Bertram Defies High Seas - Bertram - #1

Text version of the page

53 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22,2005

BOATING

MOTORING THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

Bertram star defies high seas

BOATING

BARRY WISEMAN

ASSOCIATE

BOATING EDITOR

A wall of green foaming sea water

towered amidships as the Bertram

670E powered into a 5m swell off the

Bouvard Reef south of Mandurah.

It was the first taste of West

Australian offshore conditions for this

flagship of the American fleet.

Only two days earlier, it had made

a "wedding bride-style" late arrival

at the Mandurah Boat Show, which if

you didn't know better, could have

been argued as a well-planned

publicity stunt.

Where was this $5-million star

attraction brought to Australia by

Perth-based agent Eagle Yachts?

It was the victim of our own

unseasonably stormy seas — delayed

as its piggy-back freighter

experienced port delays and battled

rough conditions through the

Australian Bight to Fremantle.

The ship did not dock until 6pm

on the day the show opened, the 670E

still cocooned in its plastic wrap.

It was a fantastic effort by

Bertram, Eagle Yachts and the local

~ boat detailing staff to have it fuelled

up and alongside in Mandurah the

next morning in time for the Saturday

crowds. Opposition representatives

from major overseas and Australian

brands expressed their

congratulations.

Now, a little over 48 hours later

and standing at the controls in the

luxuriously appointed enclosed

flybridge, our speed was deceiving as

it took vengeance and got its own

back on our fickle Indian Ocean

conditions.

"We don't get these big swells

coming through back home (Miami,

. Florida) but the short chop is very

similar," Bertram product

development supervisor Jose Millan

said, as we powered south outside the

Mandurah heads.

Opening the throttle with the

slightest effort, the 670,s bow sliced

through the rising seas and reached a

top speed of 38 knots, registering

only 2350rpm on the twin MTU 6V

2000 diesel motors below decks. The

steering was direct and responsive,

with the distinctive whistle from the

turbos kicking in at 1700 revs.

Depending on the speed

demanded, one will cut out as a fuel-

saving move.

Bracing the knees for an expected

heavy thump and shudder that never

arrived, we parted wave after wave in

a soft rolling fashion — much to the

relief of this ageing body.

"We have a really prominent keel

with the highest section just forward

of the propellers," Millan said.

"Together with the wide chines,

we are able to get the boat on to the

plane very quickly and give us a good

footing on the water. We have given

the boat a soft roll instead of a light,

snappy motion which is

uncomfortable."

It wasn't until I left the controls at

the helm (and my beautiful leather

gas-powered seat) in the cockpit

mezzanine and ventured down the

richly timbered staircase to the saloon

and beyond out on to the 18sqm rear

deck that I realised how much power

this beast has.

Foaming walls of water, 3-4m

high, towered above my head as I

braced against the side walls. The

height of this vessel above the

waterline is nearly 6m and the parting

waters reached two-thirds up the

sides. Back inside the saloon and

galley, you again lose that sensation of

speed Walking about was easy as it

gently rolled side to side.

Genuine cherry wood features

throughout the vessel and the design

team from Zuccon International

worked with Bertram and engineers

from the parent company, Italy's

Ferretti Group, to maximise both

interior space and, more importantly,

the structural strength of the yacht.

The 670 requires fewer separate

parts and uses heavy bonding of all

latitudinal and longitudinal stringer

components with bulkheads, flooring

and furniture giving it increased

strength.

Some would say it is "overbuilt".

The company says it is "Bertram

built".

Certainly on the test day, with the

big swell running off the west coast,

there was no shuddering or

screeching noises often experienced

when battling big seas.

As you would expect, the living

and sleeping quarters are luxuriously

appointed yet this 670E is based on

the open flybridge sports fishing

model seen on the US gamefishing

scene.

The owner of the vessel reviewed

plans to cruise WA's extensive

coastline so he selected the enclosed

model, opting out of the game chair

and marlin board. However, the

interior design and quality are the

Finally at its Mandurah berth, the 670E Bertram flagship goes on public view for the first time in Australia.

LOWDOWN

BERTRAM 670E

PRICE: $5.1 million as tested

(base model $4.2 million)

LENGTH: 21.8m

BEAM: 5.7m

FUEL: 7600 litres

AGENT: Eagle Yachts,

181 St Georges Tee,

Perth

PHONE: 9429 3480 or

Steve Hill on

0410569102

same. When Ferretti took over

Bertram, the company stipulated that

the key elements of its boats—that

is, the "fishability"—must not be

sacrificed while Ferretti gave owners

the luxury of a cruising yacht.

"The unique, robustly built, deep

Above left

Bertram product

development

supervisor Jose

Millan in the

engine room.

Above right The

670E's pilot

station is roomy

and luxurious.

Right Genuine

cherry wood

features in the

saloon area.

V-shaped hull is much the same, with

the addition of changes to the keel,

wide chines and tunnels to deliver

clean water to the props," Millan said

as we headed back to the marina.

"We have been able to marry

the interior styling and the

public has responded really nicely. "

Eagle Yachts, a wholly owned

subsidiary of the Sarich family's Cape

Bouvard Investments property

group, plans to bring into Australia

an extensive range of Bertrams over

the next 12 months.