Hello from SC and the Bahamas!

Hello all. I'm brand new to the forum but not to boating. Twenty Six years ago I started preparing myself for a cruising future. I bought some property near the ICW in SC and built a dock and home (in that order) with a plan to retire and cruise 8 to 10 months a year. The land base was intended to be the home base for the boat and a place to stay attached to family.


The years brought many changes along with buying property in the Bahamas which is another base for the boat. I've enjoyed fishing, diving and exploring in smaller boats but never bought the cruiser/live aboard.


We are now at a point that I'm ready to start cruising. We are trying to decide on the right boat for our mission. We need a ocean capable long range vessel with a relatively shallow draft (5 to 6' maximum).


Hopefully we can get some great advice on this forum. Also if anyone is interested in traveling the southeast US, NC down to FL or the Bahamas, I've traveled over most of it and would be happy to offer any advice.

Welcome aboard. Have a lot fun doing the search for your new boat.

Comodave said:

Welcome aboard. Have a lot fun doing the search for your new boat.

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Thanks, we are focused on rehabing a couple of boats currently but I hope to cast my lines off by the end of the year.

Welcome!
You currently have one of the great boats. ? What will you do with it? Year?

Yachtman said:

Welcome!
You currently have one of the great boats. ? What will you do with it? Year?

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I'm working to get this old girl ready to fish. She is a 1969 Sportfish model with twin Volvo TAMD 60B diesels.


I've added a tower, electronic engine controls, and currently working on some sub deck fiberglass issues. Here is a photo

Greetings,
Welcome aboard.

Greetings, Ironworker. Good plan, and your thirty-one foot Bert is one of the handsomest power boats ever designed, IMO. They never fail to turn my head, and lots of others.

Based on your specifications, I think your next boat is for sale here:

https://www.mvmojo.com

I have zero connection to that boat or its seller - I just think that for anyone wanting to spend serious time offshore under power, it would be hard to beat.

Rick,
How long have you had the 31? Great Bahamas/island boat. Has the brow been glassed? I can stare at one all day.

Ironworker said:

I'm working to get this old girl ready to fish. She is a 1969 Sportfish model with twin Volvo TAMD 60B diesels.


I've added a tower, electronic engine controls, and currently working on some sub deck fiberglass issues. Here is a photo

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Nice lines! How about more photos?

Blissboat said:

Greetings, Ironworker. Good plan, and your thirty-one foot Bert is one of the handsomest power boats ever designed, IMO. They never fail to turn my head, and lots of others.

Based on your specifications, I think your next boat is for sale here:

https://www.mvmojo.com

I have zero connection to that boat or its seller - I just think that for anyone wanting to spend serious time offshore under power, it would be hard to beat.

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I checked Mojo is no longer on the market. Interesting boat though.

Yachtman said:

Rick,
How long have you had the 31? Great Bahamas/island boat. Has the brow been glassed? I can stare at one all day.

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Yes sir, the front has been glassed. I was given the boat by a great friend while it was in the midst of a 12 year rebuild project about 3 years ago. It finally wore him down. He didn't give up but gave it away! I got the boat in the water about 18 months ago. I've been slowly refinishing the boat. I'm getting close to getting the boat fishable.


This past weekend we ripped out a lot of old and rotted wood and below deck and will be installing coosa. The side panels have been removed so I can have room for gaffs, harpoons and boat hooks, etc.


I've added a tower, tuna door, swim platform and installed electronic palm beach style controls. Most importantly, we installed a 3 KW pocket mount transducer before we splashed her.


Stay tuned for more progress.

I’m jealous. I’ve been on many 31s and just been in love with them since day one. And I don’t fish! (I’m designated driver so the boys can have fluids!)

Yachtman said:

I’m jealous. I’ve been on many 31s and just been in love with them since day one. And I don’t fish! (I’m designated driver so the boys can have fluids!)

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Well you are only about 25 miles from my home near Juno Beach. As soon as I get her down there hopefully in early May you can be my designated driver for a Sword Fishing trip! That is if the old Volvo TAMD 60Bs will get here there!

Welcome. It's good to have more fisherman/cruisers on the forum to offset some of these damn ex-sailors (just kidding). I think I've seen you post on THT.


Beautiful Bertram.


What do you mean by ocean capable? Like crossing the Pacific or like capable of getting deep into the Caribbean?

Dougcole said:

What do you mean by ocean capable? Like crossing the Pacific or like capable of getting deep into the Caribbean?

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Well we are dreaming of a pacific crossing but the reality is my partner is mostly a Bahamas/Eastern Caribbean kind of gal.

Ironworker said:

Well you are only about 25 miles from my home near Juno Beach. As soon as I get her down there hopefully in early May you can be my designated driver for a Sword Fishing trip! That is if the old Volvo TAMD 60Bs will get here there!

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You’re on! ?