Bertram 28 Flybridge Cruiser
Built 1971–1994 by Bertram Yacht
About the Bertram 28 Flybridge Cruiser
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1971–1994
- Builder
- Bertram Yacht
- Length
- 28.5 ft
- Beam
- 11 ft
- Draft
- 2.67 ft
- Displacement
- 12,060 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- planing
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- varies by year
- Water
- 54 gal
- Holding
- 40 gal
- Bow thruster
- not fitted
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel varies by year
“in 1994 the fuel was increased to 240 gallons” — search excerpt (1994 on), hmy.com · “Fuel Tank: 185 US GAL” — search excerpt (1974 (one listing)), s3.amazonaws.comSources still disagree: roughly 185-195 gal on 1970s-80s boats and 240 gal on the last boats (the HMY powerboat guide dates the change to 1994). No factory brochure or owner's manual was found to fix the early figure or the changeover year.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
-
Steering unknown
“The 1981 Bertram 28 Flybridge Cruiser has Hynautic hydraulic steering and the original rudders.” — owners' association (1981), bertram31.com · “The Teleflex cable steering helm unit on my 28 flybridge cruiser is telling me that after 40 years its' life is about ov” — search excerpt, bertram31.comOwners on the Bertram owners' forum report Hynautic hydraulic steering on a 1981 boat and a Teleflex cable helm about 40 years old on another. Bertram's legacy library has no 28 Flybridge Cruiser manual (only the later, different 286 Bahia Mar), so which was original, or whether it changed by year, is unsettled.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on steering type — left blank rather than guessed.
Best-selling Bertram (over 2,800). Solid fiberglass deep-V (23 deg). 28 II from 1982, 28 III 1990-94. Fuel capacity changed during production (see the tank notes). Excellent engine access. Build count (approximate, not stored): HMY: over 2,800 built.
Engines fitted
-
MerCruiser 350 (Chevy 5.7L) gas inboard — 230 hp, gas, twin
standard
Standard until 1985 (19-20 knots cruise per HMY). A 1979 owner reports original twin MerCruiser/Chevy 350s rated 228 hp.Sources: hmy.com · justanswer.com
-
MerCruiser 260 gas inboard — 260 hp, gas, twin
standard
Standard from 1985 (21-22 knots cruise). Also used to repower older hulls, e.g. a 1975 boat with 1985 MerCruisers.Sources: hmy.com · dimillosyachtsales.com
-
Cummins 4BT 3.9M — 150 hp, diesel, twin
common repower
Several owners report repowering with twin Cummins 4BTs (150-155 hp).Sources: bertram31.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Known problems for this model
-
Fiberglass fuel tanks and ethanol fuel
BoatUS notes the original fiberglass fuel tanks are a problem with ethanol-blended gasoline.hmy.com
Engines & parts
MerCruiser 5.0 (305) / 5.7 (350) V8 gas parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “MerCruiser 350 (Chevy 5.7L) gas inboard”
GM small-block Chevrolet base engines, so internal parts are everywhere. Marine exhaust manifolds and risers for 1983–2002 small blocks are sold by many aftermarket makers (Sierra, Barr, Osco and others) through Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries and similar stores; Mercury sells genuine parts through dealers.
Parts sources: Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries
Common problems (2)
-
Manifold/riser failure and water in cylinders exhaust
Cast-iron manifolds and risers rust internally or their gaskets fail, letting water back into the cylinders; small amounts cause hard starting and rough running, large amounts hydrolock and wreck the engine. Service roughly every 7 years in fresh water and about 5 in salt.powerandmotoryacht.com · forums.iboats.com · justanswer.com
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Overheating from scaled manifolds cooling
Rust and scale inside the manifolds restrict cooling flow and cause overheating under load.powerandmotoryacht.com
Maker’s service schedule (8)
| Engine oil & filter change | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Most four-stroke outboards and sterndrive engines require an oil change either annually or every 100 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “The fuel filter on your engine should be inspected or replaced per the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, usua” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Raw-water pump impeller | 300 hrs or 3 yrs | “How often should my seawater pump impeller be serviced? Every 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 300 hrs or 3 yrs | “How often should spark plugs be changed? Every 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Coolant replacement & freeze-point test closed (freshwater) cooling only | 5 yrs | “How often should coolant be changed on engines with closed cooling? Every 5 years.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Transmission fluid change sterndrive gear lube | 1 yr | “Gearcase lubricant in outboard and sterndrive lower units should also be changed annually or at the service interval spe” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Lubricate steering linkage and check power-steering fluid sterndrive | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Mercury Marine recommends lubricating the steering linkage and checking the power steering fluid level in ... MerCruiser” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Check power trim fluid level sterndrive | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Power trim and tilt fluid level should be checked annually or every 100 hours.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
Service part numbers (6)
| Oil filter | Mercury Quicksilver 35-866340Q03 | “Part number: 866340Q03 ... for MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard engines except V6 engines with the oil filter mounted o” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com · “Includes: Oil Filter Oil Filter 866340Q03 Fuel Filter 802893Q01 ...” — dealer, midnightmarine.net |
| Fuel filter carbureted engines (Rochester 2-/4-barrel, MerCarb 2-barrel): filter inside carburetor fuel inlet |
Mercury 53336T | “For use on MerCruiser 3.0L, 4.3L, 5.0L , 5.7L and 7.4L engines with Rochester 2- and 4-barrel and MerCarb” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Fuel filter MPI engines with Gen III cool fuel module (filter page: 2004 and newer; kit page: 2002 and newer) |
Mercury Quicksilver 35-8M0093688 | “Fits 2004 and newer Mercury/MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard engines with Gen III (3) fuel cooler” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Bravo sterndrive and inboard engines with engine-mounted sea water pump (2-piece plastic pump per Mercury) |
Mercury Quicksilver 47-59362Q01 Also: Sierra 18-3087 |
“For MerCruiser engines with engine mounted, 2-piece, plastic sea water pumps.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com · “Water Pump Impeller 59362Q01” — dealer, midnightmarine.net |
| Thermostat standard cooling, 160 F |
Mercury Quicksilver 807252Q5 | “Thermostat 807252Q5 is for V6 and V8 MerCruiser engines ... made by General Motors (model year 1987-2016)” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| 100-hour maintenance kit (oil filter, fuel filter, drive seals) MPI engines with Gen III cool fuel module (2002 and newer) |
Mercury 8M0147053 | “Mercury 8M0147053 MerCruiser 5.0L, 5.7L, 6.2L, 8.1L and 8.2L V8 MPI ... 100 Hour Maintenance Kit” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Cummins 4BT 3.9 parts: good
Factory common repower engine — you entered “Cummins 4BT 3.9M”
Four-cylinder B-series engine shared with countless delivery vans and industrial uses, so base parts are available almost anywhere. TAD sells Cummins factory ReCon 4BT 3.9 marine packages; Seaboard Marine stocks 4BT marine parts.
Parts sources: Trans Atlantic Diesels (Cummins 4BT ReCon), Seaboard Marine
Common problems (2)
-
Rough idle vibration and mount fatigue engine
The 4BT is considered very reliable but shakes noticeably below about 900 rpm; good isolation mounts help, and mounts can fatigue or break over time.trawlerforum.com
-
Water in fuel damaging injectors fuel
Water or salt water getting into the fuel system corrodes the injection components, so filtration and water separation matter.justanswer.com
Service part numbers (1)
| Oil filter | Sources disagree: 3937743 / 3908616 | “| Oil Filter | 3937743 |” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Cummins Oil Filter 3908616 Spin-on type. 3.66" outside diameter, 5.35" height” — dealer, dieselpro.com |
| Raw-water impeller seawater pump with 1-1/4 in hose ports (Sherwood M70/M71 type) |
Sherwood 10615K | “Seawater Pump Impeller | **1-1/4" PORTS** 3908220 10615K” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Cummins Marine Water Pump Impeller 10615K 2 9/16" diameter, 1 5/8" length” — dealer, dieselpro.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (6)
hmy.com · bertram31.com · justanswer.com · dimillosyachtsales.com · bertram31.com · bertram31.com
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Other Bertram models
- Bertram 31 Flybridge Cruiser 1961–1983
- Bertram 33 Flybridge Cruiser 1977–1992
- Bertram 35 Convertible 1970–1986
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.