The Viking 68 Convertible
Photo courtesy Viking Yachts
Perhaps the Best 31 Bertram Refit Ever: What Do You Think?
By Capt. Jeff Waxman
Owner: Dr. Pasquale Petrera, MD
Boatyard: Worton Creek Marina – Chestertown, Maryland
Docked: Indian River North Shore Marina – Indian River, Delaware
Everyone, everywhere in our world knows the 31’ Bertram. Most of us have an opinion (usually a very strong one) about this iconic boat. The universal opinions stem from the boat’s impact. The 31 Bertram began the deep v revolution, in many ways paving the way for offshore fishing to gain popularity. Many of the several thousand built are still in use today, around the globe, still catching more than their share.
And many, probably most, have been modified, repowered, and renovated. The forms of resplash are as varied as the ports the 31s call home – from adding outboards to slicing off half of the topsides; if you can think of it, likely it’s been done.
With the variety of Bertram 31 modifications out there, comes the inevitable debate – who has done it best? There are many contenders for the throne, but there is something about one 31’ in particular, delivered new in 1971… the Priceless owned by Dr. Pasquale Pertrera and fished out of Indian River, Delaware. She is a Bahia Mar version of the 31, produced in the early days of the Express boats popular today.
My parameters for evaluating a refit lie at the intersection of three pieces of the puzzle: 1) Vision and good taste. 2) Execution (by the boatyard). 3) Funds (more than a little). We all know the Bertram story and have all seen some of the worst and some of the best renovations. Here are some key points on the Priceless: Thrust, Power, and Fuel Consumption: She is powered by twin 315 HP Yanmar diesels that provide the push to cruise 27 knots at 3150; with 34 Knots at 3800 WOT.
Priceless is equipped with oversized shafts swinging 18×19 wheels. The result is efficient performance. On a typical canyon run (65-70 miles each way), with a full day of trolling she burns 110-120 gallons. Fishability and Comfort: The cockpit is non slip (Dr. Pertrera is considering adding teak Sea Dek). It is equipped with a Pompanette Fighting Chair with striking rod holders center mounted. To accommodate all of the tackle necessary for canyon trips and trolling, the Priceless has 12 rod holders on gunwales and on transom, plus two additional rows of six rocket launchers on marlin tower.
The engine boxes are covered with blue/white striped cushions with four inches of heavy-duty foam, extra insulation added. Helm and passenger seating is a custom arrangement – they seat two each complete with footrests and storage. The seat backs flip both ways in order to watch forward or astern. She boasts full electronic instrumentation at helm and on tower.
The original windshield was removed and replaced by an EZ2CY three quarter enclosure with various openings for ventilation. Further modifications include a custom hardtop with several handholds, LED overhead lighting extended to ends of engine boxes and a custom safety raft mount on top below the marlin tower floor. The tower is anchored by stanchions of three-foot custom aluminum tubing and provides seating for two.
Dock Appeal: The boot stripe and house stripe blue were changed and painted in flag blue Awlgrip. The hull is polar white gel coat. The cabin is redone, she’s air conditioned, complete with a new head and enclosure. The refrigerator has been replaced and all new cushions complete with overhead rod racks. The deep step from cockpit to cabin is covered by custom starboard that provides a flat floor across entire cockpit.
She has controls top and bottom electronic, tachs digital. Four centerline automatic bilge pumps keep everything dry. All that said, Priceless is greater than the sum of her parts. She looks salty, runs true, is exceptionally comfortable…and catches fish! And, the way she has been designed with marlin tower location balance and engine weight set a bit deeper in the hull, this Bertram is not as wet as most…not dry, but much better than most 31s. Finest 31’ renovation around? You decide…I think so!
If you have any notable resplashes that you’d like to see in the magazine, send us a note and some pictures: info@inthebite.com – ITB
When Bayliss Boatworks Delivered the 62-foot GameChanger
Photo courtesy Bayliss Boatworks
The result of 18 months and some 38,000-man hours, the GameChanger was the second installment in Bayliss’ GameBoat line. Fishing is the goal of the GameBoat line, with tackle accessibility, storage and ease of washdown included in the design.
The GameChanger incorporates extensive faux teak – including the transom, drip molding, toe rail, helm pod and salon door. The flybridge features a peninsula-style layout: the console is oriented to the port side, with seating to the starboard. Two teaser reels are nested above in the hardtop. The faux teak helm pod is a standout on the console, matching well with the two helm chairs. Ample storage is found in the console, forward brow, and starboard seating; a freshwater washdown connection can be accessed forward of the starboard bench seat.
Photo courtesy Bayliss Boatworks
GameChanger’s cockpit is oriented with her Bayliss Boatworks Delivers 62-foot GameChanger Harrison 41 – A Modern Sportfisher That Tips It Hat to The Classics crew’s needs in mind. The off-center salon door shifts the configuration of the cockpit mezzanine, allowing for a large ice bin, and elongated seating in the upper mezzanine areas. The lower mezzanine level lids open to reveal custom-built stainless bait boxes and storage. In the engine room companionway, there lies ample and tailored storage for heavy dredge tackle.
Photo courtesy Bayliss Boatworks
Custom pocket gaff storage is located in GameChanger’s starboard tackle center. GameChanger’s interior sets herself apart in our GameBoat line. Her owners utilized Bayliss Boat-works’ V.C. layout, where the upper and lower
level layout is completely customizable. The lower level is a three-stateroom/two-head layout, including the quintessential GameBoat tackle room. Beneath the forward master, the carpet lifts to reveal covert storage in the machine tunnel – a strong feature intended for additional provisioning on longer fishing trips.
Photo courtesy Bayliss Boatworks
Starboard of the last companionway step sits the entrance to the tackle room: two bait freezers are oriented between cabinets customized for tackle, dredge reels, and rods. Mechanically, GameChanger is equipped with a pair of MTU M96L 12V engines, each with 1920 horsepower. Her stabilization comes from one Seakeeper 16. Fully loaded, her top speed is 44 knots at 2450 rpm and 192 gallons per hour. Her cruise is an easy 37 knots with a full load, at 2,000 rpm and 142 gallons per hour.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Start Date: May 2017
- Delivery Date: December 2018
- Length: 62’
- Beam: 18’ 2”
- Draft: 4’ 10”
- Power: (2) MTU M96L 12V @ 1920 hp each
- Generator: 20kw Northern Lights
- Fuel Capacity: 1,726 gallons
- Water Capacity: 250 gallons
- Water Maker: FCI 1,200 gallon per day with a dockside processor
- Interior Layout: Three stateroom, two-head,
- Tackle/freezer room
- Bridge Layout: Peninsula console, starboard bench seat, two helm chairs
- Stabilization: Seakeeper 16
If you have a boat that is being splashed and would like InTheBite to feature it, please email us at digital@inthebite.com
Hatteras GT65 Carolina Makes World Debut at Miami Yacht Show
MIAMI, FL ‒ February 14, 2020 – Hatteras | Cabo Yachts, LLC, an industry leader in building luxury motor yachts and convertible sportfishing yachts for over 60 years, proudly announced the world debut of the new Hatteras GT65 Carolina at the 2020 Miami Yacht Show this February.
The Hatteras GT65 Carolina represents the next generation of the builder’s tournament-proven GT Series sportfishing yachts, which runs from 45 to 70 feet ‒ while maintaining the line’s core DNA and 40+-knot performance. The yacht features a sleek new profile, a high-tech hull and a new level of customization available to discerning owners, whether they plan to target big game offshore or cruise long-range in luxury and comfort.
“I picked an exciting time to join the Hatteras team with the launch of this ground-breaking new yacht,” said Gary Smith, who was named CEO of Hatteras | CABO Yachts in January. “My second day in the office, I met with Chris Jessen, soon-to-be owner of the first GT65 Carolina along with his wife, Laura.
The Jessens, who have an elite tournament fishing team, were great partners with Hatteras in developing this new sportfish model. Our R&D, Engineering and Interior Design staff really stretched themselves to realize their unique vision for the boat, particularly the many custom fishing features and the striking contemporary interior.
The new GT65 Carolina also helps to move the needle on boat construction technology for the rest of the industry.”
Hatteras Yachts’ Engineering team utilized Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to design a new hull and tunnel design for the GT65 Carolina that maximizes performance, handling and seaworthiness. The hull and stringer system are infused as a single part, an industry first, in order to reduce weight and increase strength.
The boat also has a new engine-room layout that optimizes ease of maintenance and serviceability. The tandard power package includes twin 1,622-bhp Caterpillar C-32A diesels; upgrade engine packages with twin 1,800-bhp and 1,900-bhp Cats are available. The GT65 Carolina also is purpose-designed to operate with twin Seakeeper 9 gyro stabilizers for added comfort without compromising the yacht’s 1,900-gallon fuel capacity.
Standard salon/galley interior design for the GT65 Carolina featuring a peninsula counter
The GT65 Carolina’s four-stateroom, three-head interior makes the most of the abundant volume provided by the boat’s 65’2″ LOA (68’2″ with pulpit) and 20′ beam. The salon/galley is clean and spacious, providing ample room to feed a hungry crew and abundant storage space without obstructing views of the sea through the large windows.
Owners can configure the galley with an island or peninsula counter. Below, the yacht features the largest en-suite master stateroom in its class amidships, along with a generous forward VIP and two bunkrooms.
Ultimate fishability was the design imperative for the GT65 Carolina’s huge cockpit, which is overlooked by a full mezzanine with optional seatback air-conditioning and large built-in stainless-steel storage boxes. An ergonomic ladder leads up the flybridge, which features a “glass-cockpit” helm array and excellent sightlines all around the boat.
The first Hatteras GT65 Carolina, Fish Tank, was in the water at the Hatteras Yachts Miami Yacht Show display. Fully loaded with valuable options, it features upgrade power ‒ twin 1,900bhp CAT C-32A diesel engines ‒ along with a full tower with outriggers, 60/40 split berth in the forward stateroom, and the Hatteras Integrated Tackle Storage center.
