Bertram 32

[littlenige]

So, here´s another topic up for discussion! How many Bertram 32 competitions were produced? I´m thinking along the lines of Mona Lou, Mongoose (?), Canadian Moppie, Red Tornado etc.

And apart from the outboard powered 32 that I recently saw on another thread, were there any other different engine configurations to the twin petrol inboard (of which I think all were one engine behind and one engine forward of the crew)?? Although having said that I now recall that in the UK there was a racer called McQueen´s Jeans which was twin diesel power!

And were any hulls produced that utilised stern drives as opposed to shafts??

Marco - Pictures??!

[dammmagnum]

Hello Littlenige,

Check with Phil M on here, he had one in the early 70s he put a teak deck on it, if i remember correctly?

Thank you
Jim

[Black Tornado]

Nigel,the Bertram was 31' not 32'.
However that 31'of 1967(because the first Bertram was in the same lenght)was one of the first Bertram not designed by Raymond Hunt but the new designer R.Specht. I think was builded about ten boats,between 1967-70.
The first was My Moppie of Dick Bertram with #8 and was with the props axles with a reversing system. In the same year appeared the Peter Rittmaster's Master Moppie,#15 and the Sternwinder of Bill Sirois with # 90.
In 1968 raced the new Ronda Lee and Mona Lou IV of Odell Lewis,the Bobby Rautbord's Patty Lou,then Fino with #18.
After the loss of him Magnum 28' Tornado at the CTC of 1968,Balestrieri bought the Sternwinder,renamed Yellow Tornado #90 and #4.
In 1969 appeared the Bill Wishnick's Boss O'Nova,#23 that was the former Mona Lou IV of Lewis. Then the two 31' of the Tornado Racing Team of Cosentino e Balestrieri,Red Tornado #4 and the White Tornado #89. One of the two was the former Sternwinder-Yellow Tornado(I think the White Tornado). In 1970 the last 31'; the only with 4 Mercury outboards of Doug Silvera,Quicksilver # 303 and the Maelstrom #8 of Eddie Le Carreaux. There was the first boat of the young Italian driver Ronny Bonelli that bought from Rittmaster the American Moppie former Master Moppie. It was renamed Mister Charlie #69.
In 1972 appeared the Canadian Moppie #123 of Tim Powell and Miss WD-04,#5, of the German Oskar Trost that bought it from Bobby Rautbord.
There was the Mongoose of Betty Cook,her first Open boat,like you have wrote. It had a advanced cockpit but I don't know if was a former other 31'.
From 1968 the Bertrams 31' had their transom changed to guest the stern drives.

That's it all I know about.

[Top Banana]

Here is a shot of Bill Wishnick's Boss o Nova.


www.historicraceboats.com

[Top Banana]

And another high flyer. One of the famous Tornado boats.

More of these on the site.

www.historicraceboats.com

[Top Banana]

Here is a rare outboard powered Bertram.

www.historicraceboats.com

[Black Tornado]

Originally Posted by Top Banana

And another high flyer. One of the famous Tornado boats.

More of these on the site.

www.historicraceboats.com

Many thanks Charlie!
Note the #90 and the name Sternwinder on the transom of the former owner Bill Sirois. This pic was taken during the iami-Nassau of 1968. In the next race,the Hennessy-Key West,Don Pruett brought to the victory the same Bertram,but carring the Balestrieri's traditional #4.

Here another shot but in colour in that Miami-Nassau. On left Don Pruett Balestrieri's throttleman in 1967-69.

[Black Tornado]

Originally Posted by Top Banana

Here is a rare outboard powered Bertram.

www.historicraceboats.com

Quicksilver I think was the only Bertram 31' equipped with outboards engines. Doug Silvera brought it to the victory in the Bahamas 500 of 1970.
It was the most important overall victory in a offshore race for a outboard boat in the history.

[Black Tornado]

Originally Posted by Top Banana

Here is a shot of Bill Wishnick's Boss o Nova.


www.historicraceboats.com

The famous Boss O'Nova, of Wishnick was the most winner Bertram 31'; seven race won between 1969 and 1970.
Then in 1971 Wishnick went to the Cigarette to win the World Title.

[Black Tornado]

Here the first Peter Rittmastr's Master Moppie of 1967. Note the props axles. The engines was two afterward the cockpit with the gear boxes looking forward and a reverse system under the cockpit.
I think that maybe it bacame the Tim Powell's Canadian Moppie.