1986 41' Viking vs 1986 42' Bertrum

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MikeRusso

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I have been considering the purchase of either a 41' 1986 Viking Convertible or a 42' 1986 Bertrum. The boats are about the same price, with varying degrees of work to be done to each.
Is there a "better" boat, from a seas standpoint between the Viking and Bertrum.
We are almost always under 2'-4' sea conditions, and often 3'-5' seas-by manufacturer, is one boat significantly better handling under these conditions?

Thanks for any input.

Mike in Hiton Head
 
My vote would be for the Berty over the Viking in the roughest conditions.

What is the difference in weight between the 2 boats?

Jonathan
 
Viking is a Very good boat
Bertram is a very very good boat
 
There both very good boats for rough sea conditions. My choice would be the Bertrum due to its great retail advantage.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Robyns Nest

My vote would be for the Berty over the Viking in the roughest conditions.

What is the difference in weight between the 2 boats?

Jonathan

Click to expand...


Hey Jonathan,

The Bertrum weighs 7200 lbs more than the Viking.

Mike
 
quote:
Originally posted by Al_Prisco

There both very good boats for rough sea conditions. My choice would be the Bertrum due to its great retail advantage.

Click to expand...


Al,

Are you leaning toward the Bertrum strictly for its ability to hold its value, or is its performance vs the Viking also a factor.

Mike
 
Mike,

7200# difference tells the story to me on which will be the better ride in rough seas.

Both are good boats.

How do you intend to use the boat? Fishing offshore?

I sea trialed a 41 Viking a few years ago, to me it was a wet ride. Never seatrialed the 42' so hard for me to compare.

Jonathan
 
I'm obviously biased. From dock talk the Bert will be better in a big head sea or steep chop. I believe the Vike has a lot less dead rise. Both are built like a tank. Both will get you where you want to go. The Vike might be due for new fuel tanks. With diesel the Bert glass tank will be fine.
Truthfully, unless you are consistently going out to the canyons, then it should come down to condition, especially mechanical. Ask around on the docks which has the better engines & which can get serviced in your area easier.
Al
 
Jonathan,

The boat will be used primarily for fishing offshore, 10-30 miles out, with the occasional gulf stream trip and the occasional dive trip at about 20 miles out.

My son is also in the process of getting his six pack, so this boat could also be used for charters.

My current boat is a Grady-White 232 Gulfstream which handles 2-4's, but you do get beat up pretty bad heading out-its very comfortable returning with the following sea, but I'm getting too old to take the pounding!

Thanks again,

Mike
 
Mike, For its value for one. Also as Jonathan has stated a vessel with more weight will ride better in rough seas. The down side would be more fuel to burn. There both great boats and like Al says condition would have alot to do with it also. If you can. i would sea trial both of them and see what you think from there.
 
I don't know the Bert, but I am very happy with my Vike and a close friend is very happy with his 41 Vike ('89).

I can tell you that the Vike is a tank but does have a wet ride. It seems to throw alot of spray and with any kind of cross wind, the spray is coming back at you.

Subject to condition and survey results, I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.
 
Lobsta,

That Viking has built in fiberglass tanks if I'm not mistaken.
Mike,

What engines are in the Bert 6v92's?

The Viking should have 6-71's which might be the best 2 stroke motor even built by Detroit for a number of reasons. It probably has 485hp 6-71's which aren't the best model 6-71 in terms of longevity though, but overall the 6-71 is the best of breed for Detroit 2 strokes.

Ask around about the 6v92 625hp thousand hour wonders!!!!! Punched out 671/485 hp seem to hold up better/longer than the punched out 625/6v92's. Also rebuild cost should be cheaper with the 671 too.

You can de-tune either of these motors by taking pitch out of the prop without messing with injectors, etc...... You will loose speed but gain longevity.

The motors plus your personal preference to the features, finish, cabin layout/space are all factors to consider when making your decsion. I know the cabin windows on the 48' Viking of same vintage have had problems with leaking. Not sure about the 41 but the design is similar so I would think that problems would be the same, not sure about the Berts windows. They look like sliders and that can be a problem too. The Bert all has glass windows in the front of the salon??? Another consideration. Most if not all sportfish's today have taken forward glass windows out of the equation.

Jonathan
 
Al, I would love to test ride each boat-unfortunately you apparently have to have an accepted offer for the vessel in order to sea trial.

I feel uncomfortable negotiatiing a contract on 2 boats, but will probably have to do so due to the way the buy/sell game is being played. I do understand the sellers position, but it does make it difficult (at least ethically for me) to compare.

How do you all feel about the ethics issue?

Mike
 
mintregila, the wet ride you refer to...is this only in the cockpit, or are you referring to the helm?

We almost always have cross winds here, and that would be an important factor (at least to me).

Mike
 
Jonathan, the Bertram's are 6V92TA rated at 475HP, and the Viking's are 6-71TI rated at 450HP.

Both boat's engines have recent overhauls.

Mike
 
That's good Mike, both are ballz out on the HP rating.

The wet ride I experienced was at the helm. Riding with the eisenglass open was a bad idea that day!!!!

Which boat do you like deep down?

Jonathan
 
have you looked at the 41' hatt ? hard to consider a serous sportfish without at least looking at them... fiberglass tanks too, tru battlewagon ride although probably slower than a viking because of the weight and hull shape.

beware of recent overhaul/rebuilt. some people seem to have a very loose definition of "rebuilt".... look at the paperwork, needs to be detailed and make sure your engine surveyor confirms a real overhaul was done. on DD, it's easy to open the ports and borescope the cyl to check wear.

as to comparing rides, it's not easy. sure you can make an offer subject to sea trial and then back out of it because you don't like the ride... legal but not too ethical. if you're working with a broker he may be able to arrange something although it's not easy to compare different boats on different days conditions and depending on where you are, sea trial may not be done offshore.
 
Many have preferences, but both of these boats can handle 5 ft seas, almost equally. The way they are powered, either one might be faster on different days. It seems to me that the interiors are different enough that, given how similar the boats are performance wise (for your conditions) the interior would be the deciding factor. If you are considering future charter work, you may prefer the Bertram on the inside. The cockpit on the Bertram may be bigger - but that's just my guess.
 
The bow flare throws a lot of spray. My cockpit does not get excessively wet but with cross wind, I have to zip the front window closed or spray will reach the bridge. Boat can run pretty hard in sloppy conditions.
 
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