Bertram33 User Forum

Glad I found this site. I am not a bertram owner. However, I am growing more & more interested in them. Specifically, the 33 FBC. I have read quite a bit about these boats and have looked at many for sale online. I believe I read somewhere that they had a second helm as an option. I assume that would be in the salon. I have not seen any FBC's with an interior helm. So,my questions are does anyone know if FBC's were made with a second helm? Would it be possible to install a second helm? Thanks in advance, Scott

Hi Scott, You won't be disappointed with the Bertram. I still haven't seen a 33 that is engineered or put together as well as these. The lower helm was an option and I've seen a couple, on the earlier ones from the late '70's .There could be some later ones but I've never heard of or seen a picture of one that I can recall. Adding the lower helm would not be easy but could be done. You'd have to figure out how to tap into the hydraulic steering and of course the shift and throttle cables would have to be run also and I suppose another set of gauges would be needed , then you get into how to split the signal from the multiple senders etc. It really comes down to your abilities and motivation .

And wallet!

I have the lower helm & its only use is for working on the engines. Other than that, it is a space waster & introduces new points of failure. Al

As Doug says you won’t be disappointed in a Bertram 33. I’ve been in a couple of 25 Berts with second station and the lower station is not useful while under way. I have to think the 33 second station would be the same.

The only folks that I know that have them (Ron and Al) only use the lower station when working on the engines and not underway.

I agree, mostly useless. I've even disconnected the clutch cables from the salon station to reduce the extra friction. In have a set of cockpit clutches, much more useful when docking or picking up a mooring alone.