InTheBite

New Bertram 61: Unveiled

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The new Bertram Yachts unveiled its latest edition—the Bertram 61—at a VIP launch party in Fort Lauderdale on Friday July 20, 2018. The CEO of Bertram Peter Truslow launched the boat with a champagne toast delivered from the bridge. Sitting back to back the newly released Bertram 35, Truslow proclaimed the 61’ as the future direction of the brand.

Photo courtesy of Chris Rabil

InTheBite’s Dale Wills and Elliott Stark were on hand to check out the goods and talk with the men and women making it happen. The new Bertram bridges the historic past of one of sportfishing’s most illustrious names with the future of boat building. The progress is exciting.

Exterior

  • Construction features an infused vinylester solid fiberglass hull bottom with Kevlar centerline and strake reinforcements.
  • Twin CAT32s, 1900-HP diesels to provide top-of-the line performance and speed.
  • A spacious and easily to maneuver cockpit, when the bite is on.
  • The center console helm gives great visibility and offers a comfortable ride.

Interior

  • The open salon-galley layout, wrap around windows, and full-beam master stateroom, are just a few of the features that make the interior one of luxury and comfort.

Maverick Yachts of Costa Rica and Saunders Yachtworks Collaborate Building Sportfishing Yachts

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Maverick Yachts of Costa Rica, Saunders Yachtworks Announce Joint Boat Building Venture

 

Costa Rica-based boat builder and U.S.-based refit yard to collaborate on new sportfish line

Gulf Shores, Ala. – July 10, 2018 – Saunders Yachtworks and Maverick Yachts of Costa Rica have entered into an agreement to build sportfishing yachts for the U.S. market. Maverick will construct the cold-molded hulls and vessel superstructure at the company’s facility in Herradura, Costa Rica. Saunders will outfit the yacht at its boatyard in Gulf Shores, Ala.

According to Saunders CEO John Fitzgerald, the company intends to offer the full model line of 36- to 50-foot Maverick sportfishing yachts for sale in the U.S., starting with the first 40-foot triple outboard walkaround in spring 2019.

“Maverick brings exceptional boatbuilding skills to the table, and we bring expertise in equipment installation, outfitting and after-sales service,” Fitzgerald said. “Once I toured the Maverick facility and saw their craftsmen at work, I knew we had a great opportunity to build something together.

“Everyone who visits Costa Rica to sportfish knows the reputation of Maverick Yachts. Their track record for durability, craftsmanship, and attention to detail speaks for itself. These boats have been raising fish off the Pacific Coast for years, and we are excited to make them more accessible to customers in the United States.”

“People love our yachts because they raise fish and have unmatched durability,” Maverick Yachts CEO Larry Drivon said. “We are thrilled to find a U.S. partner like Saunders who has an excellent reputation in the yacht service industry and whose insight can be adapted into our production process.”

Maverick Yachts in Costa Rica custom builds cold-molded yachts that are carefully designed by dedicated fishermen and constructed by some of the finest craftsmen found anywhere in the world. The complete boat is finished to a standard comparable to the most prestigious custom manufacturers in the United States. For more information, please visit www.maverickcostarica.com.

The Saunders family has been in the marine service business in coastal Alabama since 1959. With skilled technicians and craftsmen in all areas, Saunders manages projects ranging from routine maintenance to major refits and repowers. The company operates a full-service yacht yard in Gulf Shores that accommodates vessels up to 130 feet with a 165-ton lift. Saunders has a second location in Orange Beach with a 60-ton lift capacity and an outboard sales and service center. For more information, please visit www.saundersyacht.com.

Bayliss GameBoat 62’ “Tarheel” In Production

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Bayliss Boatworks is building a new GameBoat, sized at 62’ and named Tarheel. This build began in March of 2018.

Tarheel features the V.2 GameBoat layout – a healthy synergy of the first two GameBoats built by Bayliss; she combines the practicality of Mama C with the custom lower level layout of GameChanger. Bayliss Boatworks’ first demo boat, she will be fished heavily on the east coast tournament circuit and will eventually wind up in Costa Rica.

Exterior features include a variety of faux teak components, including a faux teak toe rail transom and drip molding. She will have a sleek profile, hard top, and white windshield. It’s all about symmetry on Tarheel: the flybridge will have the classic center console arrangement. A center door will orient the salon, and two peninsula cabinets will be featured in the galley for refrigeration and storage.

The lower level will be comprised of a simple three stateroom/two-head layout, along with an easily accessible dayhead and tackle room, each situated just off the main companionway. Systems will include two 20 kw Northern Lights generators, an FCI 1,800 gallon per day watermaker, and a Dometic Chilled Water A/C system (now standard on all Bayliss builds).

Specifications

Length: 62’

Beam: 18’ 2”

Draft: 4’ 8”

Fuel: 1,850 gallons

Water: 300 gallons

Power: Twin MTU M96L 10V @ 1600 hp each

Stabilization: Seakeeper 9

Tarheel will deliver in summer of 2019. Bayliss Boatworks has been building custom sportfishing yachts in Wanchese since 2002. Four builds are in progress at the company’s facility in Wanchese, including a Bayliss 75’, a 78-footer named Blue View, and two 62’ GameBoats – GameChanger and Tarheel.

For more information on Tarheel and all other builds, past and present, visit www.baylissboatworks.com

Uncovering of Bertram Yachts Cutting-Edge 61

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BERTRAM YACHTS REVEALS CUTTING-EDGE 61

TAMPA, Fla., June 13, 2018 — Florida-based Bertram Yachts announces the debut of its second new model under the ownership of industrialist and yachting enthusiast Beniamino Gavio. The Bertram 61 is designed with the durability and quality of the original battlewagons, while utilizing the most advanced technologies and techniques, to build a better Bertram. The new model sets a new standard for Bertram and competitors in its class.

Since its inception in Tampa, Fla., Bertram has completed seventeen 35s, with delivery across North American, Puerto Rico, Japan, Italy, Bermuda, and Panama. The 61 prototype will debut in Fort Lauderdale, July 2018. To-date, reservations on hull numbers two through five have been placed.

The hull, designed by Michael Peters Yacht Design, is projected to provide top-of-the-line performance and speed, with twin CAT32s, 1900-HP diesels. A Seakeeper 16 gyro stabilizer unit will also be found in the engine room, just aft of the engines. Projected to eliminate 95% of the boats roll, the unit is critical to providing comfort for trolling anglers and cruisers alike.

“Our boats are designed to handle the worst of conditions with ease. Nothing about that has changed. Standardizing the Seakeeper is just one of the advanced features we’re adding to the boat, to take that next step into unprecedented quality of sportfishing boats. If we’ve got a hull that can go through anything, we need to make sure our customers are comfortable when they get there – and it is a testament to how we take care of owners,” says Tommy Thompson, VP Sales and Product Development.

Construction features an infused vinylester solid fiberglass hull bottom with Kevlar centerline and strake reinforcements. At full-load, the projected displacement is 92,450 lbs.

The spacious cockpit allows anglers to maneuver quickly and seamlessly, when the bite is on. The center console helm gives great visibility and affords a comfortable ride for more than just a couple passengers. The exterior is designed to take on the most rugged conditions, while the open salon-galley layout and full-beam master stateroom, are just a few of the features that make the interior one of luxury and comfort.

“In the spirit of Bertram’s relaunch, the salon wrap around windows are actually another great blast-from-the-past but done now using modern technology and virtually military grade glass. These windows are amazing,” says Thompson. “I can’t wait for everyone to see the view from inside a 61 Bertram.”

 

Bayliss Boatworks Delivers 60’ Mama C Wanchese, NC

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The first GameBoat built by Bayliss Boatworks was delivered to her owners in October 2017.

The Bayliss GameBoat concept was created, simply and directly, to chase fish; it is everything you need, and nothing you don’t. The GameBoat is not a charter boat, nor a production boat. As far as construction, fit, and finish, the GameBoat is no different than Bayliss Boatworks other builds. This is a high-quality, custom-built concept with a confined group of layouts for the owner whose main priority is fishing. By design, these boats have a simple interior layout, and include a concentration on rod and tackle storage, fishing efficiency, low maintenance, and speed.

The 60’ Mama C is the product of over 30,000 man-hours and nearly 16 months of labor; she will be spending much of her time at southern latitudes, chasing sailfish.

Mama C’s profile is unique with no front mask or tower; fishing efficiency and low maintenance are her main priorities. Her Matterhorn White hull pairs effortlessly with her custom blue bottom paint and boot stripe. A faux teak toe rail and half round adds pristine detail to the topside.

The flybridge layout draws from the classic center console style, complete with a faux teak helm pod, full electronics and plenty of storage. Bench seating is built-in on both port and starboard sides, in addition to seating forward of the console. Built-in teaser reels nest above the helm in the bridge hardtop.

The cockpit is adequately stocked with custom refrigeration boxes, plenty of tackle storage, and a large ice bin. The teak deck, cover boards, coaming and built-in transom fish box complete the functionality of Mama C’s cockpit.

Mama C’s interior lacks no detail or functionality. Synthetic flooring keeps with the minimalistic maintenance program, and is installed throughout the galley and salon. Every cabinet is faced with horizontally laid ¼-sawn grain teak veneer. The galley is clad with quartzite countertops, and fully equipped with a Viking microwave, two-burner Wolf induction cooktop, and two Subzero double-drawer refrigerators. Copious amounts of storage throughout the galley and in the dash make for a travel-ready boat.

Down below, her two stateroom/two head (with tackle room) layout ensures plentiful accommodations; each stateroom features two extra-large bunks and a central companionway. Above each bunk is a custom cubby for electronics storage and charging, while vast tackle storage is built-in under each bunk. In the forward stateroom, the carpet lifts to reveal covert indeck storage in the machine tunnel, intended for additional provisioning on longer fishing trips.

Both heads, one forward of the galley, and one forward of the forward stateroom, boast quartzite countertops and sturdy, attractive fixtures. The second day head, located just aft of the galley, ensures easy and quick access during a busy fishing day.

A custom-designed tackle room, complete with a reel locker, perfectly fits the fishing storage needs of Mama C’s owners. The neighboring full-size chest freezer ensures a well-stocked fishing program that is equipped to travel.

Mama C is a swift mover. Her top speed is 44 knots, and her cruise can range from an easy 32 knots at 1800 rpm (90 gallons per hour) up to 38.5 knots at 2100 rpm (132 gallons per hour). Of course, she is equipped with a Seakeeper 9.

Mama C Specifications

Start Date: June 2016
Length: 60′
Draft: 4′ 6″
Engines: (2) MTU 10V2000 M96L @ 1600 hp each
Genset: (1) 21 kW Phasor Generator
Fuel Capacity: 1,350 gal.
Water Capacity: 200 gal.
Water Maker: 1,800 GPD Dometic
Holding Tank: 75 gal.

Bayliss Boatworks has been building custom sportfishing yachts since 2002. Three additional builds are in progress at the company’s facility in Wanchese, including the 64’ Lor-A-Di, a 75- footer and one GameBoat, sized at 62 feet.

From Sunken to Sportfisher: The Reel Tight Story

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reel tight collage

The Dream Catcher, a 60’ Paul Mann, sank in 2006. The vessel was a near total loss. In most cases, the story would end here.  Insert Captain Steven Pilipauskas and his search for a vessel project. A captain based in Maryland, Pilipauskas happened upon the old Dream Catcher for sale online. He purchased the hull in June 2013. At this point, the story transforms from one of tragedy to one of rebirth. It is the story of the Reel Tight.

Steve, together with his father, Steven Pilipauskas Sr. and friends Justin Havard and David Pearl, set about transforming the old hull into her former glory. “When we bought it, the boat needed everything. It had nothing; no wiring, no motors… nothing,” Pilipauskas describes. The boat had been completely underwater and none of the original equipment was salvageable.

The father and son Pilipauskas and a few friends did all the work themselves. These pictures provide visual evidence of the transformation. Soon the barebones hull was ready for action.

On the hard, coming along.

On the hard, coming along.

After months of labor on the hard, the boat was ready for action. The maiden voyage of the ship’s new life took place on Labor Day of 2015. As Pilipauskas points out, “The inside wasn’t done but we wanted fish.” Their first catch: a blue marlin.

After fishing the last six weeks of the season out of Ocean City, Maryland, the boat returned landward for additional work. “We did quite a bit of interior work—the salon, etc.—last winter. Weaver Boatworks helped with the headliner,” Pilipauskas describes.

Last month the Reel Tight came full circle. With Pilipauskas at the helm, the boat caught seven white marlin and a 64-pound yellowfin tuna in the White Marlin Open.

Today the Reel Tight is a private boat that runs a few charters. Her immediate future lies in Ocean City, Maryland though Pilipauskas hints of the possibility of a voyage south once the boat is complete. “We’ve got another year and a half or so before it’s completely finished.” When asked where he acquired the know-how to undertake such a daunting overhaul, his answer was immediate. “My dad is the brains of the operation when it comes to the construction and boat work aspects. I just handle the fishing…”

The Reel Tight back in action!

The Reel Tight back in action!