Click for Perko Click for Mag Bay Click for Northern Lights Click for Westport Click for Mulder

Bridge Removal

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by Capt Ralph, Jun 8, 2021.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    That's it. Can't wait to show Josie.
    Thank you my friend.
    ,rc
  2. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2008
    Messages:
    2,111
    Location:
    Sardinia
    And she said nothing about the idea as such? That's surprising.
    My commander-in-chief would kill me if I'd just mention a boat with no flybridge.
    Not that I disagree with her, mind.
    Leaving aside what has already been said ref. the convenience of helming from upstair (at least in some circumstances - though personally that accounts for 90% of the time, in my case), I can't think of a better place for having dinner in cool breeze, enjoying a 360 deg view. No restaurant terrace on earth comes close.

    Besides, better boat behaviour due to lower CoG?!? Talk about wishful thinking.
    All the rest of the boat is so heavy that by stripping 1k lbs or so up there (if that!), the CoG will move down by one inch (again, if that). And a lower CoG doesn't necessarily mean a better behaviour overall, BTW.
    In fact, since you mention that she's not stabilized, if you think that a lower CoG can make the roll more comfortable, well, think again. Roll comfort is mostly about period (and the lower the CoG, the shorter and more hectic the period), rather than angle.

    PS: I fully agree that the loss of value, if any, is irrelevant in this case.
    Plenty of more valid reasons for doing nothing, without even considering that.
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2021
  3. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Messages:
    969
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay
    I thought we were going to do the big fireball 12-1/2 miles off shore thing?
  4. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Oh yes, Viking funeral.
    I'll always have something to launch offshore.
    alvareza likes this.
  5. Ralph Holiman

    Ralph Holiman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2017
    Messages:
    32
    Location:
    Mississippi
    We have the 42 model Bertram motor yacht, and I, too, have thought about just losing the whole bridge area. As you can see, we only have a bimini up there anyway, so we wouldn't gain but a few feet of clearance. My wife has a leg condition that makes climbing to the bridge pretty hard for her, so she never does it and so that we can interact, I run the boat from the lower helm, 99.9 per cent of the time, anyway. If I had found one for sale at the time, without a bridge, it would not have stopped me from buying it, if everything else was right.

    We have a 13 foot Dell Quay Dory that I would love to be able to hoist and store on the roof.

    But, I'm with you, I wouldn't worry about the resale. I'm 63, driving a 48 year old boat. I figure it and me are both going to be about shot at about the same time! I don't want another boat, I really love this one. So, resale means nothing to me. My kids can hate me after I'm dead!

    But, you never know. Maybe classic boats will experience a resurgence in twenty years, like classic cars have had!
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2021
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Last fall I started re-finishing the bridge cowling. Going to be easier to remove it.
    Think were starting removal this fall. Huckins Boat Yard already penciled in.
    Sadly, the Bertram shop in the Key does not need anything from us.
    So will have lots of stuff for sale in a while.
    The box seating I hope somebody could be interested in.
    20210711_171020a.jpg 20210711_171012a.jpg 20210711_171015a.jpg 20210711_171009a.jpg
    I just installed the helm seats, that a great friend just gave me.
    20210711_171100a.jpg
  7. classic

    classic Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    58
    Location:
    ft lauderdale
    Oh yea she would look great without the fly bridge looks like this was changed sometime in its years with the hard top .
  8. SplashFl

    SplashFl Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2021
    Messages:
    425
    Location:
    S. Florida _ Bertram 46
    .

    Attached Files:

  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    The arch is going away also.
    Thank you for your time.
  10. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2008
    Messages:
    2,111
    Location:
    Sardinia
    Wise choice.
    With the boat as she is, the arch certainly isn't the most elegant bit of design, but passable.
    With the flybridge stripped, it's an eyesore...
    MBevins likes this.
  11. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,396
    Location:
    Ketchikan, Alaska
    Will you put a short mast or something up there? Looks odd to me to just have the flat roof with nothing on it.
  12. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    A tube & plate mini arch. Top of will be approx 18" over the roof.
    Look at the picture, inside the side window behind the windshield, the first vertical column is the conduit passing cables, hoses and tons of wires to the bridge now on each side. These will be re-used passing wires straight up into the mini arch sides.

    The mini arch will hold the nav (R&G) lights, VHFs, AIS, and Wi-Fi stick antennas on each side. Radar, GPS sensors, Cell antenna, TV antenna, wind sensor, steaming light on top.
    Hailer speakers, air horns hanging under. Either on its own stick or off center on top, the anchor light.
    The 23' big VHF sticks are going away. Hopefully get a pair of 14' sticks up there.
    Later, a davit in the factory location, after-port.
    Low profile support pads and a dink in the far future.
    Naw, it wont be naked.
  13. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    Messages:
    1,648
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Hey CR! Come on you know everything ( mostly) looks better Topless!
    I think it will look good, a traditional flush deck motor yacht...I think? Anyway , it will look nice. BUT, you have to finish what you start. And remember, nothing is easy. It will be a bit of work.
  14. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Depends on how YOU use YOUR boat. As much as love the way the 53 Hatteras MY looks topless I would never remove mine. We use it way too much.
  15. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2012
    Messages:
    733
    Location:
    OR/CA
    @SplashFl may need to get all that photo-shopped as well. You may want to try cardboard cut outs to get the visual as you design the new arch as well. This can help with the eyeball test.
  16. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    Messages:
    1,648
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Pascal, Pascal… I wasn’t necessarily talking about a boat…:rolleyes:
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    He knows. You DON'T want to see Pascal topless!
  18. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    Messages:
    1,648
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Come on I’m sure he’s Buff !
    Heck we are all Buff! In our minds .
    Lol.
  19. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    hate to break it to you but you ain’t no Chipendale either :)
  20. SplashFl

    SplashFl Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2021
    Messages:
    425
    Location:
    S. Florida _ Bertram 46
    Nobridge2.jpg
    Been AOL so here ya go. LOL

    Nobridge2.jpg