No Ordinary Fishing Boat: Conversation with Michael Myers, Bertram Yacht's President & COO

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show celebrated its golden 50th anniversary with the debut of the Bertram 511 — a $1.2 million sports fishing yacht with a 360-degree forward windshield and amenities akin to a high-end residence. Premier Guide Miami sat down to find out what that means — and what comes next.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show celebrated its golden 50th anniversary with an extravagant display of large and small yachts from around the world. Although turnout was reportedly lower than the previous year, exhibitors reported positive interest and serious buyers — a promising sign in a difficult economic climate.

Among the new introductions at this year's show, we became particularly interested in the debut of the Bertram 511. The Bertram family is headquartered in Miami and has been a part of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show since its inception. Known for its sleek fleet of luxury sports fishing yachts, Bertram unveiled a fully loaded 511 priced at approximately $1.2 million. Amenities include generous storage integrated into the standard mezzanine deck, ample seating for every angler, a large fish box in the cockpit sole, and a second fish box in the transom. This is no ordinary fishing boat.

The moment you step aboard the Bertram 511, you feel at home. It is open and inviting, with a sense of spaciousness throughout. The 511 exudes a new edge and modern appeal without compromising the traditional Bertram look. Its full wraparound windshield is designed to withstand the roughest offshore conditions while providing an incredible 360-degree view of the surrounding water — a great asset for capturing the wide open seas with a clear view of what lies ahead.

"It fishes good, it rides good, and it brings you home." — Sunny Parks, South Carolina, loyal Bertram owner since 2006.

Sunny Parks is a current Bertram owner who previously owned several fishing vessels. When he was first introduced to Bertram, he sold all the others and made Bertram the one. He stopped by during the show to preview the 511 and say hello to the team. Richard Lemar, Bertram's Chief Engineer, took us on a tour while Michael Myers, Bertram's President and COO, sat down with Premier Guide Miami.

Give us a brief history of the Bertram family.

Bertram has a very rich heritage and history, not only in America but around the world. Bertram was founded in 1961 by a gentleman by the name of Richard Bertram. He worked on a new boat design with a famous American Naval Architect by the name of Raymond Hunt. They won a race that had been conducted for many years from Miami to Nassau — not just by a little bit, but by two hours ahead of the nearest competitor. That basically put Mr. Bertram in the boat-building business. Up until that time he was a boat broker, and he said he had so many yachtsmen waving checkbooks at him that he could not afford not to be in the boat manufacturing business. So he began building boats in 1961, and in 1962 we opened the facility we are currently in now in Miami, near Miami International Airport. We are known as luxury sports fishing yachts and we offer a very fine balance between sports fishing and luxury cruising — you can use both. Many of the boats we have built are for certain international markets; some are used primarily for cruising, while here in America many are used for sports fishing and cruising.

How long has Bertram been a part of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show?

Since the show started. This is one of the biggest boat shows in the world, and Bertram has been a part of it forever.

How have market conditions affected sales over the past year?

The market conditions are very tough, and you would have to be living in a cave not to recognize that discretionary purchases have certainly been reduced over the last year since the global economic meltdown. But Bertram has such a fine name and high brand equity — not just in the U.S. We sell and ship boats all over the world. We are especially strong in the U.S., and Italy is a big market for us, as are Venezuela, Panama, Australia, Greece, and Japan. It is truly a wonderful brand, recognized in all the major boating markets around the world, so we are making it through these times. We have been through tough times in the past, and the boating industry certainly tracks with the economy. But on the other hand, there is no better time to buy a boat than right now. We are seeing signs of activity — people are out buying boats. We still have a ways to go, but I think we have hit bottom and started to come back up.

Why did you decide to launch the 511 at this show?

Just like any industry, to keep going you have to come out with something newer and better. This is a new revolution in a 50-plus-foot boat.

What are the special features of the Bertram 511, and what makes it different from all the other models?

What makes it somewhat unique among our other models is that it has a complete forward windshield — a nice 360-degree view as you enter the salon. It also has half-size windows in the master stateroom and the master guest stateroom, so a lot of natural light comes in. The cockpit is large for a boat this size. On the bridge there is U-shaped seating, which is really nice for conversing, socializing, and creating a great atmosphere. And of course it is a Bertram, which means it is built very rugged and very robust — the ride is second to none.

What major changes or improvements will you introduce next? What can we expect from the Bertram family after the Boat Show?

We are working on the 800, and that will be the flagship of the Bertram lineup. It will be introduced sometime in the 2010 calendar year.

Previously President of Boston Whaler and Brunswick's Saltwater Boat Group Division, Michael Myers joined Bertram Yacht at its Miami headquarters on January 7, 2008. Myers holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and has 28 years of managerial experience, including eight years at General Electric and 20 years in the marine industry.

Premier Guide Miami thanks the Bertram team for their support. For more information on Bertram, visit www.bertram.com. For more information about the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, visit www.showmanagement.com. Photos courtesy of Bertram Yachts.

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