Repowering '85 Bertram 30

[tanqueray]

I am repowering an '85 Bertram 30 to Crusader 8.1's and have to change transmissions due to original right hand 454. I am looking at using the B/W 5000 down angle (8 degree). As far as angle is concerned, does any one know how well the B/W 5000 will work with this boat? (ie. does it match closely the original angle) Overall length with 5000 appears to be shorter than what is original (by 5+ inches), can a coupler be used to extend the length? Or will I have to change shaft and struts? What else do I have to take into consideration?

[T&A]

I own a 85 30’ Bertram also and am considering doing the same...I have a set of 97 454’s now (that run great) 23kt cruise (loaded for bear) and I’m quite happy with it...what do you expect to cruise at with the new power? Here is a copy of a letter I sent to pleasure craft last year regarding the new 6.0 they came out with...I might go with it...

To: Pleasurecraft Engine Group
Marketing and/or
Research and Development


Re: Crusader Captain’s Choice MPI 6.0
SeaMaxx ProFormance MPI 6.0

To whom it may concern:

I first would like to introduce myself. My name is John and am the proud owner of a 1985 30’ Bertram named the Total Adventure. I live in the well-known sport fishing community of Brielle New Jersey with my wife Kathleen, three daughters, and fish out of the Manasquan Inlet. Both Kathleen and I are active members of the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club and have been recreational offshore “fishermen” for more than 10 years.

The Total Adventure was originally offered from Bertram with a pair of 330-horsepower Crusaders with 1.52:1 reduction gears along with 18 x 17- 3 bladed props. Prior to my taking ownership (spring of 1999), the previous owner replaced the original engines with a pair of 1996 Crusader 320-horsepower model 454XL series in the fall of 1997. Even with the slight reduction of horsepower, the boats performance is equal to the original specifications with the higher horsepower engines (see attached specifications). Upon taking ownership, the “new engines” had 46 hours on them. Since then I have logged over 2000 hours of fun filled trips to the off shore canyons, and in shore fishing grounds with no major problems at all. Being fortunate to have received the boat’s original, and the new engine’s operation and maintenance manual’s and doing my best adhering to them, I believe is the reason for so many trouble free hours on the water.

Our quest to reach new and farther fishing grounds have us in a dilemma regarding fuel consumption and speed. Our range now with the original 220 gal. fuel tank (215 gal. usable) and added 130 gal. fuel tank (125 gal. usable) gives us a range of 75 nautical miles with a cruse speed (fully loaded with 4 people, tackle, ice, etc) of 21/22 knots with a reserve of only 30 gal. of fuel. Not good!
We have considered re-powering with your new 8.1 (385 horse power) engines, but the idea of having “more” accessibility for maintenance of the engines and surrounding apparatuses with the installation of “smaller” engines is very inviting.

From what information I gathered regarding your new MPI 6.0 375 hp. Engine, it would seem to be the perfect match for our needs. Being lighter in weight, added horsepower (375 at the prop) and multi- port EFI should result with a better range, higher cruse speed, and more fuel for reserve. I welcome your opinion if a boat similar (new and/or used) to the Total Adventure regarding length and weight is the focal point that you are concentrating your designing efforts on for the new 6.0.

If in fact the Total Adventure is a prime candidate for the 6.0, I would like to know when it would become available to the public and what the MSRP would be. I know in the past, with the development and marketing of a new product, a pilot program and/or test program has been offered to a select group of manufacturers (for new boats) and privet owners (for re-powering) for both research and/or promotions of the product. If this is the case with the 6.0, I would possibly be interested in participating in such a program. The Total Adventure is in pristine condition from the bilge to the flybridge. With having an open checkbook policy, the latest in electronics and being completely refurbished in the winter of 2000 along with the proven name of Crusader, makes it one of the most desirable boats in it’s class on the Manasquan River

I welcome any comments and/or suggestions that you may have and look forward to hearing from you soon.


Sincerely

I received a letter back within 2 weeks followed by many calls back and forth...They agreed the 6.0 would be a perfect match for the 30 Bert. But at the time the 6.0 was only offered in new boats coming out of the factories...Not for re-powers...Now they are. I’m going to wait and see how they are doing in both applications (new and re-power)...Like my letter said I have over 2k hrs on the set I have now (still with no major problems) but i don’t know how long it’s going to last...Please let me know how you are making out II may have to go the same route your going...John

[marlindoc]

I have a 30' Moppie (same hull as the 30 Express Flybridge.) My gas engines finally gave it up after 2000 hrs and I needed to repower. I considered Yanmars, but because of the huge retrofitting costs (beyond just the increased cost of diesel engines), I repowered two years ago replacing the old 454s with new Mercruiser 8.1 Vortecs. Since the motors do not counter-rotate I had to replace the Hurth transmissions as well. I simply got the motors with new transmissions (ZF/Hurth) and think it was worth the incremental cost increase over bobtail. I also increased the shafts to the maximum the logs would hold and changed to dripless shaft seals. I was able to use the same props but had them repitched, cupped and balanced by computer. I am beyond happy with the change. The Hula Girl has a marlin tower and full enclosure. With a clean bottom we now cruise at 27K at around 3400 RPM burning around 30 gph (about a 10-15% improvement.) The problem with the old 454s was that at 23K, just at efficiency for the hull, we broke into the second bank on the Holley's and gph skyrocketed. Because the new motors are fuel injected, that doesn't happen. She rides like a totally different boat above 24k. All this and she is still a marlin magnet. Good luck in your repower.