seafari 20/bertram 20 Bahia Mar

[scepter23]

Hey Guys , looking for another project with my brother as a partner, he wants a Bertram 20 Bahia Mar to restore, I am leaning toward a Seafari 20. Has anyone owned/operated these two boats and care to compare the ride, mainly ,which would be the best in a 2-3 chop , best on a drift etc. looking at keeping I/O configuration 4.3 v-6.

[FLexpat]

I had a 1965 20 Moppie with a 5.7/Volvo 290. It has a 24 degree deadrise and kinda rounded on the bottom. I liked it a lot but it did have issues: rolled a good bit on the drift (Bahia Mar is a little worse), 'wandered' at idle-low speed (maybe from the extra weight aft but I moved the fuel from the stern to the CG to help with that), good on bigger waves but pounded a bit in a short chop - the really big lifting strakes probably did that. VERY heavy for a 20 - almost the same as a 23 Sceptre w a V8 since the glass was really thick. The other thing is that most of them had a balsa cored transom and were completely foamed under the deck - I got a lot of the water out of the foam but never got all of it.

[Bigshrimpin]

20 Bertram is hard to beat for the ride. The Hiliner 222 is the 2.0 improved/refined version of the Bertram 20. They are easier to find than the Bertram 20 hull.

The Seafari is a great boat. It also has a real cabin that you can sleep in.

[Eric B]

Saw this 20 on Oyster Bay in NY this past weekend. Was a beautiful boat!

[Bigshrimpin]

If you are interested in the Bertram Bahia Mar 20, you should look at the Hiliner Gypsy.

Bertram 20


Hiliner 222






Or you could find one of the Boston whaler Yankee Voyager's if you want something rare which is made from the hiliner molds.

[Bigshrimpin]

20 Seafari has a much better cabin and is a lot lighter than the Bertram 20 or Hiliner.

[Terry England]

Eric, Conner Davis and I have both run the Seafaris and Bertrams for decades, so a lot of saddle time. Since you are coming to the Gathering we can discuss in infinite detail the attributes of each. However, let me try it in 25 words or less -
C. Raymond designed the original Deep Vee 24" degree Bertrams and Dick Bertram built them with 3/4" hulls and a modeled stringer system heavy enough to "beat the ocean into submission". Carl Moesly used the reverse steps of his SeaCraft's patented VDH to ventilate the hull an equally as strong but lighter lay up schedule with a molded stringer system. Bertrams try to crush the waves and Seacrafts dance over them. (OK - 60 words)
It takes a lot more power to move a Bertram than the same size SeaCraft. They are "toads". I have a B-25 and it is like a '67 442, Oldsmobile. The SeaCraft is like getting into a Porche.
I agree with Big Shrimpin', the Hyliner Gypsey is a little more boat than the 20' Seafari and well built. With a bracket it might almost as good as a Sceptre, but with a little bit of headroom in the cabin. But it will never "dance" like a SeaCraft. See you Friday at MacRae's

[Bigshrimpin]

The Hiliner will hang with a 23 seacraft. It's also a dry boat and very nimble. Terry is right about the 20 seafari. They will dance when balanced correctly. In large chop above 22mph the 20 seafari wants to become airborne. If you keep it balanced and plug away around 22 - 24mph (except light chop) the seafari is pretty awesome. In light chop the 20 seacraft is like a magic carpet.

[McGillicuddy]

So's I mutter ta muh self, "huh, wonder if any round here" an I finds me a bahia mar up the road a piece on a nice trailer. Good thing I like the cockpit of the hi-liner and the whaler better... nice pics and comments. Dead on... Only additional thought, if the plan is to flip the boat I think a well done Bert would probably bring the most in sale.

[Blackfin26]

Another vote here for the Hiliner. Magic hull and can't imagine anything in it's size range running as well. Note prone to pound and very dry for it's size. I have a '75 in the driveway for a future restore.