Bertram 20 History

Hi guys,

I have recently purchased a Bertram 20 for restoration. I have been a fan of these hulls for a long time and I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this refit Unfortunately I don’t know too much of the history of the Bertram’s in Australia and would like to narrow down the possible age of her and model. She has no hull number or production dates so it’s a complete guess at this stage. With my limited research I’ve have narrowed it down to possible “Moppie” model. From what I hear the moulds where moved around a bit in Australia and a few different company’s took it on including Haines Hunter. Any info would be great. TIA

 

Picture(s) would help. Haines Hunter didn't have the old 20 footer that I know of.

 

Up now. Don’t know what happened I had some up cheers

 

That is the 20' Bertram hull, I'd say. Not sure about the wisdom of that hardtop !/ That hull was used on the Pride Bahia Mar in Australia, plus the other names they used, Bertram and Caribbean. A popular one for traversing choppy water, but a bit tippy at rest. They were building them in Melbourne as far back as the mid-60's.

 

Just about all sold new had sterndrives. Helped get that deep vee sitting down better. It looked quite steep to me, could be 25 degrees, a little too much for a fishing boat.

 

Thankyou for your insight. Yes the hardtop is the first thing to go. It has the 4cyl diesel inboard with the old alpha 1 leg but that’s also going. I’ve decided to build a pod and hang an outboard. We’ll see how that goes.

 

There are probably plenty of rebuild/remotor stories on the web for that hull, I always remember the sterndrive boats running with a nose-up attitude, whether they are suited to podding, well, do some research into what others have found. But as I say, I wouldn't want to be taking much weight out of the boat, that vee is pretty steep. Anything beyond 22 degrees is getting too much in a 20 footer, I'd say, especially for fishing out of.

 

Yes I’ve done some research on the pod extensions. The pod will have its own buoyancy too so weight differentiations between engines will
Hopefully be worked out to suit. If not , ballast in the nose. I’m a shipwright by trade so I should be able to get it right or
I might have to hang up my boots

 

OK, well good luck with it, at least it should be well within your capabilities to complete.