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Bertram Sportfish Yachts Coming Back???

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by Capt Ralph, Nov 3, 2015.

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  1. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    He could and maybe the name Bertram carries a lot of value in Europe as a historic US SF, without any of the negatives known in the US from their latter years.
  2. 84far

    84far Senior Member

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    I very much doubt that olderboater, there's a 63 sitting in Brisbane that has moved maybe once or twice in the last 5-6 years - stringers and bulkheads have all pulled off and needs a complete rebuild inside - talk about a cluster f#$k! I think everyone knows world wide ;). Cheers

    Far
  3. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    Give it some time. Think about the retro Mustang/Camaro cars selling today.

    There are plenty of waterfront homeowners that can put one of these on their docks as an iconic battlewagon or just something pretty to spruce up their view. Happened in Newport Harbor, CA a few years ago, 35-ish Tiara's started showing up for no real hard reasons than just to join the "club".
  4. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

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    More then a European market there is a different market for these boats.
    Like tenders and run-about to Villas / Superyachts / and wealth rich man in posh harbors and marinas.

    I mean the Aquariva sells close to 3/4 of a million and they sold over three hundred of them.
    The Ocean Yachts 37 Billfish was its best seller in the last years selling over 40 units.
    Viking 42 is again a big hit for them selling over 50 at the moment.
    Hinckleys Picnic boats also sold over a hundred.
    and Chris Craft which was in trouble in the 90s since it took the direction of the runabout has been resurrected quite well.

    May be this market is not as bad as one might think for entry level niche boats.
    Yes if you think competitive sportfish, as the 31 was in its early days its wrong, that want work, but as a classy day boat the new Bertram 35 will work.
    I know many people who like the 31 but hate to buy one and refit and the costs that this can involve.
  5. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    With those sort of numbers its going to be tough to make some money building them,...when you consider the upfront cost of tooling. etc


    BTW what ever happen with the Rybovich 42 Express Walkaround. I think Jimmy Buffett had a couple of these built?
    Margaritavich,...The new 42 Rybovich Express Walkaround is the result of Jimmy Buffett's passion for fishing and Rybovich's desire for a semi-custom build.
    http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/rybovich-42-express-walkaround

    That was a nice looking vessel if I recall correctly.
    (why is it I could not find any info on this vessel design on this forum?)

    And why is it so hard to find photos of these boats? (all the links on this boat test are dead ends?)
    http://www.******************.com/boat-tests/rybovich-42-express-walkaround
    http://www.******************.com/boat-tests/rybovich-42-express-walkaround-0?tab=review

    Buffett's Boat a Big Draw
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2016
  6. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    The last I saw, Margaritavich was located in the Great Lakes for sale. Not sure how a saltwater battlewagon made it up north, but to each its' own.

    I have seen high volume builders require a return on tooling in as little as 12 months and up to 30 months depending on size /type / dealer network. At the 35's price point, I would venture to say they have accounted for the tooling ROI given their market predictions, and it really comes down to how much tolerance the new ownership has. They have given all indications that they are in it for the long haul, and I like their business model supplementing the building side of boats with the service side.
  7. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    How about other Rybovich 42 Express Walkarounds,...didn't they continue to build them??
  8. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    I don't think the series production thing with FRP hulls ever took off for Rybovich, but would also be curious to know what was the build count.
  9. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    from another forum
    http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=168372&p=5433373

    I guess he chose water-jet propulsion for its shallow draft


    . rybo1.jpg
  10. 84far

    84far Senior Member

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    Water jets... sure its not just turbulent water from the tunnels in the hull. Usually there's a large devise out the back for jets...? Cheers

    Far
  11. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    You've got a valid point there Far. I wonder if anyone else knows for sure?

    I saw it mentioned on another forum, and made an inquiry as to whether it was true. No response yet.
  12. 84far

    84far Senior Member

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    Hi Brian,
    Yes, I'm pretty sure it's just tunnel turbulence.
    I'm doing a lot of work in the commercial industry at the moment and see a lot of them used in that app - mostly defence/parks... Looking hard for a private build again ;). I'm actually trying to put together a 100' power cat utilizing hamilton jets - will mostly likely use shafts though.

    Plus J/B seems like a purist and would be very surprised he went jets - especially on a Rybovich. Cheers

    Far

    Attached Files:

  13. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    I had thought he might have been tempted to waterjets as he like shallow water fishing so much. But when I looked at Dan Pikes onboard water test (link not allowed on this forum) it does indicate props,...and no mention of jets which surely Pike would have done.
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Margaritaville has shafts and props.

    The new owner of Rybovich decided to not build boats anymore. Michael Rybovich moved on and I've heard is building custom boats, but forget the name.
  15. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Michael Rybovich and Sons.

    They've built two boats and working on #3 and #4.

    They're also a brokerage and have several Rybovich boats for sale through it as well as a few other boats.
  16. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I was told today by a few people in the business that Bertram has orders for 9 new 35's so far. Also that they are currently building hull #3.
  17. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

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    That is good news. I heard in mid Summer that they sold five, and had already secured an order for the new 58, with a second coming in.

    Producing ten boats a year from nothing is not so bad.
  18. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Pretty amazing, if these numbers are accurate. I'd be very interested in knowing where they're being sold/delivered. Reviving a brand is one of the most difficult things in business.
  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    As much as I am a Bertram fan, a dozen FRP orders is not going to make a company survive. The tooling will not break even for a long time. Other overhead has got to ad great financial pressures.
    The first customers reports will help some, but as we have been commenting on for a while, can they pay the bills, survive on a new model?

    Bless them for trying. I don't mean to say negative things, just practical.
  20. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    No, but for a company out of business and returning, it's pretty impressive. As to other overhead and finances, they aren't dependent on Bertram at this point as they have Baglietto and Cerri Cantieri Navali and boatbuilding isn't their primary business. These are just three of their 43 businesses. I think it's shown they were determined to take the steps to revive the brand. As to long term success, there is no way to know.