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Bertram Yachts

If you've spent any amount of time in the offshore fishing game, then you've probably stepped aboard a Bertram. Founded in 1960 by the world-class sailor and champion powerboat racer, Richard Bertram, Bertram Yacht Company went on to build some of the most successful sport-fishers ever produced, including the ever-popular 54 and the legendary 31. In October of 1998, one of the world's foremost motor yacht manufacturers, Ferretti S.P.A., purchased Bertram with the intent to expound on Bertram's stellar reputation in the fishing community.

True to its racing heritage, Bertram continues to focus on seakeeping abilities and its well-known ride. "While our boats were always known for their ability to shine under real-world conditions, our partnership with Ferretti only increased our commitment to performance. Our deep-V design combined with the work of our engineering teams at Ferretti and here at Bertram, result in a great-riding hull," says Joe Bubenzer, president and chief operating officer. "We thoroughly computer model all of our hull designs under both static and dynamic conditions to see what will happen when waves come up against the hull from all quarters."

At a Glance: -Smooth, dry ride in rough weather -Built solid to last -Stable fishing platform

"In terms of speed, our hulls are very competitive, but again, we like to focus on our ride and performance when things get bumpy — a Bertram is almost always going to be faster in a rough sea. You might see a few boats with published top-end speeds greater than ours, but it's the speed and ride that your boat provides under tournament conditions that really matters," says Bubenzer.

Ferretti's purchase also brought another interesting innovation to the Bertram line, the Anti-Rolling Gyro (ARG) system. "The ARG is really a revolutionary advance in boating comfort," says Bubenzer. "The self-contained gyroscopic stabilizer dampens roll at anchor or at slow speeds without the use of external fins. It dramatically changes the movement of the boat and makes the boating experience much more pleasurable for those susceptible to motion sickness."

In all likelihood, the words 'built like a tank' were probably first uttered over the hull of a Bertram Yacht. "We've always been very conservative when it comes to our construction," says Bubenzer. "We overbuild our boats because we prefer to err on the side of structural integrity. You won't find any wood below the waterline on a Bertram hull. I like to say that we use a "durability-based engineering approach."

For more information, contact Bertram Yachts of Miami, Florida, at 305-633-8011, or visit www.bertram.com.

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