BETRAM 31 AMERICAN MOPPIE

[AMERICAN MOPPIE]

I am near to purchade the AMERICAN Moppie or Mr CHARLY .
The boat is totaly restored in 2002
2 mercruiser 250 ditronic
I am thinking to put a generator and air condition and keep it .
This time i own a chapp 27- sig 2010 I am going to miss it?
Will this boat be sea worthy after so many years?

plz help.

 

[AMERICAN MOPPIE]

View attachment 78988

 

[Nick27]

Interesting.
How do you know this is the ex American Moppie? Have you seen pictures of the restoration...before/after?

 

[AMERICAN MOPPIE]

Interesting.
How do you know this is the ex American Moppie? Have you seen pictures of the restoration...before/after?

yes and i have the papers also

 

[Bobcat]

Love that wrap around windscreen!

 

[Black Tornado]

The boat has a short but intense history in racing being the second 31' with which Peter Rittmaster raced in the US season in 1969 by winning the Hennessy Grand Prix in New York with Sammy James as t-man and Bob Schiffenaus,the navigability of which proved decisive for success.
The boat was lighter than his previous 1967 31', Master Moppie,the second built of ever after the My Moppie, and had the stern to fitting the SSM Mk II instead the shaft.
In 1970, the young scion Italian Ronny Bonelli bought it and renamed Mister Charly leaving the original livery, and he ran the Sam Griffith Memorial and all Italian and European races of the season with the Commander Petroni.
Bonelli in 1971 bought a new 36' Cigarette, who became the legendary Lady Nara and modified the 31' as a pleasure boat.

 

[Ratickle]

Hey Marco, good to see you on. I'm leaning more that if it is indeed one of those two, it has to be American Moppie because of the cockpit layout. Wasn't it the only early one with the large cockpit? There aren't many pics out there....

 

[AMERICAN MOPPIE]

thank you very much for the reply, what is your opinion should i buy it ?

 

[AMERICAN MOPPIE]

 

[Ratickle]

If you can absolutely prove it is one of those two boats, it should be an awesome investment of a piece of history. I would have it surveyed as part of any offer, just in case there is an issue with the transom or stringers or delamination. Anything other than that is reasonably replaced. If those items are all in good shape, there is no reason in my mind to doubt its seaworthiness.

 

[Anchored]

Did this guy ever buy it?

Jeff

 

[Ratickle]

I'm not sure Jeff. I'll try to find out.....

 

[AMERICAN MOPPIE]

i didn't buy it because i dont have time to invest on it .....but i had a perfect weekend on it last month ...really amazing.

 

[Ratickle]

How well did it perform?

 

[AMERICAN MOPPIE]

How well did it perform?

excellent i was amazed solid construction for rought waters.

easily 50 miles with very low fuel consumption and noise

 

[Ratickle]

Is it still for sale?

 

[Anchored]

This particular boat is unique because it was processed in an autoclave at Whittaker corp in California. This explains it greatly reduced weight.
Is it in Sardinia?

Jeff

 

[Ratickle]

If so, that would be a really cool place to go look at a boat!!

 

[Brian Stott]

Are you sure it is American Moppie.
My dad bought it in 1979 from Roger Kelly when it was McQueen Jeans.
It was converted to a cabin cruiser and used for a number of years in the North West of England, it was sold in 1986ish

 

[Ratickle]

They were never positive if it was American Moppie or Mr Charley.

With a complete redo in 2002 though, it could be either one. Try PM'ing them to see if there are any updates. It's been quite while since he didn't end up buying it.