Ever since the christening of its first production 31-footer at the 1961 New York National Boat Show, Bertram has become one of the biggest names in sport fishing. "Overbuilt," "luxurious" and "great ride" are terms that have all been used to describe this company's impressive lineup of sport-fishers. Recently, that name got a lot bigger — 74 feet to be exact.

Performance
With a lofty 15-knot southeasterly breeze and plenty of boat and ship wakes, a nasty, confused chop came from every direction as we tested the 700 just outside of Miami's Government Cut. The chop proved to be no problem for the Bertram 700 — a big boat with a hefty 116,000 pounds of wave-cleaving power. Most impressive, however, was this boat's incredibly dry ride. Even in a hard turn, I couldn't get spray on the curtains. And I could only get the cockpit corners wet by backing down hard into oncoming waves. 
 
Proper weight distribution — just one characteristic of the great Italian influence that the Ferretti Group carries into the American Bertram design — puts the running break far astern to keep spray behind the boat.

Additionally, rounded corners on the cabin-house's rear edge virtually eliminate any "station-wagon" effect and resulting mist in the cockpit. Most significantly, Ferretti designers shifted the 2,000-gallon fuel tank from under the cockpit to forward of the engine room, directly over the dynamic center of balance. The result? A 74-footer that easily carves figure-eights and comes about at full-cruise in just a little over one boat length.
 
I found both dockside handling and fish-chasing maneuvers respectable for such a large boat. Throt-tling the twin 2,200 hp MTU 16V 2000 diesels to 2,000 rpm propelled us to 30.9 knots, burning 184 gph at 74 percent load. Top-end touched 38.8 knots at 2,450 rpm. Switch-ing to the trolling valves, the 700 displayed a well-organized wake and clean bubble trail. I particularly liked one great Bertram option: Anti-roll gyros help reduce roll by 30 to 50 percent, depending on whether the boat's moving or at rest.
 
Flybridge
The molded spiral stairway ascending from the cockpit is not only classy, but remarkably safe thanks to plentiful handholds. Simple and straightforward, the bridge provides an abundance of lounging space, elbowroom and under-bench storage. Along the starboard side, you'll find a freezer that offers space for about five cases of bait and a long compartment perfect for tackle storage. The elevated helm and companion chairs afford unobstructed views of both the bow and cockpit. 
 
Bertram mounts every critical engine monitor required for cruising outside of the oversized ram-driven electronics console for quick viewing. You can also lower the electronics module to facilitate conversation between the captain and guests sitting forward of the helm. Bertram helps to make docking this big girl much less stressful with the addition of a second set of throttle controls mounted way off on the port side. This allows the captain to stick his head out the side for a clearer view, much like a trucker would stick his head out the window when backing up. The easy-to-climb PipeWelders tower beautifully complements the fishability and appearance of this boat. And I love the small corner bench seat mounted at the rear corner of the bridge tower leg to watch the baits — a feature I expect we'll see more often in the future.

Cockpit
As expected, plenty of beautiful teak covers the length of the deck, mezzanine and covering boards. The mezzanine sole rises nearly waist-high above the cockpit, so I suggest you seriously consider the optional mezzanine railing. With the mezzanine deck that high, however, you can just imagine the plentiful storage space as well as bait freezer and tackle-storage options found underneath.  Steps down to cockpit level lie directly in front of the cabin door. And since no Miami-based builder can legitimately launch a sport-fisherman without a livewell, you'll find the Bertram 700's large tank in the transom. To keep the day's catch frosty cold, a big in-deck fish box lays just aft of the fighting chair.
 
The deck's deep gutters channel to a single, oversized scupper in the middle, ending the problem of on-deck water gathering in the corners and of soaking your feet during stand-up battles. Some Bertram owners opt to make the small cabinet in front of the bridge stairway a vertical tackle locker with a see-through door as well. Fuel fills on both sides allow easy filling and venting, while an audible alarm provides notification when the tank nears capacity.

Interior
Too often nowadays, I equate entering a boat's interior with entering a cave — many are largely devoid of natural light. The Bertram 700, however, lets wonderful amounts of sunlight flood the salon and master stateroom. In fact, I really appreciate how the entire interior feels more like a home than a cluttered yacht. 
 
In the salon, a large wraparound settee with a pull-out bed complements several recliners. Abundant African mahogany woodwork and accents create a rich undertone. The full bar and icemaker keeps drinks close-at-hand, and a large flat-screen TV facing slightly forward keeps your dock mates from discovering your taste for afternoon soap operas.  
 
Step up into an elevated full galley to port and you'll find beautiful granite countertops, six pull-out refrigerator/freezers drawers, a dishwasher, a four-burner cooktop and an oven. To starboard, the large and comfortable dinette seats six guests.
 
Descending the companionway reveals a four-bed/ four-bath layout. The full-beam master stateroom aft feels like a luxury hotel room with plentiful drawers, a walk-in cedar closet and private head with separate shower. Farther forward you'll notice a day head to port followed by one over/ under and one side-by-side berth cabin to starboard. The fo'c'sle holds a large VIP guest stateroom.

Engine Room
Lifting a ram-driven hatch in the mezzanine provides step-in access to the engine room. It's pleasant to see a full six-plus feet of standing room and abundant space between and around the big MTUs. Overhead grab rails and treaded plates make travel even easier. Fuel filters, oil change pumps, crash pumps and a washdown hose are all centrally located and easily accessed. As most builders strive to put generators aft of the engines to reduce noise in the cabin, Bertram takes it a step further. With the fuel tank forward of the engine room, under-cockpit space is reserved for a pair of generators and ARG stabilizers — keeping the forward quarters remarkably quiet.

Design and Construction
The Bertram 700 utilizes the same deep-V hull that made the company famous. Recent modifications to the strakes reduce wave impact at the bow, while small pockets astern reduce draft for entering shallow island ports. Bertram builds its hulls from traditional solid fiberglass with high-density foam laminated in certain areas to reduce weight while adding strength. 
 
You can't deny the mixed, American reactions to the Euro-designer lines and looks of the modern Bertram. However, when it comes to comfort and performance, the descendents of some of the world's greatest creative and artistic minds at Ferretti have added heaps of Italian ingenuity and aesthetics to Bertram's American boatbuilding legacy.

LOA......74'2"
BEAM......18'1"
DRAFT......6'
WEIGHT......116,404 pounds
FUEL......2,008 gallons
WATER......350 gallons
MAX POWER......T 2,200 hp MTU 16V 2000s
PRICE......$4,148,175 (w/16V 2000s)

Bertram Yachts / Miami, Florida / 305-633-8011 / www.bertram.com