right boat. When looking at 33B's look for forward bulkhead deliminations. Not a big deal even if you find some. They are easily fixed.

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:01 am

No offense taken. I cruise, not fish. If I can wait to not beat my brains out, I'll wait.

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:48 am

All things said both the 33 and 35 are better sea boats with the 3208s as opposed to 6cyl. Yanmar, Cummins? How easily are the bulkheads repaired? Are the gen sets in the cockpits all on both models? Hey Doug I noticed in another thread in April of 09 you forwarded a listing on an 1983 with Yanmars in New Rochelle. That is the boat that I was considering. Your 2 cents? Jeff