Bertram 28 II
by David Pascoe

The Bertram 28 II can readily be described in one word: fisherman. One look at this boat reveals that that is all it was designed to do. Oh, with a swim platform it would certainly make a good dive boat with that huge cockpit. But a family cruiser she isn't. The nine foot long cockpit is one of the largest you'll find for any boat of her size, a feature that renders the cabin to little more than storage space. For other than finding a nook to take a nap or a leak, it isn't intended for much else.
The 28 II is a very solid, well-built boat that is very nice looking, but otherwise not a very practical vessel. An experienced eye quickly picks up troublesome design features. Nearly everything that one might come to dislike about the 28 II stems from the shallow hull design. This hull simply doesn't have enough depth to it. Which is why you have that two level cockpit with a step-down in the middle that tends to send the unwary sprawling from time to time. And why you have to crouch to enter the cabin, and why there's not enough floor space in the cabin. But you can't deny its darn good looking. The styling is timeless, and no doubt explains why they are still a hot item, at least in the south.
As a Bertram model line goes, it was fairly short-lived, adapted from the 28 FB Cruiser, and being built from '86 - 92. But enough of them were sold to keep them from being scarce. It is a fairly heavy boat for its size at nearly 12,000 lbs, most of which is in the hull and deck which, of course, are rock solid.
In our view, there is much to love and dislike about this boat. You love the high quality strength of the glass work, loads of stainless steel hardware and the overall quality that holds it up over the years. Yet you also have wonder at some of the silly things that don't quite fit your image of a Bertram, such as vinyl and plywood bench helm seat and all those screwed in place cockpit side liners. Then there is the mica/plywood aft cabin bulkhead that may or may not develop some rot in it. The installation is done as well as it can be, but it is still wood and you wonder why it is there.
The reason, of course, is that Bertram tried to hold the price down, a feat at which they did not succeed very well. High quality in small boats frequently means that the boats don't sell due to price. Its one of the reasons Hatteras stays out of the small boat market. In 1992 the base advertised price was $118,000.00 with gas engines. Add in the goodies and you've got a 28' boat that can cost nearly $150,000, a point which can narrow the market down in a hurry.
As with all small boats, bridge space is a problem. Bertram tried to solve the problem by adding a raised instrument panel which not only looks silly, but places the engine controls in a terrible position. This feature about the engine controls is just plain irritating, for whether you are sitting or standing, they are uncomfortable to operate. Yet the wheel placement is fine.
There were only two engine options, Merc. 260's and Volvo 200 HP diesels. We've never seen one with the diesels and can't imagine how they manage to get those engines into that small space. For a fisherman, the performance is adequate with the 260's, but we'd expect her to be a dog with the diesels. 400 HP is not enough to push this deep vee hull at sport fishing speeds.
At first glance, engine access looks like it might be terrible. Yet the relationship of the deck to the engines overcomes some of the tightness of the fit by making it possible to lay on your belly and reach things with relative ease, although not without some loss of knuckle skin. You can reach plugs, filters and pumps without much trouble.
The cockpit is fitted with those two weird railings right over the step down, railings probably installed with the idea of minimizing lawsuits, rather than any practical reason. There is a tendency to walk (or back) right into them because you don't expect them to be there. We've seen more than a few of these boats with the railings removed.
Another feature that we didn't like so well was the cockpit depth. For fishing, its great to have a cockpit that is low to the water. But when the gunwale hits below your knee, its nearly impossible to brace yourself from falling overboard. As in leaning over to grab a leader and bring that prize fish aboard. To do that safely, you feel like you should kneel down . . . and maybe you should.
We'd also add that the low freeboard forward is a bit disconcerting, for she does not rise to meet a head sea at slow speeds as quickly as you'd like, too easily taking blue water over the bow. If we were going to be out there trolling in the rollers, we'd rather be doing it in something like the Blackfin 27 or 29, or any other boat with a bit more freeboard and flare to the bow. Earlier models had opening windshield sections, which means they leak like a banshee. Fortunately, there's no wood inside to rot.
These boats are now becoming old enough that the prices are coming down to the point where people who could not otherwise afford a Bertram now can. Its got all the quality you'd expect in a Bertram; its one main drawback is that it is definitely a one-trick-pony. Its for fishing or diving, not cruising. The tiny interior and bridge isn't going to please anyone, especially the ladies.
We'd sum this one up as being a great boat for Bertram aficionados, but if you're looking for a bit more practicality you can find more of in other boats for about the same price. If you're going to spend this kind of money, you should look at the Blackfin 29 and a few others in her class that may provide more of what you're looking for.


David Pascoe - Biography
-
Boat Reviews Articles
At-A-Glance - Introduction to Boat Reviews
- A
- Albemarle 305
- Aquasport 215
- B
- Baha 260 Targa (not "Baja")
- Bertram Yachts
- Bertram Yachts: Introduction
- Bertram 26.6 II
- Bertram 28 II
- Bertram 30 Express
- Bertram 30 Moppie
- Bertram 31 SF
- Bertram 33 SF
- Bertram 36 Moppie
- Bertram 42 Convertible
- Bertram 46 Convertible
- Blackfin Yachts
- Blackfin 29 SF
- Blackfin 29 Combi
- Blackfin 32 Flybridge
- Blackfin 33
- Boston Whaler Outrage 26
- C
- Cabo 31 Sport Express
- Carver 370
- Century 3000
- Chris-Craft 302 Crown
- Contender 25
- Cranchi Mediterranee 40
- Cruisers 4270 Esprit
- Cruisers 4280
- G
- Glacier Bay 2640 Renegade
- Grady-White Offshore 24
- Grady-White 24 Voyager
- Grady White 272 Sailfish
- Grand Banks 42
- Gulfstar 43 Trawler-style Yacht
- H
- Hatteras Yachts
- Hatteras Yachts: Introduction
- Hatteras 36 Convertible
- Hatteras 38 Convertible
- Hatteras 38 Convertible - Updated Review
- Hatteras 39 Sport Express
- Hatteras 45 Convertible
- Hatteras 52 Convertible
- Hatteras 53 Motor Yacht & Convertible
- Hatteras 61 Motor Yacht
- Hunter 28
- Hyatt 45 CMY
- I
- Intrepid 289
- Island Gypsy 40
- L
- Lafitte 44
- Legacy 34 Express
- Luhrs 320 Open
- Luhrs 34 - 340 F.B. Sedan
- Luhrs Tournament 350
- Luhrs Tournament 360
- M
- Mainship 31
- Mainship 350 Trawler
- Mako 221- Updated 11/05/99
- Mako 26
- Maxum 4600 1998
- Mochi 50
- Morgan 462 Ketch
- O
- Offshore 48
- P
- Post 46 Convertible
- Pursuit 2855
- Pursuit 3000 Offshore
- Pursuit 3070 CC
- S
- Sea Ray
- Sea Ray and Balsa Core Bottoms (from "Structural Issues")
- Sea Ray 250 Sundancer
- Sea Ray 27
- Sea Ray Sundancer 290
- Sea Say Sundancer 290 Update
- Sea Ray 370 AC
- Sea Ray 39 Express
- Sea Ray 500
- Sea Ray 55
- Shamrock 26
- T
- Thompson Santa Cruz 2700
- Tiara 2700
- Tiara 3100 Open
- Tiara 3600 Convertible
- Tiara 3600 Open
- Topaz 28_1981
- Trojan 10-8 Meter
- Trojan 14 Meter Convertible
- Trojan 440 Express
- V
- Viking 43 Open
- from other cat.
- Marlin Monroe
42 Bertram Convertible
Make an Old Boat New - Tiara Today
The New Quality Leader?
Articles at
docksidereports.com
David Pascoe's
Power Boat Books
A Guide for Discriminating Buyers
Focuses exclusively cruiser class generally 30-55 feet
With discussions on the pros and cons of each type: Expresses, trawlers, motor yachts, multi purpose types, sportfishermen and sedan cruisers.
Selecting and Evaluating New and Used Boats
Dedicated for offshore outboard boats
A hard and realistic look at the marine market place and delves into issues of boat quality and durability that most other marine writers are unwilling to touch.
2nd Edition
The Art of Pre-Purchase Survey The very first of its kind, this book provides the essentials that every novice needs to know, as well as a wealth of esoteric details.
Pleasure crafts investigations to court testimony The first and only book of its kind on the subject of investigating pleasure craft casualties and other issues.
- Chapter 1
- Basic Considerations
- Chapter 2
- Boat Types: Which is Right for You?
- Chapter 3
- Old Boats, New Boats and Quality
- Chapter 4
- Basic Hull Construction
- Chapter 5
- Evaluating Boat Hulls
- Chapter 6
- Performance and Sea Keeping
- Chapter 7
- Decks & Superstructure
- Chapter 8
- Stress Cracks,Finishes and Surface Defects
- Chapter 9
- Power Options
- Chapter 10
- The Engine Room
- Chapter 11
- Electrical & Plumbing Systems
- Chapter 12
- Design Details
- Chapter 13
- Steering, Controls, Systems & Equipment
- Chapter 14
- The Art of the Deal
- Chapter 15
- Boat Shopping
- Chapter 16
- The Survey & Post Survey
- Chapter 17
- Boat Builders by Company
- 512 pages
2nd Edition
- Chapter 1
- What is
Pre-Purchase Survey? - Chapter 2
- Business Practices and Client Relations
- Chapter 3
- Sound vs. Seaworthiness
- Chapter 4
- Procedures
- Chapter 5
- Hull and Its Structure
- Chapter 6
- Surveying the Hull
- Chapter 7
- Using Moisture Meters
- Chapter 8
- Stress Cracks & Surface Irregularities
- Chapter 9
- Deck & Superstructure
- Chapter 10
- Cockpits
- Chapter 11
- Drive Train
- Chapter 12
- Gas Engines
- Chapter 13
- Fuel Systems
- Chapter 14
- Exhaust Systems
- Chapter 15
- Electrical Systems
- Chapter 16
- Plumbing Systems
- Chapter 17
- Sea Trials
- Chapter 18
- Appraisal
- Chapter 19
- Reporting
- 480 pages
- Chapter 1
- The Marine Investigator
- Chapter 2
- The Nature of Investigations
- Chapter 3
- The Nature of Evidence
- Chapter 4
- Marine Insurance and Issues of Law
- Chapter 5
- Bilge Pumps & Batteries
- Chapter 6
- Finding the Leak
- Chapter 7
- Sinking Due To Rain
- Chapter 8
- Fire Investigations
- Chapter 9
- Machinery Failure Analysis
- Chapter 10
- Fraud Investigations
- Chapter 11
- Interrogation Techniques
- Chapter 12
- Reports
- Chapter 13
- Deposition & Court Testimony
- 544 pages
David Pascoe is a second generation marine surveyor in his family who began his surveying career at age 16 as an apprentice in 1965 as the era of wooden boats was drawing to a close.
Certified by the National Association of Marine Surveyors in 1972, he has conducted over 5,000 pre purchase surveys in addition to having conducted hundreds of boating accident investigations, including fires, sinkings, hull failures and machinery failure analysis.
Over forty years of knowledge and experience are brought to bear in following books. David Pascoe is the author of:
In addition to readers in the United States, boaters and boat industry professionals worldwide from nearly 80 countries have purchased David Pascoe's books, since introduction of his first book in 2001.
In 2012, David Pascoe has retired from marine surveying business at age 65.
On November 23rd, 2018, David Pascoe has passed away at age 71.
Biography - Long version