F-ING EPIC!!!

I have been in the market for a year now for a new boat. Last month my friend chuck and I put a deposit on this 31 BERTRAM

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Yesterday I meet the old owner at the new boat at 0730 signed the pink. Handed him the cash and by 0750 my buddy Curtis and I were underway. The plan was to run the boat for a bit and fish for the Cudas that had moved in off Long Beach. We had canceled the plans to fish the island on my Blackman due to weather

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Shortly after 8 we cleared the harbor entrance and the weather was beautiful. We both looked at each other and said F-IT lets go to Catalina. I hit the throttles and we were off to the Island! Now for the good part!! This boat only has a VHF radio and that is it. I had my cell phone and handheld GPS but never turned it on. We knew there were fish biting at the island we just had to find them! Once we rounded the east end we knew where the fish had bit. There were 10-15 boats trying to fish the same spot. We bummed some squid off a friend and looked around the fleet but the current was the wrong direction for that spot. It still amazes me that all those people will sit in one spot without the right conditions. We both had the same Idea of where we wanted to fish given the conditions we had. We arrived at the spot with not a boat within a mile of us. We set the anchor (with its 5 feet of rubber coated chain) and within 15mins and 5 baits we had our first limits on the new boat. Just amazing, started the boat pulled the hook and cruised home at 20knts. Put my new toy in its slip with a huge smile on both our faces. What an F-ING AMAZING DAY!!! Just wait for Part 2 TO BE CONTINUED!!!

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Way to break in the new ride. That's going to be a sweet set up when you guys get done with it.

Mike

Damn Joe! I don't think you could script a better maiden voyage. That boat as my son would say is SICK! Congrats. Are you going to change her name? Any mods?

Memo to self...when fishing Catalina now must look for 31 Bertram Fine Catch.

HAHA!! yes sir, she will be in dry dock starting next Thurs. I plan on doing a build forum with uptodate Progress. Ill post the Start of the build when the first screw gets turned. Believe me when you see it you will be saying HOLY SHIT There f-ing crazy. Then boat will be Named Christina Lynn

Nice!

Whoa.... nice rig!!!!

Check out http://www.bertram31.com/newbb/index...b8200bb8eb4b53

So how does it compare to the 26'?

I have been on that site for a few months now, great site. Not the BOCA site though. Compared to my 26? Apples and Oranges, it gets the same fuel economy, cruises at 20 knts my Blackman cruised at 22-24, four guys can stand on one side and it doesn’t list, the ride is like a Cadillac it doesn’t ride over the swells it just pushes through them like they weren’t even there. The twins make handling a dream. It’s not as sporty as my Blackman. I used to drive it like a race car, you know being a whole 35 in getting older time to slow down and cruise. LOL ok maybe that’s BS.

That's a very nice sled Joe, perfect for your kind of fishing. Maybe marlin this year too, eh? How many ponies under the hood and what kind? There's a boat like yours 2 docks down from me and the owner and crew are tuna nuts; no trip too far, and they think nothing of 100 nm each way, the boat handles it easily with speed. I don't know about using the Christina Lynn name however, I'd hate for you to get mistaken on the radio for the asshat down here in SD. I'd wish you good luck but I can see you already have it working for you now!

Jeff

Classic Ride! Way to put her to good use on your maiden voyage.

Joe

I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product. I went from 26 to bigger and haven’t looked back other than some great memories. The trip Scott and I made to Cedros in our 26’s is what life time memories are made of.


The only drawback I know of is fuel $$$$$. As to 100 miles being no problem, if those goofy fish show up at 250 in any numbers give me a call or be at Pt. Loma waving bye bye.

Yale