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This is our new project boat - a Bertram 31'

November 2016 - On the 4th November we had 2 Deep Sea Fishing Charters booked, so we knew we were on a deadline which was a great incentive for us to get finished. Joanna and Billy were booked on our morning charter and had a great Wahoo catch weighing in at 32lbs! In the afternoon we had our Honeymoon couple Brandy & Justin who had a strike of 2 BIG Barracuda and a small Bonito Tuna, which Justin named JAWS!! All in all 2 awesome charters with lovely guests who I believe had a fabulous time with Leroy and Theo. So that pretty much wraps up our Bertram 31 refurb, and Leroy & I cant say were not happy about that. Its been a long, hard 3 years, but as you can see was so worth it in the end. THANK YOU everyone for all your hard work, help and patience throughout the process. Tight Lines Captain Leroy… lets' go catch us some fish!!!
November 2016 - Early November we were putting on the finishing touches, started up and aligned the engines, put on the outriggers, the vent covers, had the boat licensed by ADOMS & Antigua Fisheries to be able to charter, Colin did his finishing touches with the teak work and engine covers and Amy put her feminine touch on the vessel. We are ready to go on our first charter!!
October 2016 - The 22nd October saw Eddie & his boys roll in with the crane and Aubrey with the Trailer, ready to move Mystic Amara III to Jolly Harbour. Although all these guys know exactly what there doing, there is nothing more nerve wracking than seeing your boat hoisted up into the air hanging from the crane!! Once she was secure on the trailer it was time to take her to Jolly Harbor for the finishing touches before we launch her. Our garden now looks very empty.
October 2016 - The 22nd October saw Eddie & his boys roll in with the crane and Aubrey with the Trailer, ready to move Mystic Amara III to Jolly Harbour. Although all these guys know exactly what there doing, there is nothing more nerve wracking than seeing your boat hoisted up into the air hanging from the crane!! Once she was secure on the trailer it was time to take her to Jolly Harbor for the finishing touches before we launch her. Our garden now looks very empty.
October 2016 – October was a very busy month for us, the boat bottom was primed and painted by Lee & Colin. We also had the engine beds made by Trevor Edwards out of English Harbor. Making the engine beds was a long process, and a lot of adjustments and proper lining up was to be done. Once that was complete, Ivan & Tyrese spent some time making sure everything was ok for us to be able to launch the boat, everything being tightened, secure and safe.
October 2016 – So the 3rd October saw the refurbished engines go in the Bertram. Everything went just to plan thanks to Ivan at Xtreme Marine along with his assistant Tyrese. Dwayne brought the engines to the house for us, and CC with his exceptional Crane skills expertly put the engines in the boat for us. This week will see the engine beds made and then the real lining up of the engines will begin. After that, we will hook them up and hopefully soon will be in business.
September 2016 - September has seen us doing a lot of the finishing touches on the project at the same tie the engines are being refurbished and are almost ready to be brought up to the boat for the beds to be made! The engine vents that arrived back in August have been installed and look great - loads of ventilation for the engines.
Abu - the owner of Caribbean Marine Painting, and his team who fitted the fish box, deck panels, vents and sprayed over the boat for us. Great guys, fantastic to work with and very easy going - nothing is ever too much trouble for them. You can check out their services here: http://www.caribbeanhighlights.com/marine-painting/default.htm
We fit all our cushions on the engine boxes and the cabin seat - they all look great - thanks Rachel Wood!! Again another provider that does an excellent job. Rachel makes everything for our boat, from cushions, to Bimini covers to drop-downs - she’s fantastic!! Also the future Captain Kai looking very comfortable
Check out the custom painted name & logo!!!!!! Guava De Artist, Antigua's own Self taught professional Artist and Cartoonist created this just for us - and we love it. You can check out his work at www.thocshop.com
Colin who has done the majority of the wood & teak work on the boat for us has come back to help Lee mount the fighting chair base on the deck, as well as the seat upstairs, some further teak work and sealing of the side panels on the deck - Colin is a great guy to work with and his detailing is great..
August 2016 – Thursday 18th August 2016 marked the end of an era for the team at Mystic Amara II. She was hauled out in the Marina in Jolly Harbour and her engines removed for overhaul. We would like to thank our Marine Technician Ivan De Souza from Xtreme Marine who has been with us every step of this journey, we thank you for your advice, patience and hard work to get us to the stage we are at now. http://xtrememarineantigua.com / We would like to thank our guests who chose us for their charter, we have made many great friends and just as many amazing memories over the last 5 years - its been awesome!! Now its time to get these 2 work horses cleaned up, new parts ordered and ready for their new home in the Bertram 31.
August 2016 – August has been a busy month for us so far. The fish box has been glassed into the stern and is looking great - special thanks to Abu from Caribbean Marine Painting, his team are so professional and always do a great job. They have also cut off the excess drain holes from the deck and the fish box and have glassed over the large holes cut for the installation. Its been sanded and will be primed and the painting left until everything else is complete. Our 4 blade Propellers arrived along with the engine air vents which will be installed this month too.
June 2016 – Our enclosure is complete and has been installed on the boat - no more getting wet for Captain Leroy! Many thanks to Franklyn & A & F Sails who completed this is just 4 days for us - thank you - its perfect!!
June 2016 - Our tower enclosure is complete and has been installed on the boat. Also the completion of running the fuel lines has finished.
June 2016 - The RUPP Outriggers arrived and we had the very willing help of Big John & Sean to get them put together. The tower had to go back on so they made sure everything was lined up just perfect for the installation. We ran into a little problem with one piece, so RUPP have kindly sent a replacement by FedEx so hopefully it will be here soon to finish the 2nd Outrigger. A & F Sails came out to measure up and take the template for the enclosure for the tower, so hopefully that will be installed this month too. Onwards and upwards!
May 2016 - Installation of the platform. From this picture you can see all the gauges have been installed along with the gear/throttle shift. All the harnesses have been run and the electrical side of things is going to be taking place very soon. The props have been ordered as well as the louvered vents. Count down to September is on...
April 2016 - Ordered and received all our BERTRAM 31 logos and emblems.
March 2016 - Installation of the rod holders.
February 2016 - The new oversized rudders along with the struts are installed.
December 2015 - and then we decide to move house! We had to rent a HUGE crane to lift the boat out of the yard and place it onto a trailer. The tower was removed to avoid pulling down electrical wires and we trailered her to the new house. The crane followed us to lift her up and place her down on chocks in the new yard for the final 9 months of work be completed. It was a very nerve wracking time seeing her being lifted so high with the crane, but the guys were awesome and everything went to plan...let the final works commence!!
August 2015 - Arrival of the fish box.
May 2015 - Installation of the tower taking place, and it fit perfectly!
March 2015 - Having received one of our main shipments, the deck, we start to assemble and put it all in place and make all the necessary adjustments for it to end up being fiberglassed in place. Really starting to take shape now!
March 2015 - We have now placed the order of our Fish Box with Cabreras, so that will be the final shipment from them.
March 2015
March 2015
February 2015 - We were sent pictures of the Tower we are having custom built by GlassTech Corporation, Specialists for Bertram in Miami Florida (GlassTech Is A World Leader In Yacht Restoration And Customization With Over 50 Years Of Industry Experience. Get The Confidence You Need In Open Water). Once it arrives in Antigua, we will have an enclosure locally made.
March 2015 - Set 1 - The arrival of our entire deck, fiberglass fuel tank and the tower. I was really not expecting all the heavy machinery that went along with this. It took over 3 hours to get it all from the port to our home as the tower was so high on the truck that they were having to lift power lines up and over the top of the box so they weren’t pulled down! A journey that would take no more than 30 minutes by car!. But its all here and its all perfect which is all that matters.
January 2015 - All the teak paneling is staring to go in now as well as all surfaces have been painted with non skid paint. The rudder shelf has been built and fiberglassed into the hull and the pulpit has been made and installed on the bow which will give the boat an additional 2 feet in length.
November 2014 - Beautiful Korean counter tops have been installed on the bathroom sink as well as the outside sink - next go on the taps and the cupboard doors.
October 2014 - The paint job on the boat is looking great.
October 2014 - The aftermath of Hurricane Gonzalo - thank goodness that boat was ok, just the shed we need to fix up. The winds were so strong that it blew our gate open, which was really stiff. We went and checked on the Phoenix in Jolly Harbour and all was well, except our Bimini Top was destroyed. No one was expecting the strength of this storm, it was supposed to pass us as a Tropical Storm, not a Hurricane. We won’t get caught out like that again!
October 2014 - The bathroom door is now on and the cupboard is complete - we will next install the sinks and the Korean counter tops. The deck structure support will soon be fiberglassed into place.
September 2014 - The roof has now been installed on the inside of the boat and she has received a spray job inside. The v-berth is also complete. We have also received the custom built deck support built by Cabrara Yacht Corporation in Miami, Florida (They have developed high quality kits for the BERTRAM 31, and manufacture an assortment of high end fiberglass products. They will refit your yacht to factory specs or customize it to fit your vision of perfection) Next to come will be the entire deck, engine box covers and step-down into the cabin!
August 2014 - part 1 - We were not happy with the finish on the enclosed windscreen area so we had it sanded off again and resprayed and its now looking great!
August 2014 - part 2 - The seats and the bathroom are now being built inside as well as new flooring being laid.
July 2014: The first coats of paint have been applied and the windows have been cut in place. She’s starting to look beautiful.
May 2014: The bulkheads have been built inside that boat and a lot more sanding and filling work is taking place to ensure a smooth finish on the paintwork.
April 2014: The original windscreen has been removed and completely enclosed in with a fiberglass front. The new windows have been cut out and the boat primed ready to be painted..
December 2013: Putting a coat of primer on the inside after everything has been cleaned out and smoothed over.
November 2013: Starting to clean up the inside, removing any bits that are not necessary..
October 2013: In her present state she needs a lot of work doing and we plan to have everything completely transformed within 3 years - she will become Mystic Amara III.