Always Something

1989 Bertram 50 Convertible — "Always Something"

This 50' Bertram Convertible pairs serious sportfishing capability with genuine cruising comfort, making her equally at home on the tuna grounds or entertaining guests for a weekend aboard. Built on a solid fiberglass deep-vee hull with a 17-degree transom deadrise, she measures 50'0" LOA with a 16'2" beam and drafts 4'6" to 5'0", giving her the stability and sea-keeping that Bertram's convertible series is known for Gross tonnage is rated at 45.76.

Power comes from twin Detroit Diesel 8V92TA engines rated at 735 hp each, running through Allison transmissions on direct drive, with roughly 3,036 hours total and approximately 30 hours since a 2023 overhaul. The turbos have been rebuilt on both engines, high-pressure hoses replaced on both, and batteries serviced in March of 2026, reflecting an owner who has stayed ahead of maintenance. A 12.5kW Onan diesel generator backs up the electrical system, supported by three Raritan battery chargers, eight 8-volt batteries, dual 50-amp shore power inlets, and a dedicated AC/DC panel in the salon. Fuel capacity is roughly 1,045 gallons with 175 gallons of fresh water and a 50-gallon holding tank, giving her real range for extended trips. Fresh water, raw water, and reservoir systems are all cooled and closed, and the lightning protection system has been repaired and inspected.

Below decks she offers a three-stateroom, two-head layout with a galley-up configuration. The forward master stateroom features a centerline island queen berth, mirrored wardrobe locker, overhead opening hatch, and its own ensuite head with an enclosed stall shower and teak-and-holly sole. The port guest stateroom offers an island queen berth with a mirrored vanity and digital A/C control, while the starboard stateroom is set up with dual bunk berths and a linen cabinet housing a stand-up washer/dryer — recently repaired and in good working order. The galley, positioned up and forward to port in the main salon, is fitted with a U-shaped countertop, a Ceran two-burner electric range, dual Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezers, and a GE microwave, with a new water line and filter installed for the icemaker. The salon itself includes a 47" flat-screen TV, a Uline icemaker, and comfortable L-shaped seating both port and starboard. Recent system upgrades throughout include a new shower pump and bilge pump, and a new water heater and accumulator.

At the helm and flybridge, she's equipped with dual Simrad 16" and a 9" multifunction displays networked to GPS, chart, radar, depth, and autopilot, a Simrad open-array radar, B&G V50 VHF, Fusion stereo, and Bennett trim tab controls, all under a rigid bimini with full enclosure and new covers for the flybridge electronics. The 142-square-foot cockpit is built for serious fishing, with a fighting chair, a port-side bait station with a top-loading freezer and wet bar, in-deck fish boxes with drains, eight rod holders, a tuna door, and teak decking, while outriggers with triple spreaders round out the fishing package. The back deck has been freshly treated with a new cover installed, and new covers have been fitted for the cockpit chairs as well. Additional systems include a Halon fire suppression system, hydraulic steering, dripless shaft logs, three-bladed Nibral propellers, bronze rudders and struts, and three bilge pumps for added peace of mind.

Recently bottom-painted in February 2024, this Bertram 50 represents a well-equipped, well-maintained example of one of the most respected names in sportfishing convertibles.

Highlights

Hull & Performance

• 50'0" LOA, 16'2" beam, 4'6"–5'0" draft, 17-degree deadrise deep-vee hull
• Twin Detroit Diesel 8V92TA, 735 hp each, Allison transmissions, direct drive
• ~3,036 total hours, ~30 hours Port Engine since 2023 overhaul
• Both turbos rebuilt, both high-pressure hoses replaced
• Fuel capacity 1,045 gallons — real range for offshore trips
• Bottom painted February 2024

Systems & Power

• 12.5kW Onan generator, 
• Three Raritan battery chargers, eight 8-volt batteries, engine/house batteries serviced
• Dual 50-amp shore power, dedicated AC/DC panel
• Fresh water, raw water, and reservoir systems all closed and cooled
• Lightning protection system repaired and inspected
• New water heater and accumulator, new shower and bilge pumps
• Halon fire suppression, dripless shaft logs, three bilge pumps

Accommodations

• Three staterooms, two heads, galley-up layout
• Master: centerline island queen, ensuite head, stall shower, teak-and-holly sole
• Guest stateroom: island queen, mirrored vanity, digital A/C control
• Third stateroom: dual bunks plus stand-up washer/dryer (recently repaired)
• Galley: Ceran electric range, dual Sub-Zero fridge/freezers, GE microwave
• New water line and filter for icemaker
• Salon: 47" flat-screen, Uline icemaker, L-shaped seating port and starboard

Helm & Electronics

• Dual Simrad 16" and 9" MFDs — GPS, chart, radar, depth, autopilot
• Simrad open-array radar, B&G V50 VHF, Fusion stereo, Bennett trim tabs
• Rigid bimini, full enclosure, new covers for flybridge electronics

Fishing & Deck

• 142 sq ft cockpit with fighting chair
• Port bait station with top-load freezer and wet bar
• In-deck fish boxes with drains, 8 rod holders, tuna door, teak decking
• Outriggers with triple spreaders
• Back deck freshly treated, new deck cover, new cockpit chair covers
• Three-bladed Nibral props, bronze rudders and struts, hydraulic steering

Bottom Line

• Well-maintained, low hours since overhaul