A unique cruiser fully restored but needing internal fitting out.
Paper Tiger is a 1963 Bertram 25, she was a successful entrant in the COWES-TORQUAY Powerboat race in the early to mid 60’s and was raced by Charles de Selincourt.
She has been totally restored by current owner and Bertram specialist Ian Saunders to the highest specification. Originally powered by a Mercruiser she now has an economical Yanmar Diesel and like all Bertram’s is an excellent seaboat.
Originally finished in a yellow gel coat she has now been totally refinished using premium quality HEMPEL products in a unique white and ice blue finish.
Paper Tiger is a very attractive, unique and classic 2 berth cruiser which will turn heads in every port.
For full details please contact the vendor on 07771935202 or email [email protected]
]]>It was on August Bank Holiday 1964 that a battle royal was played out in the Cowes-Torquay Powerboat Race between Dick Bertram and the Brothers Gardner both driving race prepped Bertram 31 hulls. Bertram had motored up through the French Canal system with his family on board after competing in Italy and Europe to take part in the race. The Gardner’s had upgraded their previous Bertram 25 “Scorpion” to the new 31 footer “Surfrider” which had the same engines as Bertram’s boat.
LUCKY MOPPIE
In a flat calm race at speeds averaging near 50 mph for the race Bertram’s “Lucky Moppie” and “Surfrider” swopped the lead many times between Cowes and the finish in Torquay with Dick Bertram taking the initial lead after the start. The climax of the race was played out in front of the thousands of spectators gathered at the finish when both boats entered Torbay with literally yards between them. Bertram opened the throttles as far as he could in an effort to shake of Surfrider and it looked like the white Bertram 31 would defeat the pale blue sister boat scoring a first win for the USA in this now legendary race. As he crossed the line it suddenly dawned on him when he heard no gun that he was the wrong side of the buoy… but it was too late and Surfrider swept past the desperately circling Bertram to take the Beaverbrook Trophy.
SURFRIDER
The following year the Gardner’s were back with the now renowned Surfury and little was known of what happened to Surfrider… but now thanks to the marvels of the internet some more information has surfaced. It transpires that she was sold to American racer Bob Nordskog, as per this post on the Bertram 31 website…
“According to the book “Searace” by John Crouse, the 1964 Cowes-Torquay powerboat race on August 15, 1964, was won by the Bertram 31 “Surfrider” powered by twin 400 HP turbo-charged Daytona engines. It was owned/driven by Englishmen Charles and James Gardner who were identified as “friends and customers of Dick Bertram”. Dick Bertram finished second in his 31 “Lucky Moppie” (he crossed the finish line first, but passed on the wrong side of the finish boat). Bob Nordskog (publisher of Powerboat Magazine) bought Surfrider and raced it to a 2nd in the ’66 Long Beach-San Francisco race and a 3rd in the ’67 Catalina Challenge. That’s the last reference I could find on Surfrider in Crouse’s comprehensive book on the history of offshore powerboat racing”…
But what is even more interesting is the previous post…
This was posted over on the 25bertram site.
Is it a Bert??
Thanks
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/983208985.html
Unfortunately the link is long since gone but the first part of the reply was this…
Captbone,
That boat was on Yachtworld 8-10 years ago with about a dozen good photos. Best I could tell it is one of the Bertram 31s that was built by the factory specifically to compete on the ocean racing circuit.
Now bearing in mind these posting were made in 2009 it must be presumed that in 2000/1 Surfury was still around…
But then.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/983208985.html
That’s funny, this listing has just expired. Wonder if it sold?
This is where the detective work has to begin and it highlights the fact that dotted around the world must be many of the craft that took part in these early races and most, probably looking for a good home! I have tracked down one very grainy picture of her in the 1966 race Long Beach to SF but am hoping the Nordskog family may have a picture of her in her USA spec! I am also hoping that Ian Saunders who owns and restored the 25ft Bertram raceboat “Paper Tiger” may be able, through his American contacts to track her down. It would be good to know if she is still around for as now we all know early race boats with history, are as rare as hens teeth!.
The Story of the 31
The Bertram 31 was a development of “Moppie” a prototype wooden Ray Hunt 30 footer designed for Dick Bertram to race in the Miami Nassau, that led to the 1961 31ft Glass Moppie raced by Sam Griffith and with the famous race no 88. Max Aitken bought Glass Moppie had a cabin fitted by Bruce Campbell’s yard and she was raced the following year. Glass Moppie was replaced by the new 31ft “Blue Moppie” also no 88 and raced again by Sam Griffith, her hull currently resides at Universal Marine Hamble awaiting restoration. Blue Moppie finished 2nd to Tramontana in 1962 and was then raced by Kieth Schellenberg in 63/64 using twin Ford Galaxy engines totalling 800hp.
Glass Moppie at Bruce Campbell’s yard in 1961 prior to the first race
Glass Moppie with cabin in 1962
The Bertram yard were represented in the 1963 season by Jim Wynn in the 25ft YOYO 2 and many privateers with their 31’s but 64 was to be an all out attack on races worldwide.
BLUE MOPPIE
The Bertram yard in Miami built a series of “Ocean Racers” for the 1964 season, all carrying sequential double no’s
These were;
LUCKY MOPPIE No 77 Stateside and No 11 for the European circuit
SURFRIDER No 66 winner of the ’64 Cowes Torquay but disqualified in the April running of the Miami Nassau.
Both the above ran Daytona engines totalling 760hp later 800hp.
RUM RUNNER No 99 was raced by Harold Abbott and ran twin Holman Moody Fords totalling a whopping 1042hp, she won the ‘64 Miami Nassau in 4hrs 54mins beating Lucky Moppie
The last boat was No 88 SWIFTWATER also powered by HM Fords totalling 700hp.
All the hulls were identical as were the forward cuddy cabins but all differed as to steering positions, rear layouts and of course engine spec…it was one of the Bertram Yards most successful seasons especially with wins in the 2 most famous races.
LUCKY MOPPIE 2nd in the Miami Nassau 1964
RUM RUNNER Winner 1964 Miami Nassau
The Bertram 31 was built like a tank and the hulls are renowned for their sea keeping qualities, they became and still are a sought after make thanks to these race victories and several of the cruisers themselves were raced in the Cowes-Torquay namely,
ULTRA VIOLET, CHASSEUR, DAMIAN 3 and with special cabin THUNDERSTREAK.
Talking of survivors Ultra Violet is now in the Channel Islands, she apparently suffered a large crack in her hull after being damaged when driven onto a breakwater by a storm. Due to the inbuilt strength of the hull apparently the repairs were fairly straightforward and she was, when last heard of being restored in 2010.
As to the whereabouts of Barrie Heath’s “Chausseur” and Dennis
Thunderstreak 1964
THUNDERSTREAK
Miller’s “Damian 3” they could be anywhere and Tommy Sopwith’s “Thunderstreak”? in 2011 she was found languishing in Galleons Marina east London with a hideous cabin and wheelhouse atop her magnificent hull seeking a buyer after being seized for non payment of dues.
CHASSEUR
ULTRA VIOLET
If the American historic powerboat enthusiasts are anything to go by “Surfrider” will have been saved but will they be aware of her history and more importantly will she have escaped the addition of a cabin thus losing her identity altogether! It would be good to know the situation. Perhaps someone out there can put us out of our misery! Please…
An interesting footnote is that all Bertram 31 Raceboats in the early years bar 2 carried double numbers ie 11, 33, 44, 77, 88, 99 anyone know why? but the exception is THUNDERSTREAK number 40 or 400 and Chasseur 69
17/4/12
Mike James
Commodore/Historian
COPC
In 1961 the first Cowes Torquay Powerboat race featured 4 boats from the Bruce Campbell yard at Hamble they were Thunderbolt no 3 the eventual winner, Christina no 6, Campbell’s own boat Coralie no 4 and Contango A no 5 driven by P.Raymond.
Contango A – 1961
Of those four boats, 2 are missing Coralie and Christina, which was last heard of on the east coast.
Thunderbolt is now fully restored and now Contango A is up for sale.
75% RESTORED she is now looking for a new owner who can complete her revival.
She is a Mark V hull which was redesigned for Campbell by Ray Hunt. The cold moulded hull was built by Walter Lawrence Ltd using the same techniques as they used for the Mosquito fighter plane bodies and finished in Campbell’s yard on the Hamble.
Carrying race no 5 she was originally powered by 2 Palmer engines totalling 270hp then in 1963 with race no 29 was converted to stern drive using the then new and successful Volvo Penta engines totalling 170 hp.
Although she was not as successful as her sister hulls she is still never the less a very important part of the history of this race being one of the very few boats still surviving that raced in 1961.
Current photographs will be supplied soon
Works carried out are as follows:
- Hull stripped and rotten wood replaced where necessary.
- Top half of transom replaced.
- New cabin sides and top.
- New cockpit coamings.
- New capping rails etc in mahogany (varnished but not fitted).
- Hull professionally repainted in original black enamel finish.
- All upholstery re-upholstered in red with white piping.
Specification:
- Twin Volvo AQ145a 4 cylinder petrol engines with 280 legs.
- Long range fuel tanks.
- Separate heads compartment.
- Anchor and chain.
- Fenders.
- Mooring lines.
- Compass and sounder.
- Full spray hood and cockpit cover.
- Four wheel road trailer.
I have not worked on her for four years, and she has been stored under cover (barn) during this time. However the hull was painted two years ago. The engines were turned over last year. The outdrive legs are removed. A new mahogany deck/cover strip for the top of the transom has been made and shaped to fit. She currently looks rather sad, and I will endeavour to smarten her up before any one comes to view. Windows have been stripped ready for re-build. I have the period navigation lights, and also a new set of original engine controls. She also has her original “Blue Book”.
Initial enquiries should be sent to: Richard Rance at [email protected]
Price will be circa £18,000 or sensible offers
