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Stringers decaying: 1985 Bertram 28 FlyBridge Cruiser: Repair or Sell?

C

Chimes

New member
My 40 year-old Bertram has a big problem: the stringers supporting the engines are rotting away. The engines are MarinePower 454's (installed in 1991 with 1020 hrs each. I'm afraid the stringers supporting the port engine could collapse catastrophically. So I'm questioning whether or not to replace the engines. And if I do, what is the value of the used engines?

Repairing the wood stringers with fiberglass or something else requires removing both engines. Is it worthwhile to replace the 454's or to repower, either with newer more fuel efficient gas engines, or diesels?

Opinions appreciated!
Chimes
 
Yes, worth it on a Bertram. Repower is going to be about $100K, so you really have to be in love with this boat
 
o2batsea said:
Yes, worth it on a Bertram. Repower is going to be about $100K, so you really have to be in love with this boat
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Thanks, I love this boat. It’s got a long history with us, taking the family to Eluthra and the Abacos, besides the many, a
many days around Biscayne National Park as well as the upper Florida Keys.
 
Have them remove engines,-----Rebuild stringers.-----Re-install engines.------This all depends on your budget and how many hrs you put in the engines.-----At 40 hrs / year it makes no sense to me to spend $100,000 (diesels ?) to save $1000 / year on fuel.
 
racerone said:
Have them remove engines,-----Rebuild stringers.-----Re-install engines.------This all depends on your budget and how many hrs you put in the engines.-----At 40 hrs / year it makes no sense to me to spend $100,000 (diesels ?) to save $1000 / year on fuel.
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The engines have just over 1000 hours. They are well maintained with regular riser and exhaust manifold changes. Also they are fresh water cooled with heat exchangers. Another part of the equation is our ages and how many more years of boating we’ll enjoy. New stringers may add considerable value when the boat is sold, maybe returning the costs. All in all, I like your advice. Thanks for replying.
 
The wood inside the stringers was just a mold for the fiberglass, not a structural member. It shouldn't be the only thing holding the engines. They used wood cz it's cheap and you don't need highly skilled workers to cut and fit it.
The new stringers should be constructed of many layers of heavy fiberglass roving. A foam core is laid down and then covered in subsequent layers until the desired thickness of glass is achieved. You don't have to have wood in there.
Those engines are just broken in. They should go another 30 years.
 
The original Bertrams were overbuilt...the younger they are, the less likely this could be.

Best bet would be to hire an independent marine surveyor and get their written opinion...use the SAMS www search page https://www.marinesurvey.org/

Don't expect to recoup any 'investment' in a boat, especially a "smaller" one...
 
Just came across this post and had to chime in. I’m 1000% sure I just bought the boat in question (Hey Dr. C!). For those discussing the integrity of the Bertram stringers, just to clarify, these 454 engines sit on all wood (no fiberglass) engine beds, which themselves are mounted sort of astride and on top of the stringers, and they are indeed rotted all the way through. But it still didn’t stop me from cruising hard on them for 10+ hours from seller’s dock to mine!

Right now, after trailering the boat to a termite company for tenting and fumigation, I’ve got one engine pulled out, disassembled, and at the machine shop for thermal dip, honing, decking, valve job, after which I’ll replace circ pump, hoses, pulleys, harmonic balancer, and then paint with marine grade enamel. I’ll repeat for the other engine and THEN personally rebuild the engine beds with coosa (laminated) wrapped in fiberglass. She actually needs the bulkheads fore and aft of the engines replaced too (termites were unforgiving). Im enjoying the work and can’t wait to get her back in the water. CHIMES did a fantastic job maintaining her and she’s gonna have a great second life.

Facebook progress on B28 (go here for pics)
 
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