Bertram 31 - the Father of Modern Fishing Boats!

There is perhaps no more famous fishing boat in history than the venerable Bertram 31. This C. Raymond Hunt designed boat was built for over 25 years (through the mid-1980s) and is still considered one of the best fishing boats ever.
Today, I had the honor getting a walk-through on a beautifully restored 1973 model. My friend George is the proud owner and also offers tours and charters on her.
If you want to book George for a charter, please visit: www.rarebreedmarine.com
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/ jigging_jerks_fishing
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Filmed Entirely on a GoPro Hero 9: amzn.to/3qd3voL

[@user-vx7vi3vq1c]

My Dad had a ‘31 Bert on the Chesapeake Bay in the 70’s. What a fantastic boat.

[@tombrown7577]

This boat was the bomb back in the day. If you had one of these you were somebody. These boats are proven to raise fish on the troll and very stable for their size. Great boats and timeless!

[@briansupermag3918]

Absolutely a legend right there. Beautiful

[@uainteasyb]

Caught my first Yellowfin Tuna out at the Canyon on 31' named Mae-Fin. I was 10 I think and it weighed more than me , always loved the lines of those boats, so beautiful. RIP Ed Finuken, thx for taking me on that trip.

[@sicsemper02]

As a happy and proud southerner, I have to tell you how much I LOVE NY and NJ boats and boaters. My best friend's dad lives on the Jersey Shore my first offshore experiences were in his Boston Whaler when I was in college. Ya'll (yous) have so many nice folks and a real sense of the classics and doing things the right way. This is a great boat and the owner seems to be someone with a real passion. What a treat to see it!

[@jiggingjerks]

That's great VIrgil, truly emblematic of Southern hospitality

[@kemicalx17]

Incredible boats. Very under appreciated by people who don’t know what they are.

[@derekhierholzer7289]

Beautiful boat. My parents had a 31 with the v-berth and the head to the right when you enter the cabin. Spent many years offshore fishing on that boat out of Port Aransas, Tx.

[@donmeola5862]

❤❤❤ 🤩🤩🤩 Absolutely gorgeous! Look up the term dreamboat and there she is! Impeccable, immaculate and updated to the max! 👏 👏 👏

[@charleshaws5669]

Beautiful boat. I owned a 28FB, 31express, and the 1984 Bertram 35. Loved them. You boat is fantastic.

[@peterferraro6230]

George is living my dream. When I was younger fishing on the Great South Bay with my dad, the 31 was my dream boat. We couldn’t afford it at the time but would consider getting one when I retire.

[@anthonybilenki791]

Was on a 28’ Bertram off Ocean City MD at the Jackspot Buoy. >40 yrs ago. Trolling for bluefish. I still remember that day. Great boats. Felt.the same way y’all describe it. Great content.

[@BMWQC]

Such a sweet legendary boat!!! Just Beautiful!!

[@ZoneTelevision]

Timeless classic.

[@philking8855]

for those that are unaware..Bertram boats was also the design and the manufacturer of the PBR river boats in Vietnam..that I served on...They were chosen by the Navy, with a little modification...no propellers..instead Jacuzzi, manufactured a "gated" propulsion and steering system.."gated" because you drop the gate, and now you have reverse..So th jet skis you see today, that propulsion was actually developed specifically for use in the Vietnam waterways, and rivers!!!

[@jiggingjerks]

That’s an amazing side note and thank you for your service

[@charliemikefishing4424]

Wow! Thank you for this! And thanks for your service sailor

[@brianbarry6909]

Wrong Uniflite was the builder!!!!!!!

[@Z-Bart]

I fished many times from a 26' Bertram with a flybridge. Absolutely loved it.

[@walterkonopacki5860]

Oh wow John, born in 1945 and when I seen the title of the video just got to tell you are spot on with one of the most iconic boats ever made. Long time boater and fisherman and the bertram was always the envy of every boater. Personally member of the John skinner tin boat fleet with an 85 sea nymph 17' cc fishing the sandy hook NJ area. John like the fishing videos but really like your other videos featuring boating related topics. As aways thanks for the vids and looking forward to becoming a full time recreational boater and fishman. Tight lines ... Walt

[@tedanderson6122]

One of my favorite boats and done well.

[@robertgurgo5662]

I fished on 31 Bertrams for years. It is the 57 Chevy of boats. Biggest mistake Bertram ever made was not building a larger version of that design. so many owners had them and would have moved up to a larger version. The came out with the 35, but didnt have the look or the ride.

[@stevefowler3398]

I have a 46. It is FOR ME, the very best fishing boat in existence! It is one of the few boats that inspires confidence. I know that no matter where I put her, she will take me home.

[@jerseyfreshfishing6613]

Any fisherman has a love for the old Berts! Nice job on the tour/interview John. Noticeable progression... You let the gentleman talk!

[@jiggingjerks]

I listen to the feedback lol

[@CJfishing2024]

Love those 31' Bertram's, I was so close to buying one back in "83" when I got my 6 pack license, I'm sorry now I didn't, I also Love the 28'. Had a friend that had a 35' Bert, for some reason that boat pounded lol, the guy used to put the hammer down whenever we headed to the canyon's regardless of the conditions. Nice vid John.

[@philiprea8340]

Beautiful boat George! My brother has a 26... what a boat... built like tanks as you know.

[@sapelesteve]

Very nice Bertram 31 footer! I owned a 1979 28' Bertram way back in 1986. Definitely one of the best boats that I ever owned. Many off shore trips fishing for Tuna! Those were the days! 👍👍

[@mikethornton6686]

A friend had the 28 Bert! He did alot of work on it and turned out beautifully! Wish I could post a pic here of it. That's a Sweet 31 there! Nice review!

[@jeffthompson-dd8kp]

Absolutely my favorite

[@louisatavares7519]

Bertram 31 the ultimate fishing machine.

[@michaelbartyzal1306]

Great boat, I’ve heard of Bertrams but didn’t know much about them. Interesting history lesson.

[@stevefowler3398]

I'm a Brit, and my first experience of BIG GAME FISHING was in Jamaica, way back in the 70s. The boat was 31 BERTRAM, and I was totally fixed on them. I now have an old 46, and I could not want a better fishing platform She has twin DETROITS and again, perfect combination of reliable power.

[@Mikeyflukes]

Another great video John. The boat is beautiful. One of my all time favorite boats! Thanks for giving us the tour.

[@derekalexander4030]

Nice tour of a great boat. He did an amazing job restoring it.

[@googeelou]

I enjoy your boat reviews, cause they are not boring. You make them very informative and fun to listen to. The only thing missing, was a cruise on the boat, like you did on the Blu-J.

[@jtpalooki7757]

True labor of love.. funny how memories from our youth mold our desires!.. oddly my brother is currently restoring a ‘72 28’ Bertram flybridge.. the same boat that we’ve enjoyed since 1973.. once belonged to our neighbor.. not as stable as the 31, but a cruising machine! Hopefully the 28 will be able to be in the water by late summer 🤞..

[@Lookingglassaquarium]

Nice boat good info yanmar is made by Toyota never knew that

[@georgesalmas4582]

Great boat. Great tour.

[@mikem7799]

Bertram 31…23 Seacraft and whaler 17 Montauk……..3 ALL TIME GREATS hands down 👍👍👍

[@mikem7799]

Bertram 31….best all time 30 foot boat….no question

[@markwiebner7806]

Beautiful Boat!!

[@gRosh08]

Uncle Remus said cool and thanks for sharing.

[@leversforever9748]

That's "Tropic Star Lodge" in Panama with the fleet of Custom Bertram 31s

[@georgeniebergall7074]

Are used to have a 31 Bertram Moppy 2454 Chevy’s in it or MerCruiser’s whatever you’d like to call them. The boat is a little scary and high seas because of how low it is in the water like the man said but otherwise, it’s a hell of a fishing boat, one a lot of tournaments with the boat.

[@mulletoutdooradventures6286]

Legendary. The Shamrock GS 31 is the same hull. You can find these pretty cheap every now and then. They were a bit wet but absolutely legendary. That deck needs some tuna blood on it asap

[@aloissuter1071]

Wonder content Captain. Love the classic vessel

[@johnm5714]

He did a nice job on that boat.

[@WilliamPozo]

Love these old berts... i've seen the instagram cuban guy build a few with outboards... SWEEETTTT

[@mattlechner8442]

nice boat ! very sharp !

[@jellybean9396]

Always wanted one

[@pulehushortribs157]

this little boat has always brought up fish, a wet ride but that's cool

[@CharlotteHarborFisherman]

I love your boat review videos. I’m going to start adding them to my channel down here in south west Florida. I’ve already borrowed Skinners technique of doing voiceover on my fishing videos. You guys are the best. Keep up the good work.

[@jiggingjerks]

Appreciate the kind words. I just subscribed to your channel. If you ever want to do a collaboration down in Florida, let me know. I try to get down there for a couple of months each winter since my permanent job is based at home.

[@CharlotteHarborFisherman]

@@jiggingjerks absolutely I was going to ask you that but chickened out. Let me know whenever you fly south. We could try a show or I could try to line up some roadsides maybe.

[@CharlotteHarborFisherman]

Hey Capt, I got a question what do you think about me starting a second channel strictly for boat videos instead of combining the two?

[@cayman597]

Great job

[@richardjohnson33755]

One of the coolest boats ever made. The 31 Bertram. They are really wet boats tho but man you can pound the shit out of the em and they just ask for more

[@captaintigger2657]

I couldn't agree more. Ive fished a couple of them. It is an amazing fishing machine

[@user-eg3fr5lr7g]

Best fishing boat ever….my dad had one in the 80’s

[@richielittlewood867]

Very nice boat and presentation . I know Tommy at Holtz Marine .

[@ronk3332]

Great video. It has vibes of the popular Florida Sportsman Project Dreamboat tv series. If you do more of these, it would be great to see some pics before and during the renovation. Also, some details on initial purchase price and how much was invested in the reno would be good.

[@bigguydiy2184]

I've always liked the old Bertram 31, 30 & 25 along with the Albemarle/ Carolina Classic 25, 27 & 30. Just love the lines on these boats. Its too bad no one makes a 25-28 offshore express hull today. Albemarle stopped a year or more on building the 25 & 27. They now produce the Dual Console.

[@rvierra7235]

Dude!!! This is the coolest video you have made when it comes to a fishing/diving boat!!! Absolutely LOVE the Bertrams of that era. SO COOL!! We, on the west coast, love Bertrams, especially in the Moppie config.

[@redtaylor2281]

Back in 1987,or 89 my wife and I nearly bought one in Ponce Inlet, the owner lived next to DOWN THE HATCH, it was a great buy, cat engines and a new generator, but I stepped away, and bought a KENWORTH instead, I'm in the trucking industry, but she did buy me a 1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL, but anyway perhaps some day

[@jiggingjerks]

Thumbs up on that GN. A bucket list car for me. Faster than a Corvette or Ferrari (in 87)

[@BrokenRRT]

My father commercially fished lobster, crab, and urchin out of San Diego from a 25’ Bertram in the 1970’s and 80’s

[@melodymakermark]

I wanna do something similar with a Bertram 28, but instead of wine and cheese I’ll serve beer and peanuts.

[@jascan1489]

There's an abandoned 31 sitting in green cove springs FL, at the marina. I just was there and saw it last week on stands, with 4ft of weeds around it.

[@jiggingjerks]

That’s depressing…why would anyone abandon a boat like that? Even in rough shape, someone would buy it and rebuild it

[@chrisv3968]

Whats up George!!!!

[@shoresharp8349]

Bertram 31 is a legend also the Formula 23 is the grandfather of seavee contender Albemarle the list goes on.

[@jiggingjerks]

Yup. Formula 233 is the grandpa of all these deep vee CCs

[@chrisclarke3670]

Nice boat; like you growing up in S. FL I always dreamed of getting this boat. I never did, but happy to see you have such a nice example of one. Did you have any hull (stringers, or etc) repairs to do or was that done in the prior upgrade?

[@jiggingjerks]

I am not the owner of the boat, but yes, I believe you are correct.

[@wheelgunluvr7406]

I forgot to mentioned the low gunnels. They need to be 6” higher.

[@bruceleroy1683]

That's a nice boat! Those probably go for around $40-50k. Worth it though.

[@Dannny_Mac]

❤

[@rayjansen6712]

Great choice.. love the boat... Seems like they lost their way in fishing.

[@richardkohut4309]

Wow amazing electronic and wiring, who did all that great work?

[@jiggingjerks]

I believe that would be Blu-J Marine

[@richardkohut4309]

@@jiggingjerks incredible work

[@brianeidmann5941]

I'd love to restore my 28 Bertram the same way. Does the B31 have the same Snap roll? Boat is great riding, but once you stop, she will rock your world. Did you restore all that yourself?

[@jiggingjerks]

Not sure if the owner will see this to comment but he restored the wiring

[@AlexGarcia-ew2fv]

I went 2 Bimini in 1 identical 2 that but it had 2 Cummins v8 210hp with jet drives..it was a cia special madeb4 the bay of pigs invasion in cuba.

[@jiggingjerks]

Wow.....I bet that boat has stories

[@carlosdelaarena2575]

23 deg transom deadrise

[@politicallyincorrectandpro5856]

Time is changing,most of sport fishing boats are now CC multiples outboard engines overpowered…. However Bertram, Merrit’s Rybovich, Hatteras, Egg Habor, Viking,…are always so « classe ».

[@georgeniebergall7074]

And what I say I would’ve liked to have seen scuppers in the back of that boat cause if a big wave hits it takes on water the water needs to get out quickly. Otherwise a bald is beautiful.

[@Fluke17]

Is this boat for sale? I saw one listed in greenport

[@jiggingjerks]

It’s not

[@Fluke17]

Must be another one same year

[@user-xp8qz1cc8z]

looks like this boat is for sale now.

[@jiggingjerks]

Really?

[@timrudy4359]

One day…

[@ultimatejay]

Nice Boat but I'll take my Davis 25 Bahia.

[@lorandlayton1756]

A fishing boat without a live well ?

[@wheelgunluvr7406]

I was the mate on a few different Bertram 31’s back in the day (late 80’s- early 90’s). I can’t stand them. If you try drifting in a beam sea, they will throw you out of the cockpit. They are good in a head sea, but try to drop the anchor in 2-3’ seas, and you will have green water up to your knees. They aren’t even in my top 100!

[@johnmccreary1554]

Gull Pond ?

[@jiggingjerks]

You know it

[@brianbarry6909]

Bring some rain gear They are a very Wet ride!!!!!!!!!

[@LongIslandtoMd]

So not one comment about the..... Nevermind. I'll be nice.

[@jayderwin1]

Haha fish boxes for 10 year olds seemed a little creepy

[@lorandlayton1756]

I take it back sorry.

[@markweigel3301]

😎🥳NICE SHINER DUDE 😳😂🤣😂If You Haven’t Caught a Billfish off of One of these MASTERPIECES OF NAUTICAL ART, Then Your Not a REAL FISHERMAN in My Opinion 🎣 and if you Haven’t Gotten a Little Bit Naughty & Gotten Laid While Billfishing on One then Your a F🤬🤬King Amateur too !!! 😳🤔😂🤣😂🤣🥳😎SERIOUSLY NICE BOAT DUDE 😎🤙

[@jiggingjerks]

Hahahaha - laughed out loud for real reading this

[@markweigel3301]

@@jiggingjerks 😎BTW…If I Had the💲I’d Buy That Thing in a Heartbeat…GOOD LUCK, SIR 😎🥳👋

[@richardbeese7635]

Dude cut that hair

[@jiggingjerks]

As someone challenged in the hair department, I can only wish to have that!!!!

[@bryanciacco4181]

What an absolutely terrible lay out and design for a 31 footer. Complete garbage!

[@jiggingjerks]

I think you are being a little too hard on the boat. These were revolutionary back in the 60s and set the bar for deep vee fishing boats.

[@josephbogan3114]

🤮

[@jamesps7515]

My buddy just sold his 28 Carolina classic last year and picked up a 38 Bertram absolutely beautiful boat

[@jimjones5419]

better boats out there

[@jiggingjerks]

No doubt but for its time......

[@richie2dicks468]

I know a guy that has a 33

[@CantWaitOutdoors]

Check out @jimmyg31b my dads boat that we fish on often tops out 38 knots! Screaming machine called killer instinct!