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Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board
Re: Flybridge Cruiser conv.
Posted By: Capt Patrick McCrary In Response To: Re: Flybridge Cruiser conv. (Craig)
Date: Thursday, 8 June 2006, at 2:35 p.m.
Craig,
Just depends on the vintage of your B31 FBC...
In the early years there was only one set of tooling that all B31s were molded from. That tooling was the Sportfish design with heavy glassed and arched pilasters. That construction design was needed for the Sportfish to make the house top/bridge stable without a bulk head.
In later years, (don't know which year it started), another set of tooling was designed specifically for the FBC which allowed for a pocket in each upper outboard corner. That pocket was there so that the bulkhead could be fitted and screwed into it. Less glass was used in the layup of the pilaster since the pocketed bulkhead would carry much of the bridge load and also stiffen it up from lateral sway.
A "true" FBC with the pocketed bulkhead will be far more flexible without that bulkhead than is the "true" Sportfish design.
I think that the change over came in the late '60s or early '70s, but you will know what your's is just looking at the configuration. Some of early "true" FBC have a cosmetic cowling screwed in the corners to hide the pocket. A short time later Bertram did away with the cowling.
If you's is in the "true" FBC group & you deside to remove the bulkhead, you'll probably need to glass in the pocket and add more glass to the inside of the pilasters for strength.
Br,
Patrick
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