One at a time...
by Bertram 27 Aug 2021 11:35 PDT
I track my brother on AIS. Weird, I know, but he's still out doing the traveling sportfish captain thing... and a while back I saw him coming into Nassau so just called to say hi.
"Gotta run, I'm coming into Bay Street on one", he said. I've had at least a dozen engine losses in my boat running career, so I don't even think I said goodbye before hanging up. Losing a main on a boat is a helpless feeling. That perfectly timed 200 nm run to get in in time to get fuel and go to dinner just became the slow chug from hell, possibly even overnight. And then when you get there, you still must get it in the slip without making a mess of gelcoat and pilings. After all that, you've still got to find the parts and or manpower to resolve the original problem...though Sportfish caps typically can fix most anything (that might be a whole other email).
Want to know how boat building feels over the last seven months...like we lost an engine. That calm day-cruise through the beautiful clear waters of the Exumas, with a casual stop to pick up some lobsters or hogfish is the amazing interest in all our boats. Dropping an engine and calling the wife and saying I won't be home tomorrow...and can't tell you when, is communicating our delivery delays to our wonderful clients and dealers.
Ok, I may be reaching on another one of my analogies, but its relatable for me, going from being in complete control to being at the mercy of the circumstances and conditions.
What we can control, is doing the best we can delivering one boat at a time, and we did just that this past weekend. Having recently delivered a 50, we also just delivered three boats to very happy and understanding customers. Over the weekend, we delivered a 35 to Long Island (despite the tropical storm), a 39 to Vero Beach and a 28 to Puerto Rico. Some pictures of those and other progress pics below.
Bertram 28CC
A quick dip before loading on a a truck and a ship to go to Puerto Rico. Love that color!
Bertram 28XC
Coming this winter
Bertram 39CC
So happy to see 39's start coming off the line. Also loved seeing the remarkable performance from the 3 x Merc 300's.
35 Flybridge
The new 35 seems right at home on the north shore of Long Island.
Visit here for 360 view of the delivery sea trial.
50 Express
Only thing better than pictures of the boat are what you can do with them. As usual smallest angler caught the largest fish.
61 Convertible
61 headed for Maine begging to be let out of the shed and a more recent picture of Pipewelders finishing up the hardtop. You think we've had it bad... try not being able to get "pipe", when its in the name of your company.