STORY & PHOTOS: DAVID GRANVILLE

One of the most exciting news releases at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May was that Western Australian-based Eagle Yachts has secured the exclusive dealership rights to sell the Bertram brand Australia-wide.

Eagle Yachts are not mucking around either with the company already placing $17 million worth of orders which will result in five new Bertram models including two of the flagship 670s hitting our shores by the end of 2005.

To ensure there is no confusion, it should be pointed out from the word go that Bertram has no association with the Australian-built Caribbean brand which is often referred to as Bertram boats in Australia. Indeed, there is only one Bertram brand currently under construction and that factory is based in Miami, Florida and is now owned by the Italian boatbuilding giant, the Ferretti Group.
Eagle Yachts is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sarich family's Cape Bouvard Investments, one of Australia's largest privately owned property investment and development companies. Eagle Yachts Chairman Peter Sarich expects to have taken delivery of the full Bertram line-up from the all-new 360 Express to the 670 Convertible by October 2006 with dealerships in Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast.

BIG AND FAST
The Bertram on display at Sanctuary Cove, and the subject of this review, was the 570 Convertible. With an LOA of 18.46m, beam of 5.1m and loaded displacement of more than 34 tonne, this boat is no toy. Add to this twin Cat C30 diesels at 1550hp a side and what you've got is a boat that turns heads wherever it goes.

The Bertram 570 is pretty typical of today's US-built sportsfishers: big and fast! If a boat won't do 30-plus knots, most American anglers won't even give it a second glance.

Things are a little different Down Under however, because most Aussie gamefishers don't have the greenbacks to throw around like your average Texas oil billionaire. For many, fuel economy and reliability are probably higher up the list than top speed. That said, there is nothing better than going fast - and going fast in a big boat takes the feeling of exhilaration to a whole new level.

It's all well and good having a boat that can cruise at 30kt but sea conditions on the east coast of Australia are a lot different to those of the Gulf of Mexico or the Florida Keys. I've been in very few boats that can cruise at 30kt off Australia's east coast but during my short stint behind the wheel of the Bertram 570, I was extremely impressed with how soft and how dry the ride was. I guess there is no substitute for weight and waterline length when it comes to ride and the Bertram 570 is a good case in point.

With the boat full of fuel and water we reached a top speed of 36kt offshore and the boat would have been more than happy to go faster. At this speed you expect to start hearing bangs and rattles as you come off the backs of waves but there were no bone-jarring landings on the testday. The boat had a very level attitude and there was no need to play with the trim tabs. For a big boat it jumped on to the plane extremely quickly and you know you've got some horsepower underneath you when you get pushed back into the seat as the turbos kick in.

I did my normal test of chasing an imaginary marlin around the ocean and thought the boat was a little sluggish around the corner. I had no trouble putting a considerable amount of water in the cockpit although to its credit, the scupper system worked very well with water expelled as quickly as it entered. I guess you have to remember that you are pushing 34 tonne of boat with a big deep vee through the water so it is never going to spin like a pocket sportsfisher with a flat aft section. And besides, you buy a 57-footer for its ride in forward not necessarily its agility in reverse.
One thing we did discover while backing up into the sea was that the coaming gate above the transom door needs a locking device because we managed to lift it with water pressure from a wave.

FISHING THE BERTRAM
The cockpit on the 570 is huge (147sqft according to the brochure) and a magnificent Release Marine 130lb gamechair took centre stage on the testboat. Cockpit coamings are heavily padded and freeboard is high enough to ensure safety but not so high that you can't reach over the side to bill a fish.

Two big fish boxes with macerator pumps are located beneath the cockpit sole while another huge bait/fish well is incorporated in the transom. This well could easily be plumbed to form a second livewell in addition to the one located at the forward, starboard corner of the cockpit.

The saloon door is offset to starboard which allows a bait-prep area to run from amidships to the port bulkhead at the forward end of the cockpit. The bait-prep area is divided into three sections: engineroom access, sink and tackle station, and freezer. I like the fact that a channel below each lid allows them to be closed without you getting your fingers jammed, and double gas struts on each lid securely holds them in an open position.

The engineroom access door could do with a latch of some sort to hold it open if you have to pop down for a quick check. The sink and tackle station featured fresh and saltwater faucets, a small cutting board and big tackle drawers. Additional drawers were also incorporated into the engineroom access door. The freezer is a little awkward to access as it is behind the flybridge ladder but it is a good size and would handle a bunch of heavy-tackle baits.

Steps in the forward corners provide access to the sidedecks which are nice and wide and provide hassle-free access to the bow. I was surprised to see a smooth gelcoat finish on the covering boards around the cockpit. A bit of water on these and they will turn into a slippery slide. I think a continuation of the non-skid located on the sidedecks would be a smart move. Or better still, and although it requires a lot more maintenance, I think I'd opt for teak deck and covering boards.
There are four angled rodholders in the gunwales which are fine for light-tackle but serious heavy-tackle anglers will want to add at least two zero-degree rodholders for their bent-butt chair rods.
I really liked the outrigger halyard setup. The locking cord below the bottom roller runs through a small hole in the covering board and into a jam-cleat in the forward side hatches. This is a very neat and tidy configuration and means you can adjust the tension on the 'riggers quickly and easily. I'll definitely be employing this efficient method on my next boat.

MODERN AND STYLISH LAYOUT
Access to the engineroom from the cockpit was quite good and once inside I had full headroom when standing between the engines. Although there's not a heck of a lot of room to get around the engines, particularly outboard, the general layout and finish of the 570's engineroom is first class. Separating pumps and ancillary systems such as the generator and desalinator from the engineroom proper to an aft compartment is a smart move although you're on your hands and knees while working in this area.

As you access the saloon from the cockpit you are greeted by a modern and stylish layout which incorporates high-gloss cherrywood timberwork, granite-look Corian benchtops and luxurious leather upholstery.

A six-seater lounge on the portside provides views of the big Sharp flatscreen TV complete with Bose surround sound system. Cabinets along the starboard side of the saloon house a liquor cabinet, icemaker and circuit breaker panels. A floating coffee table, albeit a heavy one, is testament to the boat's consistent attitude at sea. Big side windows offer plenty of natural light to the saloon while timber Venetian blinds ensure privacy if required.

At the forward end of the saloon you'll find a six-seater dinette to starboard and a good-sized galley to port. The 570 is available in two different galley configurations. The testboat features a full-size side-by-side refrigerator which personally I'm not a big fan of on boats. The floor to ceiling cabinet that houses the fridge is quite obtrusive and restricts communication between the chef and those lounging around the saloon. The second layout option, with a standard U-shaped galley and underbench refrigeration unit, would be my choice for sure.

Other galley features include a microwave oven, dishwasher drawer, heaps of storage with clever slide-out shelving and a four-burner cooktop which has a sliding Corian cover to form additional benchspace when the cooktop is not in use. A rod locker is also concealed in the ceiling above the galley.

From the galley it's five steps down to the companionway and the first cabin you come across is the crew or second guest cabin which is located on the starboard side. This cabin featured two generous side-by-side single bunks with side table in between, storage space for clothes, ample lighting and even a flatscreen TV with DVD/MP3 player.

Immediately forward of the crew cabin is the first of three heads. This one can be used as an ensuite to the crew cabin or alternately as a dayhead via another door in the companionway. All heads are similarly finished with high-gloss cherrywood, Corian benchtops, Tecma toilets, mirrored ceilings, Amtico flooring and spacious shower stalls.

The master stateroom is located amidships on the portside. This is a very spacious cabin with ample room to move around the queen-size bed. A mirrored aft bulkhead accentuates the spaciousness and storage is everywhere thanks to sideboard cupboards and drawers, bedside tables, hanging lockers and a huge storage area under the bed. The master stateroom features its own ensuite which is similar to that described earlier, although the shower stall is larger.

A cabinet in the companionway just forward of the master stateroom conceals a washing machine and dryer.

A third head, located on the starboard side is also accessed from the companionway but would be primarily used by the guests in the forward stateroom. Whoever chose the tacky wallpaper should go back to interior design school.

Standard configuration for the forward stateroom is for a queen-size island berth with hanging lockers on either side, however, the testboat is fitted with two large single bunks in the forward cabin which would be more suited to family use or charterwork. Although you lose one hanging locker in this configuration, there is still ample storage space.

The forward cabin also features a TV with DVD/MP3 as well as an overhead hatch for natural light and ventilation.

HELM VISION
Back out to the cockpit and access to the flybridge is via a ladder on the port side. Plenty of handrails on the way up ensure a safe passage. As you'd expect on a 57-footer, the flybridge is huge and ample seating means the captain should always have some company.

I had no trouble viewing the extremities of the boat from the helm with a good view of the transom corners although I could only just see the tip of the bowrail, so some shorter captains may struggle with the vision forward.

Helmsman and co-pilot are treated well with a pair of beautiful Release Marine helmchairs complete with removable backrests. The footrest for the helmsman works very well: you can really lock yourself in by pushing back into the chair. And if it gets really rough there is a handy grabrail overhead under the hardtop which helps you stay in your seat.

The dash layout is user-friendly, with a small helm-pod sporting a pair of ZF single-lever controls and a polished wheel that sits at just the right height for propping your bum on while backing down on a fish.

All the electronics are relatively easy to reach and how could you say no to the optional retractable dash console that hides all your electronics when not in use? The other neat thing about the retractable console is that it can be opened as far as you like - it doesn't have to be locked all the way up or all the way down.

Dash features on the testboat include three Raymarine C120 screens to run the sounder, plotter and radar. There is also a Simrad autopilot, Cat electronic engine monitors, HF radio, CD player, backup GPS and an easy to read and understand switch panel.

Vision through the clears is excellent. The panels are very large with a minimal use of zips. Another clever idea was to put the clears on the inside of the anodised aluminium hardtop supports which means the zippers can follow the lines of the supports resulting in a less obstructed view and easy to access zips.

In front of the helm console is a big U-shaped lounge which turns the flybridge into a social area for the run home. There is a good-sized icebox which could easily be refrigerated and it wouldn't be hard to mount a small dinette table adjacent to the lounge if upper-deck dining is your gig. A few more drinkholders would be handy up here also. A special easy to access compartment is incorporated into the forward lounge seat to accommodate an RFD, as opposed to having these essential but unsightly units mounted on the foredeck.

It's very difficult to review a boat like this in a day. You really need to fish it for a week on the Barrier Reef (hint hint) to truly discover what a boat like this can and can't do. That said, the short time I spent on the Bertram 570 had me impressed. It's a big boat with a price tag to match - but if you're at a stage in your life where you want the best but are not prepared to wait for a custom boat to be built, then the latest offerings from Bertram may be the answer.

Don't forget to look out for reviews of Bertram's other models as they hit our shores later in the year.

PRICE AS TESTED $2.6 million

OPTIONS FITTED
Engine upgrade, cockpit shower, hardtop & clears, power-assisted helm console, side-mounted electronic controls & matching steering wheel, international electrical system, watermaker, decor package, audio visual package, Rupp outriggers, Release Marine gamechair, full electronics package and more

PRICED FROM US$1.85 million plus freight & GST if applicable

GENERAL
Material Solid FRP bottom with cored hullsides and composite bulkheads
Type Deep vee monohull
Length 18.46m (60ft 6in)
Beam 5.1m (16ft 9in)
Draft 1.59m (5ft 3in)
Deadrise 18?
Weight 34,500kg (76,073lb)

CAPACITIES
Berths Six
Fuel 5670lt (1500 US gal)
Water 948lt (250 US gal)

ENGINE
Make/Model Cat C30
Type Twin turbo-charged & aftercooled four-stroke diesels
Rated hp (ea) 1550
Displacement (ea) 30lt
(1831cu in)
Weight (ea) 2547kg (5616lb)
Gearbox (make/ratio) 2:1
Props 32" Rollers

SUPPLIED BY
Eagle Yachts Pty Ltd
Perth WA Tel (08) 9429 3480 or visit www.eagleyachts.com.au

All figures supplied as per manufacturer's
specifications. Prices in Australian dollars for Australian-delivered boats unless otherwise stated.