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Random Quote: This is no democracy. However, I do like to hear any well thought out, reasonable suggestion. ONCE. (Bus Mosbacher, America's Cup Skipper)
Hi guys,
I need some pros and cons on deciding my next type of boat, I have a
open boat now, but looking at either a 36 open or convertable, do you guys
that have a convertable boat miss out on alot of the fishing because you
are always upstairs ? Is the only benifit of a convertable relized if
you have kids ? or is it for more storage ? or is it to hang out ?
Any and all opinions and suggestions are welcomed as well as your pros and cons
and experience
IMO, the breakeven size for convertible v. express for those who seriously fish is 42-45' - below that an express will offer a bigger cockpit and more fishing ameneties, not to mention being closer to the action; above that the added cabin room of a convertible doesn't require any real sacrifices in fishability.
At 36', an express is a much better choice - others opinions may differ.
Agree with LI32, an express lets you stay in the action when fishing and you can find some with nice seating options and even a/c on the helm deck when you're cruising. I personally don't care to stay inside of the salon on a convertible under 42-45 ft, when out at sea. Think that's because I just like to be outside in the fresh salt air. If you plan to family trips, the convertible has an advantage with the interior room, but if you only spend 5-10% of your time doing that, and the rest day fishing it might not be the best option.
At 36', another issue to think about is the difference in the center of gravity between an express and a convertible. The flybridge and salon add considerable weight which can lead to a lot more roll movement in a beam sea, compared to just having a tower on an express. That being said, a well designed convertible with plenty of beam and a suitable deadrise could mitigate that roll to an acceptable level. Choose what fits your needs the best, narrow your list and take some sea trials. Good luck!
Agree with above, but have always really enjoyed a FB boat. Salon becomes my sanctuary and spend days in there right at the dock. I even bring my work with me.
Engine room in an express is a tough place to work. Even in a small FB boat, engines and systems are easier to access and repair.
Agree that you are further away from the bite, but sometimes I am in the pit, sometimes up top.
I think you need to decide on the type of fishing you do, and then the type of boat will show itself. Do you fish short-handed ? Very difficult in a convertible. Do you spend the night on the boat with multiple people? Much better in a convertible. My first real fishing boat was a convertible, but I found myself going short-handed all of the time, and downsized to a smaller express and was able to fish even if I could only find one person to go with me. After doing that for a few years, I decided I wanted to travel with the boat. I traveled to the Bahamas for the season with the express, which worked out fine if it was just 2 or 3 guys. When my girlfriend joined us, I always had to get a room. That added up very quickly, and I now fine myself back in a convertible. Good luck.
An express is a nice concept but I think they suck when it comes to visibility for the operator. There is much wasted space in an express design IMO. Access to inboard engines can be a PIA also.
All good points, above. It really depends on your priorities. For me, it is simple, my wife is willing to go cruising in a convertible, but not in an express. Thus, my current boat is a convertible and my next boat (under construction) will also be a convertible. I do fish short-handed. You end up doing more exercise up and down the ladder, but it is manageable. Or, even better, install a Docking Master so that you can control the engines from the remote control. I am doing that in my next boat.
If Family is going to be involved then a Convertable . If they lie to you and say they will come out more if you get a convertable and then stop coming out your screwed running the boat by yourself and never using it as you are supposed too. If you fish alot and family rarely comes get the express with a tower for better site
I just sold my 37 Bert - b/c sometimes I fish shorthanded, but even when i didn't - I felt like the bus driver, everybody else was in all the action when I found them fish, or when fluke drifting climbing up & down stairs was a pain, also visibility when drifting is tough with the blindspot. Now I just have to find where to put the garage full of "stuff" i carried on the convertible, in the new express - Sleeping arrangements of expresses can't compare with convertibles 3 seperate compartments though, even that means much
I have a 38 Convertible, and went through the same process as you when I was looking. I fish 85% of the time, do some overnighters, and sleep on the boat a good portion of the summer. For me, I found that the comfort of trolling from the FB was far superior to trolling from a tower. I did not trade off any cockpit space as compared to the express (I actually have a bigger cockpit than most expresses in my size range) and I find the salon to be a good hangout. I think the convertible suits my needs perfectly, as does my boat. If I do get another boat, it will just be a larger version of what I already have!!
For tight lines - nothing beats having 360 degree of an open. However once you start considering accomodations of home on a boat. You have to look at this from multiple angles not to mention it get expensive exponentially if you (and or your guest(s)) want to be that much more comfortable.
Fished on both. For the size you are considering. I do agree with the others. Get the express. Once you get to the mid 40 range and larger. Then convertible all the way. (You can always have the admiral pilot while you fish - )
This comes back to the theory of practical usability. If you want a salon (convertible) - make sure it is big enough to be USED as a salon otherwise it will eventually end up as dry storage.
There will always be more overall space on a convertible - however due to the smaller platform (mid 30). Those individual spaces will be much smaller and will negatively affect practical usage / comfortability.
I do a lot of tuna fishing out of my 35' Bertram convertible and I don't think I could ever go back to a boat without a flybridge.
I do not have a hardtop or canvas (no need to hide from the sun in Oregon), so I am able to toss swimbaits from the bridge. I hook a ton of fish from the bridge. it is only a problem when all of us are hooked up and I have nobody to hand off the rod to.
Spotting jumpers and birds has got to be harder from an express, as nothing beats being up high.
Being the bus driver has its advantages- I haven't carked a tuna in three years.
I have both, a Bertram 38 Special Express and a 41 Hatteras Convert.
The Bertram is THE fishing boat, hands down and I tend to use the Hatteras to cruise or as a floating condo in the Bahamas. Staying on the boat is delightful, very comfortable for 6. The Bert can sleep 4 or 5 because I air conditioned the helm area, but it doesn't have a bigger screen tv, etc.
Tough choice dictated by your specific tastes and needs.
Unfair question for me. I spent two years on the refurb of the Hatteras, only used the hull and water tank, it's a 1968 vintage with teak transom, teak bookmatched aft bulkhead. My estate will ultimately sell the Hatteras.
If I had just one to fish from, not cruise, other than the sentimental issue, it would be the Bertram.
I have to disagree with flybridge boats being more for cruising and less for fishing. Take a look at the participant boats in tournaments, a large majority are bridge boats.
A. They are more practical for space inside if you are going to be overnighting on the boat.
B. Have better visibility, without having to go up in a tower. If you are trolling an express boat from below, you are not trolling right.
C. If you fish offshore it is really hard to do alone on any boat. There was a guy who fished the offshore canyons alone on a 35 bertram flybridge. He wrote books about it, it can be done.
D. Flybridge boats and expresses offer the same amount of cockpit space.
E. Express boats are noisier, when running you are sitting right on top of the motors.
F.
If you do a lot of bottom fishing short handed then an express might be the way to go, but for everything else go flybridge. Also if you like to reel in fish just have a friend grab the helm. My father runs our boat and much rather captain the boat than grab a rod.
__________________
Jeremy
2004 38 Henriques convertible
Unfair question for me. I spent two years on the refurb of the Hatteras, only used the hull and water tank, it's a 1968 vintage with teak transom, teak bookmatched aft bulkhead. My estate will ultimately sell the Hatteras.
If I had just one to fish from, not cruise, other than the sentimental issue, it would be the Bertram.
Fair enough....that Hatteras sounds like a beauty!
express or convertable
)
