1994 BERTRAM 50 Convertible

The 1994 Bertram 50 Convertible is a 50-foot fiberglass sportfishing yacht designed for offshore fishing, cruising, and extended time on the water. With a 16-foot 2-inch beam, deep-V hull, flybridge, large cockpit, and twin inboard diesel engines, it combines the practical layout of a serious sportfisher with the accommodation expected from a cruising yacht. Current listings identify the model at 50 feet in length, with a 5-foot draft and a three-cabin, two-head layout.

The model is particularly suited to owners who want a classic tournament-style sportfishing platform without giving up comfortable overnight accommodation. A typical three-stateroom layout provides sleeping space for six, while the galley-up arrangement keeps the main living area connected to the salon and dinette. The large cockpit, flybridge, bait tank, fish box, outriggers, tackle center, and transom door also make the boat practical for serious offshore fishing.

Is the 1994 Bertram 50 Convertible for Sale?

Yes. Used examples of the 1994 Bertram 50 Convertible continue to appear on the brokerage market, although availability is limited because these boats are more than 30 years old and individual condition varies considerably. One documented 1994 example, CONQUISTADORA, has been listed at $325,000 and is equipped with twin Detroit Diesel 8V-92TA engines, three cabins, two heads, and extensive fishing and navigation equipment.

Buyers should treat each listing as an individual vessel rather than assuming that every 1994 Bertram 50 has the same specification. Engine rebuild history, generator hours, electronics, interior refits, fuel-system condition, hull maintenance, and fishing equipment can have a significant effect on both asking price and actual ownership value. A recent brokerage listing for the same 1994 example has also shown a different asking price, illustrating how market pricing can change with location and listing status.

1994 Bertram 50 Convertible Price

Current brokerage information provides a useful reference point for this model. One 1994 Bertram 50 Convertible, CONQUISTADORA, was listed at $325,000, while another brokerage record for the same 1994 vessel showed an asking price of $269,000. These figures indicate that the asking price of an older Bertram 50 can vary substantially depending on condition, equipment, maintenance history, location, and seller strategy.

For buyers, the purchase price should therefore be only the starting point of the budget. On a 30-year-old sportfishing yacht, engine work, generators, air-conditioning systems, electrical components, fuel systems, electronics, pumps, and structural maintenance can represent significant additional expenses. A professional marine survey and mechanical inspection should be completed before negotiating the final purchase price.

Performance and Propulsion

The 1994 Bertram 50 Convertible was designed around twin inboard diesel propulsion. The documented 1994 example CONQUISTADORA uses two Detroit Diesel 8V-92TA DDEC engines rated at approximately 735 hp each, giving the boat a combined rated output of about 1,470 hp. Published specifications for this example indicate a cruising speed of around 20 knots and a maximum speed of approximately 24 knots.

For a boat of this age, engine condition is more important than the original horsepower figure. Buyers should review engine hours, rebuild documentation, cooling systems, exhaust components, transmissions, shaft alignment, fuel systems, and maintenance records. One current listing notes that the engines on the example had been rebuilt, demonstrating why the mechanical history of an individual boat can be more relevant than the model's original specification.

Exterior Design and Construction

The Bertram 50 Convertible uses a fiberglass hull with a deep-V configuration and a substantial 16-foot 2-inch beam. Its exterior layout follows the traditional sportfishing formula: a large working cockpit aft, elevated flybridge, forward deck, transom door, and wide side decks. The documented example also features a hardtop and enclosed flybridge, giving the helm area additional protection during offshore operation.

The cockpit is designed primarily around fishing rather than simply serving as an outdoor lounge. Equipment on the documented boat includes a bait tank, in-deck fish box, tackle center, cockpit freezer, rod holders, rocket launchers, Rupp outriggers, saltwater and freshwater washdowns, and reinforcement for a fighting chair. These features make the Bertram 50 Convertible particularly practical for offshore sportfishing while still leaving enough deck space for general cruising and entertaining.

Interior and Accommodation

The 1994 Bertram 50 Convertible can provide a three-stateroom, two-head accommodation arrangement with sleeping capacity for six. The documented example uses a galley-up layout, with a main salon, L-shaped seating, dinette, U-shaped galley, and three cabins below deck. The master stateroom includes a queen berth and private head, while the forward guest cabin also uses a queen berth and the third cabin provides upper and lower berths.

The interior is focused more on practical long-term use than contemporary luxury styling. The example has a satin-varnished maple interior, teak-and-holly flooring in selected areas, substantial storage, cedar-lined hanging lockers, air conditioning, entertainment equipment, and a washer/dryer in the companionway. For owners who plan to combine fishing trips with overnight cruising, this arrangement provides a useful balance between working-boat functionality and residential comfort.

What to Check Before Buying a 1994 Bertram 50 Convertible

The first priority should be the hull and mechanical inspection. Because the boat dates from 1994, buyers should have a qualified marine surveyor inspect the fiberglass structure, hull bottom, stringers, bulkheads, decks, fuel tanks, through-hulls, seacocks, rudder system, shafts, and running gear. The twin Detroit Diesel engines and transmissions should receive a separate mechanical inspection, including compression or diagnostic testing where appropriate, cooling-system condition, exhaust components, oil analysis, and verification of maintenance and rebuild records.

The second priority is the condition of the boat's electrical and onboard systems. Inspect the generators, battery banks, wiring, air-conditioning systems, watermaker, pumps, navigation electronics, steering system, bilge equipment, and freshwater and waste systems. Fishing equipment should also be checked individually, particularly outriggers, bait systems, fish boxes, cockpit refrigeration, rod holders, and hydraulic components. A sea trial should then be used to evaluate acceleration, cruising performance, steering, vibration, engine temperatures, transmission behavior, and overall handling before completing the purchase.