Just ran across this. What a vessel, man. When I was about 17, we knew a family at Dauphin Island, AL they owned one, probably about this same year. Hell, it could even be this very boat. My family had a 20’ Glastron Gulfstream (which I still own), and lemme tell you, that Gulfstream will suck up some heavy seas for a 20’ hull. We used to follow the Bertram out to the reefs, ‘cause the Bertram had the electronics of the day. I swore I would own a Bertram 28 FBC one day. Now at age 63, I haven’t yet fulfilled that dream, but a year from retirement, I’d pull the trigger if I could find one that had already been updated. I’m pretty mechanically inclined, but I just don’t wanna go through the whole restoration process. I’d be willing to pay a premium for a really nice turn key example, though.
The Bertram has a 11’ advertised beam but at the transom it measures at 116”. It is right at 11’ about middle of the boat. I would highly recommend a tri-axle as I am definitely overloaded with the tandem. I know I contacted Mike Gerald’s trailers out of Baton Rouge, La and gave him my trailer model number I have now and told him I needed a tri-axle with a heavier frame but same exact length and set up. I know loaded 28’s are pushing 13k lbs. he recommended going up to an 18k trailer but would have to be custom built to keep it that short. All trailers are made to order so shouldn’t be a problem. Cost is between $9k and 11k depending on options. May have gone up or down though depending on material cost. I will be getting a new trailer once I finish my aluminum bay boat and put the tandem back under it.
You can buy them ready to go with a lot more going for them, for the same money you will have in it, and a lot less headache, blood, sweat, and tears. Plus you would lose a lot of great fishing time instead of working on a boat that you will probably lose interest in even if you do all the work yourself sell it for what you can get out of it and move on down the road.😢
Can’t disagree with that statement but it gives me something to tinker with. I am not worried about losing fishing time though. I have a 19’ that I take in and around The marsh and bayous.
