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Random Quote: If you can taste the salt in the air.....it's time for a bigger boat!
1) A bad batch of resin or a good batch of resin that was stored improperly or beyond its date code (way beyond).
a) Either way you know they are going to be testing the resin.
2) Bad layup. I have been to the factory and watched them build these and they are impressive. I can't remeber if they vacuum bag the 63 or not.
a) I highly doubt this was done intentionally as they are going to be interviewing everyone on the laminating team and if someone was hurt or killed, you would be up on charges.
3) A bad mix. Resin never fully kicked.
4) Resin was layed up at the wrong temperature and never kicked or kicked to hot.
From the pictures, it does look like there is not enough resin, but sometimes pictures are deceiving.
I was on a 67 out of Cat Cay running is 6' plus seas and that hull is impressive. Obviously that hull layup was much better as there was not even a creak.
I was on a 63 out of Marsh Harbor, but the conditions were relatively calm (2-3') and that 63 ran great.
Obviously something went horribly wrong with this hull and at least one other I have heard about. I would guess that owners of Bertrams will be hiring surveyors and having their hulls checked.
I have worked very closely with Bertram for quite a while now. Over the years things have progressively got worse and I felt something like this was inevitable. First you have management that are unfamiliar with large boat building. They either have no previous yacht industry experience or come from very high production low end small boats. On the other end you have the Italians making absolutely horrible decisions, basically bankrupting the company. Over the past couple years they've eliminated highly skilled workers in substitution for very low paid unqualified laborers. Most people there have never even seen a boat until they started at Bertram. Unfortunately this boat may be the final nail in Bertram's coffin.
that was the picture in the advertisement - the wording on the next page said "the sun never sets on the bertram empire" always loved it . I used to run a early 80s -46 what a tank
I always liked the ads in the 70s where they would talk about how some captain in central america would only buy a bertram for his charter business and how they were hours from civilization.
I believe that amarine's post is telling. What we see in this boat, made in America, not overseas, is emblematic of why our economy and our society has declined. This is a 3 million dollar sportfisherman that should have been built to the highest standards by trained professionals working in a company run by executives with years, if not decades, of experience in the construction of superior quality and performing yachts. The goal, no the obsession, of such a company is excellence. Instead every conceivable corner is cut to maximize short term profit, because in the long term, those making today's decisions will be gone with whatever cash they can take today. The perception of luxury and performance through advertising substitutes for substance, even at this lofty level of the market. In my earlier post I said this was sad, actually it's a tragedy.
__________________ Carpe Diem
01 Tiara 2900 Coronet
So the captain of the boat was just cruising and all of a sudden with a bang part of the hull ripped off? By the way, what is Delamination (besides saying the picture)? I am suprised the boat didn't end up on the ocean floor.
It really saddens me to say I have to agree with you about 1000%. Add in publicly held companies where the only thing that all the analysts and many shareholders can look at is the next quarter or two of profits, and all the nails are in the coffin.
I just pulled out my June 1985 Boating magazine. Bertram 38 on the cover, with test on the Azumut 56 "first look into the future", with ads for new Blackfins, AMF Hatteras, and a Trojan 13 meter sport for only $319,500.
Got 6 1985 issues I saved, with the May 1986 Bertram ad on page 24 and 25: "OLD BERTRAMS NEVER DIE." Pictured are "old" 20 year Bertrams.
I sure hope this won't come to an end with this debacle.
april 1986.. "Solid as the Rock" Man, I need to scan this old ads in and post them. Ad for the Bert 46, FBC and how "Bertram" is a synonym for "best." Forgot they were Bertram/Trojan then.
That is really a shame that somebody paid that much money for this to happen. The minute Bertram sold, it changed. I am very happy that my Bertram is 40 yrs old NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Would have almost been better if the POS sank (assuming no one hurt) & let the insurance & Bertram figure it out.
Good point, as then these speculators and core type analyst could find something else to critique.
Sunk or not thats exactly what will happen in the end. Bertram is an insured company and so is thier product through warranty. Warranties are insured too. Sooner or later it will be thier insurance company that pays for this.
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24' Grady White - SOLD!
13' Boston Whaler
Is it true that many marine policies issued to boat owners have a specific exclusion for hull delamination??? I thought I remembered reading about this, but I'm not sure. Glossing over my policy, I did not see any mention of this, but it was only a cursory glance...
Intrested to see if there is anyone who can speak for Bertram on this issue...
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Lets have a Sexy Party! 38 Henriques FB 2000 ~ 17 Montauk 1978
Re: Ugly 
