33 Bertram Flybridge Cruiser vs. 33 Bertram Sportsman - The Hull Truth

LEN · 10-22-2002, 08:47 AM

We are taking a close look at these boats and am generally familiar with them. We prefer one with gas engines that can be repowered. I've enever sea trialed the 33 Flybridge Cruiser but have heard it is not as good a sea boat as the 33 Sportsman. However, it seems like the engines on the 33 FBC are below decks, instead of in the above deck engines boxes like the 33 Sportsman. This fact would seem to make a favorable difference in sea keeping that may make up for its higher profile vs the Sportsman. Any ideas/comments? Thanks.

dleblanc · 10-22-2002, 09:11 AM

Len,

I have a 1986 Bertram 33 FBC. The hull and engine layout are identical to the SF. It looks different, but that's because the fbc has got a smaller cockpit than the sf. They weigh the same as well.

You are correct though, the fbc is not as good a sea boat as the sf, but its still better than 99% of the other boats out there.

I found the layout of the fbc to be more flexible than that of the sf.

You can email me at dleblanc@eagleinvsys.com with any questions you may have.

Regards,
Doug L.

RMM · 10-22-2002, 09:37 AM

Also been looking for a 33 FBC. Doug, would love to know what power you have and speeds, gph etc. I prefer the FBC over the SF because of the much larger salon. I always saw the space over the engine boxes as sort of useless.

Also how is she on the troll and sitting? HAve heard that she can have a pretty mean roll in a beam sea. Thanks for any info.

dleblanc · 10-22-2002, 10:11 AM

Wasten Time,

I've got the orig 340hp Mercruiser 454's with 1000 hours on them. I cruise around 18-19 knots (2900 to 3000rpms) and burn approx 25 gph. At that rpm, the secondaries aren't open so the fuel burn isn't as bad.

Can't answer your question about trolling because I don't fish.

She does roll some, but nothing major. If you could pick one up with 3208's, it would probably roll even less as these engies add about 2000 lbs to the overall weight of the boat (22,000lbs).

There are a couple of early 80's models on yachtworld that have the 260 hp version of the cats. The boat won't be a top speed demon, but you can probably cruise around 21 or 22 knots.

Check out bertram31.com. Its a pretty good site. Most of those guys will try and convince you to buy a 31, but they are pretty helpful.

Good Luck and feel free to email me with any other questions you might have.

Regards,
Doug L.

LEN · 10-22-2002, 12:50 PM

so, does that mean the engine boxes are inside the cabin in the 33 FBC instaed of under the salon floor?

SeaNile · 10-22-2002, 01:02 PM

Doug beat me to it. I was going to suggest checking out

www.bertram31.com

Good group of guys who know Bertrams pretty well.

--JK

dleblanc · 10-22-2002, 01:27 PM

Len,

There are no engine boxes on the fbc. They are under the floor in the salon as you guessed. The engines are in the same place as in the SF though. Again, the fbc and the sf use the same hull and running gear. The diff is that the salon comes back much further on the fbc and the step up into the salon is higher. If you go on each boat you'll understand. Picture the SF with a deck over the boxes.

Regards,
Doug L.

lopresher · 10-22-2002, 04:22 PM

If you ever fish alone or with one other person climbing the ladder may be become a pain.

It would be hard to stay close to the helm and fish on the FBC -- with the express style boat, you can kinda do both at one time.

LEN · 10-23-2002, 07:54 AM

Lopresher, you raise a goop point. how much does it cost to install cockpit controls?

Jurisproodenz · 10-23-2002, 09:18 AM

I had the FBC too. As with Doug L., I found the salon / accomodations to be much better with the FBC: two staterooms, airy, bright interior. There is a TON of room around the engines and forward. The cockpit is smaller, but still more than adequate -- but as to installing cockpit controls... I am not too sure about that! If you are by yourself, remember that you can't see squat from the cockpit.

Fishing solo and getting to the cockpit from the bridge is just not acceptable: you are basically at the same height / position as your would be in a much larger battlewagon.

Trolling is ... well ... exciting given a beam sea. In headseas the boat is on a equal basis to the sportfish, but a lot more tender at trolling speeds. I fished out past Ambrose Light and beyond from NYC harbor (when docked in Jersey) and all along the Sound (when docked in New Rochelle). On the Sound conditions never got so that I felt that the weight distribution was an issue. Off the Jersey and south LI coast, that was a different matter.

Do an assessment: if you value the cruising aspect of the FBC, then it is the right boat for you. If you are going to fish the thing non-stop, then you are really much better off with the sportfish.