Built for Sea, Admired for Life
Celebrating the Iconic
Bertram 31
Deep‑V Legend:
Born in the Gulf Stream
Few, if any, other boats have had such a profound influence on the design of power boats as has the Bertram 31. The first boat design to use a Deep‑V hull… Many are still on the water and in use throughout the world.
History
The 1960 Miami-Nassau powerboat race was a watershed event – it marked the birth of Bertram Yacht and the advent of the modern powerboat with its fiberglass construction, deep-vee design, stern drives and larger engines. It was also one hell of a bad day to be out there racing, and it was Bertram’s first competition. The seas ran 8 feet, some say 12, and winds were steady 30 knots, gusting higher. Read More
Design
It was a hasty morning for a test ride, but that’s just what owner Dick Bertram wanted. The wind was “blowing out of the east at 22 knots and the seas were rough,” he recalled. Looking at driver Sam Griffith through the spindrift, Bertram wondered what to expect from the boat with its radical bottom, a “deep-vee” designed by a quiet New England innovator named Ray Hunt. Read More
Specs
Nothing in power boating has equaled the continued world wide popularity of the Bertram 31. One of several Bertram 31 models, more than 1,000 Flybridge Cruisers were built over the years. While they have been out of production for many years, used models are continually in demand regardless of age or condition. Unquestionably, the chief attribute of any Bertram 31 is her legendary deep-V bull design. Read More
The Legend of
Bertram 31
This lavishly illustrated coffee-table book commemorates the 40th anniversary of Bertram Yacht Inc., the legendary Miami-based boat manufacturer. Founded in 1960 by Dick Bertram, a champion boat racer and world-class sailor, Bertram Yacht is the world’s leading manufacturer of 39’ to 60’ luxury sportfishing boats.
Articles
Though unmistakably Bertram
Original article by Jan Fogt First published in Florida Sportsman’s Popular “One Man’s Dreamboat” Series, (December 1995), in which they spotlight highly…
The Ultimate in Recycling – Revisited
(Original Version: Marlin Magazine, March 2002) Few boats on the water today share the same storied history and devout owner loyalty as…
“Thank God It’s A Bertram”
These two rather large images of an article published by Bertram Yachts back in the ’80s. The print is a little hard…
Boat Building Tips
Currently over 40 tips to help you upgrade your boat. Topics range from quick and simple shop suggestions to in depth repairs and modifications.
Event Planning Guide
Depending on the size and nature of the event, the work required to make it happen will vary. But even the most casual rendezvous will require a fair amount of effort, and events such as “Shoot Outs” and other tournaments will necessitate a vast amount of advance planning and numerous staff members to cover the various responsibilities required.
Our Captain, Our Founder:
Honoring
Patrick McCrary
Founded in 1999 by Capt. Patrick McCrary—a former U.S. Navy submariner, master goldsmith, and lifelong Bertram 31 skipper—this site exists because of his passion, vision, and community spirit. For over two decades, he’s answered technical questions, led forum discussions, and guided restorations with generosity and heart.
