Bertram 28' Baron

[smidgen too]

Some my have seen this on Oso but Mr Bill & I bought this Bertram Baron & finally brought her back home to Michigan yesterday. It took years to track this Baron down, I found it by using Google & MapQuest satellite maps were I looked for a shapes of hulls that could be the Baron. We found her in a marina in Canada last January after driving with Mr Bill to many marinas in Ontario Canada. Next to a Magnum sport I have always had a love for this hull as I use to see it's owner Jerry Miller racing the SUPER MOTH on Lake St Clair back in the early 70's, I even raced against it back then. The only noticeable changes to her is the lowered windshield & life line. This Baron last raced in the 80's when my old friend Dave Balcovson raised the Volvo drives 5" and put in 400+cu Chevy small blocks for power, it rocked. I don't know when Bill & I will start this project as we both have many restorations in the works now but we knew we had to save her & bring her back home to Michigan.

[bertsboat]

Better take the keys our before some steals it :)
nice save Guy's!!

[smidgen too]

Chip Miller just past me these great pic's of the Baron, it was his Dads race boat back in the day.

[Greg Guimond]

That is some very cool history that fortunately has been preserved, both in pictures, and in fiberglass :yes:

[scippy]

Mark,

There's a few interesting sub-plots that you had to overcome (background on OSO) in all out pursuit of the 28' Baron.
I thought I was a good detective in finding Jim's "Plum Crazy" a few yrs back, but you get the gold shield on this one!
I'm not up on my Google searches, but having to identify shapes in mariners??..........I mean, just total perseverance
in finding her.. you weren't going to be denied!...............I think that boat is very lucky to have you. :smile:

[Morgan's Cloud]

Love to see these significant old ones saved .

Once you get started I think it'll keep you busy for a while .

[smidgen too]

Mark,

There's a few interesting sub-plots that you had to overcome (background on OSO) in all out pursuit of the 28' Baron.
I thought I was a good detective in finding Jim's "Plum Crazy" a few yrs back, but you get the gold shield on this one!
I'm not up on my Google searches, but having to identify shapes in mariners??..........I mean, just total perseverance
in finding her.. you weren't going to be denied!...............I think that boat is very lucky to have you. :smile:


Pete I hate to slam anyone that's why I did not Id him personally but these sites are all about sharing info. That same guy had my friends perfect Magnum & he found ways of screwing it up, now that he has that abandoned Florida Mag, a restoration I would think twice about, good luck. Last year when I told Bill that I was on the hunt for the Baron & how I was looking for it, he was in. Last January when it was 20 degrees out we went to Canada looking for a old Merc & Kendal oil sign [ a clue in a pic of the Baron that the guy had posted] that was in the boat yard next by the Baron. After a few hours we found her, & as they say the rest is history. As of now I have 3 race boats from that era [Donzi Doral HEAT WAVE, Cobra SMIDGEN TOO & this Baron SUPER MOTH ] not including my two Magnums, & X-18 Donzi how many more projects,, & boats do I need.:nilly:
If Bill & I don't take on this project Chip Miller is the one we feel that would do his dads old race boat justice. Here are the pic's I used to find the Baron. Mark

[Morgan's Cloud]

Here are the pic's I used to find the Baron. Mark

Is that first one A satellite shot ? If so ,that took a lot of determination and searching on your part.

Now I'm thinking twice about my skinny dipping and nude sunbathing activities .. :biggrin:

[superhatz]

I live for this Mark...:party:

[smidgen too]

Is that first one A satellite shot ? If so ,that took a lot of determination and searching on your part.

Now I'm thinking twice about my skinny dipping and nude sunbathing activities .. :biggrin:

That was a satellite shot from Google, don't worry about skinny dipping they dont have that much clarity. :lookaroun:

[damm-magnum1]

Mark,
it is a shame that some of the people on these sites are the way they are.. No names have to be told.
I always thought that we were all here to enjoy this great sport and to support each other and share when ever we can.


That said,, you sure did some high level technology searching to find the Baron.. Neat ,, Pete Found the Plum Crazy the old fashion way.
you will have us all looking for Sport boats using google maps and Sat now
Am sure you and Bill will bring her back to her great racing days
Thank you
Jim

[smidgen too]

Mark,
it is a shame that some of the people on these sites are the way they are.. No names have to be told.
I always thought that we were all here to enjoy this great sport and to support each other and share when ever we can.


That said,, you sure did some high level technology searching to find the Baron.. Neat ,, Pete Found the Plum Crazy the old fashion way.
you will have us all looking for Sport boats using google maps and Sat now
Am sure you and Bill will bring her back to her great racing days
Thank you
Jim

Jim also the weather channel has some good pic's too, just zoom in. :yes:

http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/48047?animation=true

[Fast Shafts 1]

Smidgen Too, I wished I had known you were looking for your old boat. When someone on OSO posted they were looking for the history of "Power Hungry"-I knew it's history as previous race boats. It's a shame that the person who bought it isn't going to restore it-and wants alot of money for it. I'm sure you read the fiasco about him paying for it and picking it up down in Florida.
Sharing information is what sites like this are all about. A few years ago someone posted pics of a blue 1970's 38 Bertram race boat. I knew immmediately that this was the old "Needle Nose" race boat. This information helped the new owner track down pics and its history. I also helped Pete (Scippy) find the "Plum Crazy" boat. To me, this is web-site information at its best. I hope someday you can get the 27 Magnum "Lil' Smidgen" back, and do a restoration it deserves! Please keep us posted on the restoration of the Barron!
Good Luck!
Bob

[smidgen too]

Smidgen Too, I wished I had known you were looking for your old boat. When someone on OSO posted they were looking for the history of "Power Hungry"-I knew it's history as previous race boats. It's a shame that the person who bought it isn't going to restore it-and wants alot of money for it. I'm sure you read the fiasco about him paying for it and picking it up down in Florida.
Sharing information is what sites like this are all about. A few years ago someone posted pics of a blue 1970's 38 Bertram race boat. I knew immmediately that this was the old "Needle Nose" race boat. This information helped the new owner track down pics and its history. I also helped Pete (Scippy) find the "Plum Crazy" boat. To me, this is web-site information at its best. I hope someday you can get the 27 Magnum "Lil' Smidgen" back, and do a restoration it deserves! Please keep us posted on the restoration of the Barron!
Good Luck!
Bob

Hi Bob the SMIDGEN was not my Mag, I had it's sister Mag the DAMN YANKEE, SHOWDOWN, COME AGAIN sport & as I raced it as the P-88 BELIEVE It, it looked just like the SMIDGEN, SPIRIT Mag as many thought it was the same sport. I think it's now out of the country. It's a shame that the Smidgen , Power Hungry went to that guy as it's a restoration not for the a amateur . I dont have a problem with making a buck on a find but the stories this guy has spun & what he has done in the past all ads to it. I was trying to get the SPIRIT back to Danny P who raced it as the SPIRIT but now it out of reach for him. As I have said if Bill & I dont see us restoring this classic Chip Miller is the one we will talk to as it was his dads old race boat, & now it back in Michigan & not lost & forgotten. . Mark

[damm-magnum1]

Jim also the weather channel has some good pic's too, just zoom in. :yes:

http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/48047?animation=true

Mark,,
Thank you ,, is pretty neat, never thought of using www.weather.com
Jim

[Fast Shafts 1]

Smidgen,
I've got pics of "Damn Yankee" and "Showdown" from the mid-late 1970's at the Henessey Grand prix and the Benihanna Grand Prix. I'm not very computer literate-but I'll see if my nefew can post them for us.

[joseph m. hahnl]

Those Baron 28's are awesome alone.A Vintage race boat only adds to the cool factor. :propeller:

They seem to have a unique strake geometry much Like Carl Mosley's design. only the upper doesn't meet the lower strake like Mosley's Boats. They seem to be a completely different design then the Ray Hunt Mopey . Any light on who was the designer:confused:

[smidgen too]

Some my have seen this on Oso but Mr Bill & I bought this Bertram Baron & finally brought her back home to Michigan yesterday. It took years to track this Baron down, I found it by using Google & MapQuest satellite maps were I looked for a shapes of hulls that could be the Baron. We found her in a marina in Canada last January after driving with Mr Bill to many marinas in Ontario Canada. Next to a Magnum sport I have always had a love for this hull as I use to see it's owner Jerry Miller racing the SUPER MOTH on Lake St Clair back in the early 70's, I even raced against it back then. The only noticeable changes to her is the lowered windshield & life line. This Baron last raced in the 80's when my old friend Dave Balcovson raised the Volvo drives 5" and put in 400+cu Chevy small blocks for power, it rocked. I don't know when Bill & I will start this project as we both have many restorations in the works now but we knew we had to save her & bring her back home to Michigan.

Bill & I today sold the Bertram Baron to Chip Miller who's father owned & raced this classic some 37 years ago. As much as Bill & I wanted to restore this Baron we knew it should go back to the Miller family who brought it to Lake St Clair originally back in the early 70's. One look at Chip standing at helm of his late fathers race Bertram we knew Bill & I made the right choice. Chip who has put together some awesome Flight Club skaters will restore this classic back to the way she raced back in the day. This has to be the best offshore I have ever laid hands on, but some times you have to do the right thing, Chip I cant wait to see the progress.:beer:
The pic with the children on the picnic table, the boy in blue is Chip watching his Dad taking the Baron for a ride.

[Greg Guimond]

That second photo is a time capsule. Nice to see one going back to the roots to be restored. Well played :thumbsup:

[scippy]

Mark, Kudos to you and Mr. Bill for not being selfish and dealing the boat back to Chip.
These are the stories I love to hear..................We all know how this could have been
exploited by some (nameless) folk around here........Now, the saga of the Bertram 28'
Chip and his late father will have a happy ending....................Happy Thanksgiving!

[DonziChris]

Mark,

What a GREAT find and story. Must of been hard to let such a neat part
of are old school history go. But how cool, that Chip get's his Dad's boat
back.

Good job

Chris

[olredalert]

----What a bunch of fun this whole project was!!! The last part of the story is absolutely the best part. Chip is a good guy steeped in boating and ocean racing runs in his blood. He will do everything right on the "family" Baron. The picnic table shot is great, but I like the picture in front of "Charlies Crab" north of St.Clair just as much. Man,,,The river was high back then. I can see us doing the same shot after Chip has done his thing and posting both pics together. Congrats to a good guy.......Bill S

[smidgen too]

Here are some pic's Chip posted on Facebook taken @ his shop yesterday, she looks better already.

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Cool story, pictures, and gesture on your part. That is one good looking boat - love the lines!

[smidgen too]

Cool story, pictures, and gesture on your part. That is one good looking boat - love the lines!

Thanks Bill... The Baron is one cool boat. Of all the boats that have been copied why hasnt this one????? I know there was only one copie made under the OUTLAW name but have not seen it in years.

[damm-magnum1]

Here are some pic's Chip posted on Facebook taken @ his shop yesterday, she looks better already.
Mark ,

Happy Thanksgiving , Its a great to see that you and Bill, decided to let Chip and his family have the Baron back.
its stories like this, that make you proud and know there are really great people in the world.
I know that Chip appreciates having the Baron back

Great going .

Best regards
Jim

[smidgen too]

Mark ,

Happy Thanksgiving , Its a great to see that you and Bill, decided to let Chip and his family have the Baron back.
its stories like this, that make you proud and know there are really great people in the world.
I know that Chip appreciates having the Baron back

Great going .

Best regards
Jim

Thanks Jim.. In the last few days this classic has had more attention than it received in 15 years. Chip will give it a great home, it's like he found a long lost family member. :yes:

[smidgen too]

Talked to Chip the other day he is just finishing up his Donzi Criterion restoration that belonged to William Clay Ford of the Ford car company. Chip plans to start the Baron restoration in the next few months. Chip just gave the Baron a quick clean up @ his shop & it looks better already.

[Trueser]

78440784417844278443
Talked to Chip the other day he is just finishing up his Donzi Criterion restoration that belonged to William Clay Ford of the Ford car company. Chip plans to start the Baron restoration in the next few months. Chip just gave the Baron a quick clean up @ his shop & it looks better already.

Very Nice find...

I'm also starting a 1979 Criterion restoration.