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Anybody looking tomove up in size: 1981 38 Bertram

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:36 am
by dougl33
This boat caught my eye because the ad said the owner would be interested in trading for a smaller boat. I called the broker and after a few days worth of discussion, the owner decided he was looking for something smaller (Sea Ray type to use on a lake). If anyone is interested in selling their boat and moving up in size, I'm pretty sure the owner will take $105K-$110K for this boat. Its been on YW for at least 2 years. http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... =1535&url= If you're interested, shoot me an email as I've got some notes. The boat has a few issues, but its got 40 hours on 355hp 3208's that were installed in 2004. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:11 pm
by photo finish
That '81 38b looks similar to my '81 33b just has a stall shower and a bigger cockpit.The interior is does not look like much of an upgrade as far as room .

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:28 pm
by BECCA ROSE
Pure VOLUME Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:21 pm
by dougl33
Tim, Its actually much bigger. I've been on a couple of 38's. The V-birth is bigger and the side stateroom is bigger as well. The boat is 9 inches wider. As Bill stated, volumetrically, its a much bigger boat. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:42 pm
by lobsta1
Doug, is this "volumetrically" the word of the day? Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:07 pm
by Capt. Ed
Adv. 1. volumetrically - with respect to volume; "analyzed volumetrically" [:D] 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:06 am
by franklyprice
It says the boat was just repainted recently, including the cockpit. Do you suppose that means it's on the second coat of paint over the gelcoat? I wonder how tough it would be to strip and repaint the non-skid in the cockpit? I think I'll stick with my gelcoat.

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:26 am
by captgene
More cockpit & a shower. More $ to dock it. More $ to maintain it. More $ to insure it. More $ to fuel it. Probably burns 50 gal. / hr too. Won't take me anywhere my 33 won't. Quite a deal. Gene Dugan

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:58 am
by dougl33
It would only have cost me $45 more per year to dock this boat at my marina, only an additional $35 to store it for the winter, and the 3208's would burn less at a somewhat higher speed than the 30 gph my 454's are burning right now. Bigger cockpit, bigger bridge, bigger salon, bigger head, bigger v-birth, etc... The biggest plus that I see with this boat is that its been re-powered. As far as the paint is concerned, I'll bet a lot of southern boats have been painted. While I'm happy with my 33, if I could've gotten the guy to take my boat plus $10K-$15K I would've pulled the trigger. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:17 am
by Capt. Ed
quote: I'll bet a lot of southern boats have been painted. See, there you go again, picking on us Southern folk! [;)] 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:23 am
by dougl33
quote:See, there you go again, picking on us Southern folk! [;)] Dang! Sorry Bubba, my bad![:D] Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:56 am
by Fish Stix
38's are good fishing platforms...very stable and can take a punch. I fish a 38 repowered with C9 cats couple times a year. Good tracking and stability at the higher speed. My only gripe with the 38 is loss of headroom over the 33FBC. Curious about the 355 Cats....isn't that 375? Any detail on the rebuild? Was is factory long-block replacement or an in-hull rebuild? By the way, Imron's a wonderful invention..

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:16 am
by dougl33
Dave, The 375's weren't in the 38's until 86 (the last year for the Convt). I've actually got a bertram spec sheet from 1984 that gives the diesel options for the 38. They were the 355hp 3208's and the Cummins 903's (not sure about the hp, it may have been 380). The broker told me they were factory rebuilds they got from someplace in Baltimore. How much headroom loss is there? As I said I've been on a couple of 38's and never noticed any diff between the 33 and 38. Then again, I'm only 5-9. How tall are you? Did you find a boat yet? Maybe this would be a good deal for you. I've got a lot more info on the boat. The broker was very forthcoming. He was getting ready to send me an ins survey they had done when the owner pulled the plug on a trade. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:26 am
by photo finish
Come on Doug...this is your boat dude!...What are you waiting for?

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:54 am
by dougl33
I was waiting for the owner (who's a dentist btw) to say he'd take a 33 in trade. Actually, I'm a little relieved it didn't work out. It would've been a pain in the ass getting the boat up north. It would've cost too much to bring the boat by water and I would've had to take the half tower (with lace top) and bridge off to ship it over the road. From the start, I told myself there was less than a 10% chance of it coming to fruition. It would be a hop skip and a jump for you though. You could definately turn that around in your canal! Maybe you can sell the 33 to your brand new bayliner owning brother-in-law. He's had the boat for a few weeks already so I'm sure he's ready for an upgrade! Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]