Bertram

Beloved by big-game anglers around the world, Bertram builds composite luxury performance yachts from 15.5 to 25 metres that are designed for fishing, but double as comfortable offshore cruisers (hence the term “Convertible”).

History

In 1960, Miami businessman Richard Bertram commissioned a race boat designed by naval architect C. Raymond Hunt. The 9.4-meter powerboat, Moppie, sported a radical, deep-V hull, developed by Hunt. Bertram entered Moppie in the Miami-Nassau Race and – in the worst conditions the history of the race – won the event handily, breaking the course record by four minutes. The next year, he created a hull mold for the Bertram 31, based on the first Moppie, and began building the boat in fiberglass. He launched the Bertram shipyard in Miami in 1962.

In 1977, the shipyard began building bigger luxury sportfishing yachts with the Bertram 58 Convertible. The Bertram 72 Convertible became the flagship of the fleet in 1989. Bertram was acquired by Italy’s Ferretti Group yacht-building corporation in 1998, and remains its only American brand.

Notable Yachts

In 1981, the shipyard launched its original Bertram 54 Convertible model. When it debuted, the 16.45-metre luxury yacht was heralded as an “iconic” sportfisher. The largest Bertram ever launched is the 25-metre Bertram 80, which was introduced in 2010. This flagship model features four ensuite staterooms, but an optional layout with a forward crew cabin also is available.

Specialisations

Now located in Merritt Island, Florida, Bertram’s main focus is on designing and building the brand’s composite, luxury performance yacht models ranging up to 25 metres in length. Bertram also supports a worldwide dealer network, which provides sales and service to its customers.