Bertram moving to North Carolina

I have not heard anything, but that's the best thing that could happen to them.

I heard from the RE broker that was representing the property that the sale fell through. Leaving Miami would mean the company would lose it's connections to its roots, Bertram heritage is south florida just like Cigarette, it would be just wrong if they were anywhere other than south Florida.

That would be all well and good if anyone at the factory could build a quality boat. IMO, the boats have outgrown the facility and area they're being built in. The labor force they have is no longer building the same quality boat that the name represented up until the mid 90's or so. Sometimes starting fresh is the best thing to do. Labor, land, and taxes are cheaper in NC.

What, not China? So. Florida has changed a lot and lost a lot of talent in the past 30 years. I think they'd be a very good fit all around in N.C.

Next time you bump into Dave, ask him who came up with the idea of Bertram being a "florida/miami" boat and how back in the day that was one of the marketing departments favorite ways to sell Bertrams heritage then get back to me.

Maybe it's also due ot the fact that the current president, Alton Herndon is from NC. He was formerly with Hatteras Yachts and more recently held a position at Southport Boat Works (based in NC).

Capt, I doubt it's got anything to do with that and more than likely everything to do with the fact that the Carolina's (for that matter everywhere but Florida) is extremely business friendly and will do anything (including in some instances give free property) to lure manufacturers to their states. Florida on the other hand (Dade in particular) will do anything they can to discourage new business and will do everything they can to make life miserable for people already in business (ask anyone in the boat business in Dade county about DERM and see what they say). Think back 10 years and list all the boat builders that were in Florida, check today and see how many of the larger ones have relocated out of state.

Shazam,
The fact that Alton has built in NC (and sees that Miami is falling off) and knows that there are still fine craftmen up there has to be part of the equation. Also, if he's a savvy businessman, he is working out incentives from the local cities, counties and state that will make it very attractive to move there.
And I agree that the FL counties are helping to drive boat businesses out of the area. Broward is also on the list of declining builders and yards. But I hear that Charleston is picking up as well as other areas up north, out of Florida (except for Rybo perhaps).

Cap, there's no shortage of quality craftsmen here in FL, just a shortage of people willing to employ them.

Nice Welcome to NC

We could use the boost here as well. Unfortunate for the FL makers though I do understand work force is tight everywhere right now. However we build Hatteras, Albermarle, Carolina Classic, Fountain, Viking, Bayliner, Cabo, Jones Brothers, & Parker to list a few so the work will be welcome here in NC. Hatteras as finally opened production again as of February of this year. Boat builders across the globe have had to change a great deal to keep people employed. So I seems it's one of those do what you have to things to survive. But hate to see any company have to move from it's birth place.

This is an old post, but in the new Brazilian Factory which Ferretti Group opened, which build some Ferretti's and Pershing, the Bertram 360 is being listed as one of the models being built there.
I tought the model was phazed out, but apparently is back in the works now.
Will this be built for Brazil only, or it will also be imported to the US

I wouldn't read too much into that Brazilian website as the 360 molds are still sitting outside the factory in Miami. On another note, the factory officially sold last month, Bertram has 2 years remaining at whats left of the factory before they have to leave.

Sad to see an integral part of Miami waterfront history go away like this.

and pay for them. The labor rate is considerably cheaper in NC than FL for employees building boats. I hate to say this, but I was at a boat yard on the miami river today. Every yard in Miami I have ever been to, the people work SO SLOW even compared to Fort Lauderdale. It's like the employees got a lesson in work ethics from the Bahamas. People in NC have a get to it, and get it done attitude. In Miami, in the boating industry, it seems like anyone employed in it, move like molasses.

A friend of mine told me that that work ethic "attitude" is known generically as "Keys Fever." Make of that what you will.

The news os official from Ferretti Group not a Brazilian website:

Quote
Established towards the end of 2010, the new facility is among the largest of its kind in Latin America and features a total surface area of around 145,000m², of which 45,000m² is enclosed. When producing at full capacity, the shipyard has the capability to build up to 120 yachts per year from the entire Ferretti Group range. It is dedicated to producing yachts that measure up to 83’ feet and are exclusively tailored to the demands of the Brazilian clientele. Currently, the plant can build 11 Ferretti Yachts models, 2 Pershing models and 1 Bertram yacht.

Models produced
Ø 11 Ferretti Yachts models, from the 500 to the 830 (500, 530, 550, 570, 620, 660, 700, 720, 750, 800, 830);
Ø 2 Pershing models (the 64’ and the 80’);
Ø 1 Bertram model (the 360).
UNQUOTE

It will be interesting to see where Bertram will be moved from now onwards. I think FG desire was to stay in Florida and move a bit further up North.
Saying this selling 12 boats in this market was not at all so bad, all IMO. Yes far away from the 50 production of a few years back, but this is the market of the last couple years. As far as I know Hatteras sold a similar number.