Test Photo

Keith in Corpus · Post by **Keith in Corpus** » Mon May 30, 2016 3:22 pm

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KhM8 ... %2Bcar.jpg[/img] Test photo upload.

Keith in Corpus · Post by **Keith in Corpus** » Mon May 30, 2016 3:33 pm

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Lq3J ... 2Byard.jpg[/img] So Asher I have just watched my wife maneuver her way thru the airdrop, copy, load, share and post to Google plus then post to B 33 and look we made it, a quick before and current picture of the report from Freeport. Land and Sea has a few more parts on the engines and I have to install the Simrad and get the helm control rebuilt and installed back in the dash and we get her wet. 2-3 weeks and I will be able to run her to Corpus.

Blue Label · Post by **Blue Label** » Mon May 30, 2016 5:20 pm

Nice!!

asher · Post by **asher** » Tue May 31, 2016 4:33 am

Looking good! What did you decide to go with for bottom paint? And that cockpit shade is going to come in handy this summer!

Keith in Corpus · Post by **Keith in Corpus** » Tue May 31, 2016 5:45 am

I did not ask about the bottom paint Dos Amigos in Freeport said what he was using but I took his recommendation and went back to the mechanical issues they had more of my consideration. The shade is very close to your head to step under but the man who built the top said close is also a great grab rail so that's another been there done that moment I'm going to run with. The new dash console is being finished with gel coat and paint this week as well as the raw water pumps and hoses so it's beginning to look like Christmas. We are getting excited about bringing her to Corpus. We have the worlds best neighbor with dockable space and he is letting us put her next door so that is even better news for the ride home. I will let you know when she is ready to fish and if you'll share some knowledge and advise we can go for a ride. We have measured Packery bridge and it looks as though she will clear with a couple of feet to spare.

asher · Post by **asher** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:39 pm

Good news man, and you shouldn't have a problem clearing the packery bridge without outriggers but I would still fold your antenna down just in case when transiting the bridge. Once you get near it in the boat you won't have time to lower it if the tide is running. The current can really get to ripping through that little pass.

Keith in Corpus · Post by **Keith in Corpus** » Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:18 pm

It should be interesting to go from my 25' Majek to the 23,000#s and 12.5" beam of the Bertram. That center cut on the bridge will feel a lot smaller in this one. The glass and paint work on the new console should be done this weekend so I can get the new Simrad installed next week. The helm steering unit was dripping on the dash panel so I pulled it to send to Florida to have it rebuilt I should see it 10 - 14 days back in a box. The past owner did nothing in maintenance or even care for the boat so I have to get after the wood trim and rebuild the tackle storage in the cockpit. The rod holders drain water right on top of both cabinets so they are trashed. The rod holders have rubber nose mittens on the bottom to take the water thru a drain hose to the cockpit floor but the rubber mitten has cracked from age so they do nothing to keep the cabinet dry. It will be so convenient to be able to take the golf cart to the boat to be doing this other work. Don't know if you guys care to hear all this but I thought I would ramble anyways.

h2ojst · Post by **h2ojst** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 5:56 am

Sounds like a typical boating day, Keith. It all pays off when you're at anchor, kicking back with a smile on your face & a cold one in hand!

Keith in Corpus · Post by **Keith in Corpus** » Sat Jun 04, 2016 11:19 am

So friends are offering advice and comments about how to prep the boat for a days fishing. Since there are no fish boxes or coolers built in and cockpit floor space must fill up in a hurry what are your suggestions for coolers and fish storage. I was going to put a 5" cooler at the stern and 4 coolers on top of the motor covers 2 each that keeps the 4 smaller coolers in the shade and as much floor space as possible. Are the motor boxes stable for that weight on top? With built in floor boxes for ice and fish Tony takes 450lbs of ice in his Sportsman 25 just for the fish boxes then one large cooler for food and drink. Has anyone added in the floor fish boxes to a 33SF? Is there room under the floor for anything like that?

asher · Post by **asher** » Sat Jun 04, 2016 12:46 pm

You've got a swim platform on there right now so that's where I would put your big cooler for the fish box. If you go back to my dock and walk down it there's a 33 with a 320 qt ice chest across his swim platform named fishy business. Looks like it works real nicely. I'd have a couple smaller ice chests on the engine boxes for drinks and clean ice. Also makes a good place to sit in the shade on a 33. A fish bag is always nice to have in case you have an oddly sized fish that can't fit into your fish box. Keep em rolled or folded up and out of the way and bust em out when you need em.

Keith in Corpus · Post by **Keith in Corpus** » Mon Jun 06, 2016 4:42 pm

I don't know Asher the cooler on the swim platform sounds a little bit Beverly Hillbilly "no offense" to the hillbillys out there!! Although there may not be too many Bertrams in Kentucky. We went out on a 25 Sportsman center console 32 miles on Sunday. I can now truly say without a doubt I have never been that wet for that long. Here I go again no offence to the Sportsman owners but if you bought the boat from the ad that said a very dry ride you should have taken a test ride in 14 to 18 N NW swells in the Gulf Sunday!! Just Sayin. Caught our limit and made it back safely so it was good day. Man I have got to get that 33 in the Water. Its been to humid "raining like theres no end" for the yard to finish the glass work so another 2 weeks and the clock is still ticking. Hope you guys are playin with your boats. Later.

waggles02673 · Post by **waggles02673** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 2:16 am

Why not buy a Bonar Box or something along those lines? Put it in the middle of the cockpit and add a rocket launcher to the top. [IMG]http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee212/waggles02673/Bonar-box_zpseuxbkqaf.jpg[/IMG]

Keith in Corpus · Post by **Keith in Corpus** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 7:17 am

That is a nice option a Bonar Box. I like the way that would fit at the stern and no where what a Yeti would cost. I like the site as well. Thanks

asher · Post by **asher** » Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:44 am

You keep mentioning putting things at the stern of the boat. You'll find out when you start fishing it that you'll want the sides and the transom of the boat as clear and clean as possible. This is one of the main reasons to fish an inboard sport fish. A clean transom. You'll want to be able to gaff fish off the back if necessary as well as run around the cockpit with a rod in your hands when a fish gives you the run around boat side. Big cooler center deck is the northeast or San Diego option, but most people around here just put a big cooler on the deck or swim platform if they have one.

Chum Bucket · Post by **Chum Bucket** » Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:33 am

I'd keep the stern as clutter free as possible if you fish a lot. I'd put the box right over the fuel tank hatch. When i had the floor out last year, I installed/epoxied in some coupler nuts welded to flat bar just to be able to mount a tote securely to the floor. Works really well. I'll take some pics next trip to start replacing all the cool mod postsc that were lost. I'm still really angry.