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The Reel World
by Eston Ellis
Bertram’s 50 Convertible is built for sportfishing luxury
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You can’t buy a good reputation. You have to earn it.
Over the 40 years that have passed since the first Bertram sportfisher appeared, Bertram yachts have become well regarded for their quality construction, seakindly hulls and convenient layouts for serious sportfishing. However, Bertrams -- especially large ones -- usually come with high-end price tags to match their high-end quality.
The Bertram 50 Convertible is one of the most highly regarded large Bertram sportfishers. In Sea Magazine’s most recent survey of Western yacht brokers, it was the third most popular large sportfisher overall -- with the Bertram 54 Convertible coming in second.
Interestingly enough, there’s a bigger difference than you might expect between the 54 and the 50 -- and several reasons why many boaters actually prefer the smaller Bertram.
The 54 operates like a much bigger boat than the 50, and you’ll probably want to bring your own crew along when you take it out (whether they’re friends, family members or paid hands). In contrast, the smaller 50 Convertible can be quite comfortably handled by a couple -- yet, it still has all the luxurious accommodations you’d expect from a 50-footer, and all the fishing-friendly features you’d expect from a large Bertram sportfisher.
For the Hull of It
The 50 Convertible was built on a deep-V hull with balsa-cored hull sides, a solid laminate bottom and a wide 16 foot, 2 inch beam. Aft, there is 17 degrees of deadrise. That combination of a sharp entry and a flat running surface gives the boat an ability to cut through the roughest seas while maintaining a solid, stable ride. It has won the 50 an almost legendary legion of fans.
Unlike the wet-riding Bertram 31, the 50 Convertible’s hull knocks aside spray handily, making for a dry cruise -- and more comfortable fishing in the boat’s big 142 square foot cockpit.
The cockpit is definitely designed with anglers in mind, with a wide transom gate, conveniently placed rod holders and a large tackle prep console with a sink.
Engine room access is provided through a door adjacent to the tackle console. Here, you’ll find a pair of big diesel inboards: either standard 735 hp Detroit Diesel 8V-92s (later models were equipped with DDEC electronic control systems) or optional 820 hp MANs.
With the Detroit Diesels, the boat cruises at around 26 knots and can reach a top speed of around 31 knots. Fuel consumption at cruise is 65 gallons per hour, giving the boat around 480 miles cruising range.
The larger MAN diesels give the 50 Convertible a top speed of 34 knots and -- surprisingly -- even better fuel economy. The MANs consume 61 gallons per hour at cruising speed, to provide a range of around 510 miles.
‘Wow! Look Inside’
Step inside the 50 Convertible, and there’s no doubt that luxury was a priority for the designers. The interiors are lavishly trimmed with fine woods and designer fabrics and are accented by both direct and indirect lighting.
Two interior layouts were available during the 50 Convertible’s 10-year production run: a galley-up layout with three staterooms and a galley-down version with two staterooms. On both versions, the saloon is quite large -- but it’s astoundingly large on the galley-down model.
The galley-up version puts a large dinette opposite a U-shaped galley that adjoins the saloon. In the galley-down version, the galley is a few steps down from the saloon, and is a tad larger.
The three-stateroom layout provides two heads with stall showers, two large cabins with queen-size berths and a smaller cabin with upper/lower berths. The two-cabin layout offers an even more spacious pair of master suites.
In 1994, Bertram updated the 50 Convertible with larger windows and accent stripes, but the boat’s best features were for the most part unchanged.
One feature that West Coast boaters may want to add to a used Bertram 50 is a forward deckhouse windshield. The boats originally came without this feature, in keeping with East Coast custom. Westerners, of course, prefer a full view in all directions.
The Bertram 50 Convertible is unquestionably a well-built and well-equipped sportfisher. Perhaps its only downside is a high price on the resale market -- but that’s only bad news if you’re trying to buy one, not if you’re trying to sell a used Bertram 50.
This is one boat that has truly held its value over the years. You can expect to see Bertram 50 Convertibles at Western yacht brokerages, priced from $408,000 for an older version to around $945,000 for a well-maintained newer model -- very close to the original new list price. However, keep in mind that pre-owned Bertram 50s typically come outfitted with a full complement of high-end electronics and many other optional amenities that were not inexpensive additions to the base boat package.
CONTACT: Bertram Yacht; (305) 633-8011; fax (305) 635-1388; www.bertram.com.
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This article first appeared in the August 2001 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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