Bertram33 User Forum

I am buying a 1987 33 Sportfisher tomorrow if it passes a survey. The engines are new long blocks in 2007 with Osco manifolds new Transmissions new Heat exchangers etc. A new Aluminum fuel tank was installed in 2007. The generator is not putting out electricity but runs fine. Any other problems that I should look for on Friday.

Have your surveyor look at the forward bulkheads to check for the tabbing coming loose. Not an uncommon problem and an easy fix. The salon entry door will probably be starting to delaminate at the bottom, the refrigerator should be a sub-zero, if it's not it's been replaced with a cheaper unit. Also look for possible soggy deck coring in the cockpit, make sure the wiring hasn't been too monkeyed with, other than that it should be just common survey stuff as far as I can remember. Let us know what you find wrong and we can give you an idea how much work or money it will take to fix it. I would consider the genset to be junk if it's the original. The parts are stupid expensive and it's just too old to be reliable. Figure about $5 K to replace that and you'll be amazed at how nice the new one is ..There will be a certain amount of deferred maintenance, it's just a matter of finding out what it is and how much to fix it. One more thing, if it has been in a cold climate, check for swollen or cracked railings, particularly the hand rails to the flybridge, they fill with rain water and will expand and crack when they freeze at the bottom , extending up quite a ways.

If the generator engine runs couldn't you put a whole new generator end on the motor? Or would the cost be almost as much as buying a whole new unit? I see generator ends ads a lot for diesel sets. Never paid attention if people use them on gas sets. Frank, I'm sure you're right if it's a 1987 gas generator it would be better to get a whole new unit. Buzz

I think the generator ends tend to be $2500 or more. I'd have a hard time spending that kind of $$ on a 20+ year old gennie where something else could sh!t the bed too.

I agree I wouldn't spend 2500on a generator end on a 20 year old generator. Buzz

have a curtain man make you a cover, so it doeasn't get wet with water coming through rear hatch, save us many dollars

I don't have much trouble with rain water coming in as long as I keep the hatch gutters clean. I had more problems with condensation on my generator. I put an engine heater on the oil pan of my generator engine and that seems to be working. Buzz

I bought the boat. The engines ran fine after sitting for a year and a half. The door looked good as did the flybridge ladder with no swollen pipes or cracks from freezing. All I have to do now is get her transported from Stevenville, MD to Stonington, CT Any connections with haulers out there? Thanks Don In Mystic, CT

Dom Yacht salvage has a transport division in mendon Mass. and Uship dot com I saw that boat on yacht world for a while, congrats and good luck I am going to look at one tomorrow on the cape 33SF, did you ever look at it? If you did I would like to hear your thoughts, leaving early will be up late 203 856 9876

My gas gennie will be coming out later this month.It needs a starter.It was charging fine the last time it ran. I'll let it go cheap if anyone needs parts. Brian 1986 Bertram 33 FBC Mercruisers Seahorse Ellisville Harbor, Ma

I talked to the broker and he said that the model was a different layout that I wanted. The one on the Cape had the head near the door and a small galley. But the owner was willing to negotiate to sell the boat. It too has been for sale for more than two years. Don

You can try Marblehead Traders. My brother-in law runs the trucking portion. trucking@marbleheadtrading.com 800-600-9382

Could be as simple as a new set of brushes. One day my gennie just quit putting out, thought it was going to be fixed with a new set of brushes. Ended being a groove in the armature and not a huge expense. Corrected problem by cutting down the groove so that the brushes would run smoothly. Congrats on the new purchase. Scott 1987 B33 SF Dealer's Choice V Edisto Beach, SC