Bertram vs Seacraft

[Fr. Frank]

Ran a 46 ft bertram with 8-71 ti, was slow (20 knots max) and had what the family and self called the Bertam bang when heading into a sea. With that said was a good boat and raised quite a few billfish but was slow compared to todays boats. It was built like a rock.
ET

Back in the mid 70's, my grandfather had an early 50's built 45' Rybovich with twin supercharged Chrysler Imperial inline flat-head 8-cylinder gas motors. My grandfather said the motors were designed for a type of WWII MTB that never saw servce. The boat was built for him by Rybovich around those motors.

In contrast, my Uncle Obie's boat in the next slip at Lake Worth Yacht Club was a new 46' Bertram with twin 8-71t's. At the same speed the Rybo would cut through many waves while Uncle Obie's boat would pop over a wave top and then sound like a drum booming as it hit the next wave. The Bertram seemed to bob up and down twice as much as the Rybovich in seas.
The Bertram was fiberglass-hulled, whereas the Rybovich hull was mahogany and teak, and much heavier.
The Rybovich had a top speed of 18-20 knots, and I remember the Bertram was a bit faster, but I don't know by how much.

I liked both boats, but the Rybovich was like a metaphorical Rolls-Royce as to the Bertram's Oldsmobile.
I planned, navigated, and piloted that Rybovich to the Bahamas at the age of 10, under my grandfather's tutelage.

And I really wish I could afford Carl's 27' SeaMaster.