Designed for recreational fishing, new sportfishing vessels can range from 20-foot center consoles to 80-foot yachts. The range may be wide, but our in-depth reviews of sport fishing boats will help you find the right one. Looking for rocket launchers, baitwell features or storage? Southern Boating’s comprehensive specs will help.
Everything old is new again, and new means better when you add a gyrostabilizer and near military-grade windows. Based on the 1980s Bertram 54, the Bertram 61 took design cues from the past while taking advantage of modern technology. The company’s new flagship, with hull design by Michael Peters, o ers countless layout, tower, and hull color configurations.
One feature that remains consistent, though, is the spectacular frameless wraparound windows that give a 360-degree view from the open galley/salon. Fully equipped for tournament fishing, the spacious 188-square-foot cockpit allows anglers to maneuver easily when the bite is on.
Viking’s 38 Billfish is the builder’s latest innovation in versatility, comfort, and performance.
Viking’s 38 Billfish exemplifies the builder’s evolutionary strategy to build a better boat every day. Already leaving its predecessor, the 37 Billfish, in its wake, this new model
is longer, wider and sports a refined running surface. A new hull design with foam encapsulated stringers, a raked stem, double chines and a pair of running strakes delivers performance and maximizes speed and efficiency with two 550-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 diesels.
Aimed at bluewater anglers and young families, the 38 Billfish appeals to the upward moving owner/operator as well as those looking for an easy-to-handle and maintain convertible that’s ideal for mastering inshore and offshore assignments.
Small and Mighty
Perhaps more than anything, this new Billfish model demonstrates how much boat Viking is able to build in 38 feet. There’s no mistaking the Viking DNA with its eye-pleasing, unbroken sheer, the finely proportioned deckhouse and the spacious cockpit. A full-feature convertible in a mid-size package, the boat checks every box for practicality and fun.
Underway, with full fuel and water and five people aboard, the 38 Billfish ripped to a top speed of 35 knots drinking 56 gallons per hour on my Lake Worth, Florida, test run. Throttled back to 31 knots for a swift cruise, the turbocharged, after-cooled Cummins consumed 41 gallons per hour.
At a moderate 26 knots, figure on 31 gallons per hour. With a capacity of 460 gallons, the boat has more than ample range wherever you decide to set the throttles. Pick the spot, and the 38 Billfish performs and handles with the enthusiasm of a student on the last day of school thanks to the Cummins Inboard Joystick matched to the DC bow thruster. Both acceleration and throttle response are swift with virtually no diesel exhaust.
Runs in the Family
Sharing the popular style and traits of its larger brothers, the flybridge utilizes a center console command station. Visibility throughout 32 points of the compass is excellent.
The fiberglass helm pod painted to mimic teak adds a custom touch and is augmented with single lever controls with thruster buttons and power-assisted hydraulic steering.
Viking subsidiary Atlantic Marine Electronics provided the electronics that are well-organized and stowed in the console for all-weather navigation. Additional instrumentation is mounted overhead in the fiberglass hardtop as are the 24VDC Miya
Epoch electric teaser reels favored by offshore tuna and billfish anglers, and a rocket launcher is built into the aft aluminum rail. A single Release helm seat is standard and a second seat is optional.
Lounges to port and starboard ahead of the console offer plenty of seating and room to stretch. A Costa Clear three-sided enclosure provides comfort and protection. Viking’s legacy in building tournament contenders is obvious in the many features found in the 109-square-foot cockpit starting with the molded, non-skid deck with a 29-inch reach to the waterline. It was raining on test day and the surefootedness was appreciated.
Fish on, friends
A transom livewell, port and starboard insulated fish wells measuring 46 inches by 18
inches by 16 inches and fresh and raw-water wash-down systems are standard fare. The coaming is rounded and is comfortable when leaning against it during stand-up battles with sails, mahi and cobia. A walk-through transom door with a lift gate complements a swim step.
Underneath the coaming, tricolor LED lighting illuminates the cockpit. An aluminum mounting plate is laminated in the deck to accommodate a fishing chair or rocket launcher, and flush-mounted rod holders are conveniently placed. To port is a bait freezer inside a molded console with a removable fiberglass tray to handle a day’s worth of rigged
balao and mullet, which not only keeps the baits ready but also eliminates the clutter of a portable cooler on deck.
To starboard, lifting the molded console lid reveals a sink with a freshwater spigot and a board for cutting bait or rigging while underneath, a door opens to access four tackle drawers and accessory switches, including a temperature gauge for the freezer. Cushions atop the consoles make ideal perches for keeping out of the weather, watching baits in the wake and relaxing underway or at the dock.
Plenty of space to fight the big one.
A spacious master suite makes the most of storage space.
Make a great boat for families too.
Day Boat Vibes
With its traditional day-boat layout, the salon door is replaced by a Costa Clear curtain, but it opens the cockpit to the air-conditioned salon/command deck with 80 inches of
headroom and the option to install a lower helm station. For early season starts in the north or late season cruising and fishing, the lower helm station is a popular choice, especially with fishermen that go shorthanded.
The open salon design is a reminder of the style so well propagated by Palm Beach
Ryboviches and Pompano Beach Merritt boats way back when. To maximize the comfort and usefulness of the space, Viking has added a refrigerator, a U-shaped lounge and a
fiberglass hi-lo table to port that can convert to a berth and a starboard-side, 88-inch-long lounge with rod and tackle stowage below.
The command deck is especially inviting after returning to the dock and serves as a social area that makes the boat very flexible in its mission as both a capable hardcore fishing boat and family cruiser.
Peek Underneath
Electrically actuated rams lift the sole to expose each engine compartment, but a center hatch also provides access for quick daily checks. Viking’s attention to detail in the mechanical space is outstanding. The bright white Awlgrip-painted bilge lights up the area, and the slender, inline six-cylinder Cummins engines are accessible for routine maintenance and service. Racor fuel/water separators, seacocks, sea valves, and strainers are labeled and painted with white Awlgrip. Wire and plumbing runs are neat and chafe-protected.
Our test boat had a 13.5 kW Onan generator, a Seakeeper SK6 gyrostabilizer, accessible engine and house batteries in fiberglass boxes, a voltage stabilizer isolation transformer,
Dometic air conditioning, a Dolphin Pro battery charger, an oil exchanger system for draining and filling the engines, transmissions and the generator, a freshwater outlet for
keeping the machinery space clean, and a Delta-T ventilation system that provides fresh air supply and water intrusion suppression. Each diesel is equipped with a Y-valve to function as emergency bilge pumps.
‘Reel’ Living Space
Unlike big center console boats of similar length with a cuddy cabin, the 38 Billfish has actual overnight living accommodations three steps down from the salon deck. The
L-shape galley features a stainless steel sink, Corian countertop, Kenyon electric cooktop, Samsung microwave, and an Isotherm refrigerator and freezer. Teak cabinetry is abundant, and the electrical panel is eye level for ease of use. The spacious head
to port has a Dometic MSD, Corian countertop, teak vanity, and a better than full-size fiberglass shower stall with a glass door.
The master stateroom is forward with a bi-fold door for privacy, an island double berth with an innerspring mattress and stowage underneath, a pair of maple-lined hanging lockers, rod locker, TV and stereo. The air conditioning system services the lower accommodations, and the flooring throughout the area is custom Amtico vinyl. Hatches in the sole provide access to bilge pumps, shower sump, plumbing, and the like.
High Pedigree
This is the smallest Viking, but noting that even the sole hatches are framed with teak showcases its pedigree to its larger siblings.
The new Viking 68 Convertible not only lands granders, it does so in grand style.
The new Viking 68 Convertible drew public acclaim in late January. Fresh from the New Jersey factory, the company’s demo model took first place at the 55th Annual Buccaneer Sailfish Cup Tournament out of Palm Beach with 25 releases.
A week later at Viking’s VIP Boat Show Preview in the company’s Riviera Beach, Florida, facility, invitees swarmed over this exciting new model before the general public got a look at her mid-February during the Miami Yacht Show. Viking never has a problem attracting attention with its new models. This 68 is everything you would expect from the family-owned and operated company. Because their mantra is about building a better boat every day—as they have for the past 54 years.
Winner Winner, Tuna Dinner
Designed as a tournament winning contender, its fishing prowess is obvious the minute you step aboard. The bi-level, self-bailing cockpit is 176 square feet and includes an air-conditioned observation mezzanine with an extended flying bridge overhang. This provides shade and comfort below and is aptly suited for tropical fishing hot spots like Mexico, Costa Rica and beyond.
Mezzanine appointments include standard amenities like bait freezer capacity, tackle stowage, a refrigerated drink box built into the salon step, and access to the walk-in engine room. The lower pit is equipped with a walk-through transom door and a transom fish box that can double as a livewell to complement recessed wells.
If you prefer a topside livewell set-up, the corner scuppers can be set up with threaded drain fittings to minimize water on the deck. Rounded coamings provide comfort when working the fish to the boat for a fast release. Efficient use of available space includes side lockers under the coaming to stow gaffs and tag sticks. It also conceals the Glendinning cablemaster shore power cords, as well as DC outlets to power deep, drop equipment and kite and teaser reels.
Viking is known for customizing each boat to the owner’s needs. The company’s demo program allows it to wring out systems and equipment best suited to the vessel’s intent. Our test boat, for example, featured a dedicated ice discharge receptacle in the mezzanine and a Seakeeper SK 26 gyrostabilizer in the lazarette.
Superior Livability
A fiberglass, electric sliding door leads to the salon. While the cockpit is all about fishing, the yacht’s interior is elegant and plush. Viking’s partner, WBC Design, created an exquisite environment of beauty and detail that is accentuated by Viking’s walnut joinery throughout. A dayhead is to starboard immediately inside the door. To port, an L-shaped Dewberry sofa with stowage below and a hi-low cocktail table address the home theater on the starboard side, a 49-inch HD TV that rises from the walnut cabinetry. Forward on the port side is a four-seat walnut dinette on a raised platform, which conceals a sizeable drawer that slides out to accommodate fishing rods and other gear. The bulkhead forward of the dinette is a perfect spot for another HD TV that can also serve as a monitor to show the yacht’s electronic displays from the flying bridge.
The galley boasts Viking’s popular island arrangement which allows 360-degree access and makes it easy for two or three people to use without creating a logjam. The bi-level Cambria counters complement the three bar stools and the Amtico flooring. Sub-Zero under-counter drawer-style refrigerators and freezers with their large capacity are ideal for feeding guests while long-range cruising or making tracks on the tournament trail. A microwave/convection oven, a trash compactor, a garbage disposal in the stainless-steel, under-mounted sink, a four-burner electric cooktop, and plenty of stowage for supplies, cookware and utensils are all standard fare. Throughout the salon and galley, air conditioning flows quietly from walnut grills above the valances and window-framed lambrequins. Just forward of the galley cabinetry and adjacent to the companionway staircase, a walk-in pantry serves duty for stowage and electric accessories.
Tried and True
A helm station on the flybridge provides sweeping views while fishing.
Fishability outside, livability inside.
One thing missing in the salon is a step up to the galley level often seen on large convertibles to create more headroom in a stateroom below. That’s another subtle distinction about the way Viking designs its boats. Viking’s in-house design group and its demo crews use their boats vigorously. Constant tournament fishing and the travel those require between events allow the teams to fine-tune each model bow to stern. That includes items like headroom, so every onboard feature works and works well. The crew stateroom, for instance, with six-foot, four-inch headroom also offers secondary access through the engine room so the crew can tackle early chores without disturbing late sleeping guests. Upper and lower berths with innerspring mattresses, plenty of stowage, entertainment systems, and a nice size head with a fiberglass shower stall ensure that crew also travel first class.
Stately Staterooms
The master stateroom is a royal suite with plush carpeting, a queen-size walkaround bed with an upholstered headboard, end tables with reading lights, a 32-inch HD television, and a total of 18 drawers, lockers and other stowage compartments, not counting the bulk space beneath the bed. You could travel for a month and not wear the same outfit twice. Even so, there is a front-loading laundry center in the companionway as well as a deep linen closet and other stowage lockers. The master head features a Cambria countertop, a curved walnut vanity, a fiberglass shower stall with a seat and a custom one-piece door, Amtico flooring, an MSD system, and more stowage lockers. The forward stateroom is similarly outfitted with a queen-size bed and a private head and shower, while the port-side stateroom features upper and lower berths and private head facilities.
Viking’s reputation for its engine rooms displays similar 110-percent efficacy. Walking between the MTU 12V Series 2000 M96L engines supplied by Johnson & Towers is Disneyland for adults. Centerline headroom is six feet, six inches, and I had no problem walking outboard to reach batteries, the Spot Zero water system, the Aqua Matic desalinator, multiple Dometic air-conditioning units or other accessories. Our test boat had a second 29kW Onan genset (one is standard) with toolboxes atop each one. Forward on the port side is a dedicated room with the water heater, the MSD pump, condensate drains for the air-conditioning system and the Octoplex electrical distribution panel. Lifting a hatch exposes the central sea-water system that delivers ample flow to the livewells, wash down, ice chipper, air conditioning, and other critical water dependent units. The engineering is a textbook for proper installation with neat wiring, labeling, support, and chafe protection.
Steady at Sea
Taking the helm for a sea trial in the ocean off Atlantic City, the GPS blinked 42 knots a couple of times, but the top end remained at 40 to 41 throughout maneuvers. The sea had gentle swells, and the running surface displayed the due diligence Viking’s engineering group put into developing an effective strake pattern for the bottom. At speed, the water breaks away from the hull just forward of where the house begins and the strakes do a good job of throttling the spray.
It took a half hour of turning and cutting across the wakes before I could get so much as a few drops on the foredeck. Looking astern gives more clues to the bottom’s geometry: a very clean wake and minimal rooster tail. Even backing down was revealing, as the transom crown pushes water to the sides instead of digging in. The Viking 68 also utilizes the company’s proprietary VIPER steering with programmable independent rudders, which gives the boat amazing maneuverability matched to the swift throttle response from the quiet and clean-running MTU engines.
So fly
The flybridge is familiar to other large Viking stablemates with three Release Marine helm seats and a center console command station for good visibility over the long foredeck and cockpit. There is lounge seating with rod stowage underneath to port and starboard as well as a lounge forward. A big freezer, a refrigerated drink box, a sink, and freshwater outlet are among standard items. Our test boat also had an extensive navigation, communication and entertainment package installed by Atlantic Marine Electronics ($244,009), and a custom tuna tower/fishing ensemble from Palm Beach Towers ($180,786), both Viking subsidiaries, that allow the yacht to be delivered ready to fish and cruise, sometimes with special touches.
The PBT tower, for example, features aft contour legs that attach to the house to provide more walking space on the side decks and larger drop-down boxes for teaser reels and electronics in the hardtop overhead. This boat also had the new Furuno DFF3D multi-beam side-scanning sonar for deep water scouting and its new DRS25AX 3-D radar with a gearbox design and a high-powered magnetron for spotting birds feeding on surface baits.
To be sure, this new Viking is a hot ticket ready to fish, and the fish better watch out.
By Peter Frederiksen, Southern Boating September 2018
The Hatteras’s GT59 C Series blends contemporary design, outstanding open-water performance, and stellar fishability.
Roaming the docks of the 2018 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), I stop to admire the beautiful lines of the new Hatteras GT59 Convertible. From my view looking aft, I note the sharp, swept stem and curved forefoot designed to smoothly splice waves at high speed, and the significant chines are sure to keep the decks and the hull dry by deflecting spray well away from the hull. Those features are key for a sportfishing machine that can power up to reach an estimated, wide-open-throttle speed of more than 40 knots.
Most of all, I admire the prominent, outward-curved “Carolina” topside flare forward that adds increasingly greater buoyancy to help keep the bow up in big seas and provide additional spray deflection. That’s appropriate for an owner who wants to run to distant canyons with the knowledge that, like the four other models in the tournament-ready GT series, the GT59 is designed to get his crew out and back safely.
Safe & Sound
The Hatteras GT59 has three versions of twin Caterpillar C-32 ACERT diesel engines. They are rated at 1,600-hp, 1,800-hp or 1,900-hp.
Like those four sister ships that currently range from 45 to 70 feet LOA, the GT59 incorporates a well-regarded, variable degree hull form that warps from sharper sections forward to flatter sections aft that adds lift to the stern underway and, in concert with the wide chines, provides optimal roll stability for better all-around performance. Patented hull tunnels permit flatter driveshaft angles for maximum usable engine torque and thrust that adds relief from water pressure against the transom when backing down and maneuvering ability to keep the fish in play.
The large, 156-square-foot cockpit abounds with fishing and comfort features and is accented by beautiful tumblehome topside sections. Hull No. 1 on display at FLIBS and christened Hatterascal is graced with teak planking on the cockpit sole, a molded step to the starboard side deck and coamings. Beneath the teak and accessed by beautifully fit hatches, there are two insulated fish boxes with macerator, a large transom fish box that can serve as a livewell and a coaming cap for a transom door wide enough to board substantial game fish. Rod holder storage is abundant, and a bait freezer is under the mezzanine seat.
The Hatteras GT59, Hatterascal from overhead.
There’s more than enough storage for rods.
From one extreme to another, fishability to livability.
Views from the flybridge are wide-ranging.
Fish On
No matter how you fight fish: a stout mounting plate for a rocket launcher or fighting chair is securely affixed under the cockpit sole. Mezzanine seating for three to four people stretches across the aft bulkhead, and the back cushions are separated for air conditioning outlets that take the hot and humid out of spectating or waiting for a turn at the rods. Hawse holes for mooring lines accentuate a cockpit that is clear of line-snagging deck gear.
The Hatteras GT59 is fitted with a full tower from Carolina Custom Towers, a partner vendor with Hatteras, and it’s a primo piece of welding with joints ground smooth and polished to jewel-like perfection. An athwartships-facing ladder to starboard of the cabin entry door, which goes up and over the bait-and-tackle locker, is positioned properly for those transiting to and from the flying bridge; using it when the boat is rolling is far easier than ladders of those early years that faced forward. A bait freezer, two insulated storage boxes and a fridge for drinks are found under the mezzanine step. The addition of an optional Seakeeper stabilizer package might be a good choice for those who want to fish or cruise with the family.
The flying bridge is command central with a captain’s helm chair on the centerline that offers 360-degree views of the water around the boat, but more importantly, its location enables clear views of the cockpit. Hatterascal sports an optional teak helm pod in a high-gloss finish for the custom steering wheel and single-lever electric controls. For seating a few more fishermen, family and guests, a second helm chair is available as are two long lounges (with rod storage underneath) that flank the helm console. Removable, ladder-style seatbacks add two more observer positions to help keep a lookout for gamefish behind the boat. An even niftier feature is the double-wide lounge just ahead of the helm, which has plenty of room for storage or even an optional freezer.
Space for Everything
The console is nicely laid out, and more than wide enough for three large displays linked to a full suite of electronics. Hatterascal is equipped with three Garmin 8617 HD sunlight readable touchscreen MFDs completely integrated with a Garmin system package, including a 12kW open array radar, GSD-26 black box sounder, and much more. Tower electronics include a Garmin GPSMAP 7608 and backup controls for the autopilot and VHF.
When the focus shifts from fishing to cruising or entertaining, the main salon of the GT59 offers all the luxury an owner could ask for. Satin-finish teak figures prominently in the salon décor with a cabin sole of contemporary vinyl flooring and interior fabrics, wall coverings and countertops selected by Hatteras Design Center professionals.
Hatterascal’s high-gloss teak in lieu of the standard satin finish is stunning to the eye and to the touch. Large windows in the deckhouse sides and aft bulkhead offer wonderful views of surrounding waters and abundant natural lighting. Unexpectedly roomy is the best description of the salon layout, which features storage and a large TV screen to starboard beneath the window, a comfy sofa, and cocktail table aft to port and a wide-open, L-shaped galley anchored by a serving and food prep island with three comfortable stools to hang out with the chef.
Accommodations
Hatteras offers three distinct accommodation deck arrangements, starting with the standard three-stateroom, two-head layout (the master stateroom head is private and ensuite) with a starboard utility room. An optional third head arrangement replaces the utility room with a large day head with shower compartment to starboard that affords more privacy for the VIP guest stateroom forward. There’s a washer/dryer combo in a locker in the companionway.
For the serious fishing aficionado, the third arrangement configures the utility room as the Hatteras Integrated Tackle Storage (HITS) system designed with mission-specific safe storage of an owner’s collection of cherished rods, reels, and other gear. A 60/40 split berth arrangement option is available for the forward stateroom for dedicated fishermen with crew or lots of angler friends.
Hatterascal is already booked for a busy 2019 tournament season. Chris and Laura Jessen, who own the successful and well-known Fish Tank Sportfishing Team, along with their captain, Ben Horning, will campaign the GT59 from Abaco, Bahamas, in May to Cape May, New Jersey, in August. If you miss them on the trail, the folks from Hatteras headquarters in New Bern, North Carolina will help you find a dealer so you can see this impressive new yacht firsthand.
The Viking 58C became a sportfishing powerhouse with 110 models sold from 1991 to 2000. The second generation Viking 58C comes on strong with Viking’s signature walkaround, center console flybridge helm and spacious cockpit and observation mezzanine.
Ideal for the owner/operator family man or hardcore tournament competitor, the three-stateroom, two-head layout maximizes the vessel’s 17-foot, 9-inch beam, and the salon and galley arrangement provide the perfect mix of amenities for entertaining, relaxing or dining.
The 165-square-foot cockpit is outfitted with an arsenal of fishing equipment, such as fish boxes, a transom livewell, rod holders, freshwater and seawater washdowns, and freezer and cooler space in the mezzanine. Powered by twin MAN 1,400-hp diesel engines, the 58C runs to a top speed of 40 knots and cruises at 34.5 knots.
Paul Mann’s latest proves that determination, custom design and attention to detail blends a tournament fishing yacht with luxurious style and does so magnificently.
Walk into any marina and you’ll see a lot of white boats. There may be yachts, but if she’s there, you won’t miss the new Paul Mann 61-foot Jichi, a sportfisherman that draws attention with a striking color scheme of platinum and black accented with warm, polished teak.
She’s docked stern-to at the Cocoplum Yacht Club in Coral Gables, Florida. The rich, deep teak of the cockpit and mezzanine outlined by the faux teak toe rail and transom pulls eyes in before the gleaming upper deck and polished tower structure draw your attention upward. It’s easy to see this is one special boat.
First thoughts are of fishing. It’s impossible to miss the 47-foot outriggers, the abundance of rod holders and the Release Marine Rocket Launcher fighting chair in the cockpit. Clearly, the owner is an experienced tournament fisherman who enjoys the fight of billfish, but the meticulous styling says his good taste goes beyond sporting activities.
Inner Beauty
Paul Mann Custom Boats are recognized for their detailed woodwork, exceptional cabinetry, clean design, and unique detail that lends itself to the owner’s personality. “The overall design and look is me,” says builder/designer Paul Mann, “but the owner has his chance to come in and really express what he thinks he wants his boat to look like.”
The result is a smart, clean, contemporary, three-stateroom, three-head layout with megayacht appointments: cedar-lined hanging lockers, custom-built showers and sinks, Eurostyle flat panel doors and drawer fronts with push locks and concealed catches, carpeted cabins and bunk storage areas, custom headboards and upholstery, marble countertops below with Ice Crystal Quartzite countertops in the galley, custom dinettes, and electric window screen shades.
A complete entertainment system with TVs in the salon and in each cabin include Fusion, Bose, JL, Apple, and Samsung equipment throughout. With the addition of the Miele induction cooktop and microwave in the galley, the interior of this sportfish is more yacht than fishing boat.
Exterior Strength
Speaking of fishing, during a tournament, it’s key to get out to the grounds fast, more like, first. Twin Caterpillar Acert C32s provide 1,925 horsepower each that comfortably get on it at 40 knots even when seas are rough. The 1,750-gallon fuel tanks can keep the boat on the run for extended periods.
The hull is built with a cold molded jig method and uses three layers of 3/8-inch Okoume plywood on the bottom and three diagonally-planked layers of ¼-inch Okoume on the hull, each with fiberglass and epoxy between each layer, which make the structure glassed inside and out. “All of our boats, Carolina boats especially, have a sharp entry and a modest exit as far as deadrise, and that’s what makes it stable,” explains Mann.
“The spray rails come up and turn down just a little bit, and that’s what helps take the water. Just that little bit cups the water and gets her to roll and turn like she’s on an axis. You can down-wheel it hard, and she’ll roll right around in just about her length and never kick out or blow out. …When we’re running, say thirty knots, she sits on top of her spray rails. The only thing in the water is the bottom; there’s no water from the spray rails. That’s when you feel like you’ve done your job, when you get her to run right on her bottom.”
High-end finishes on Jichi’s galley.
You’ll find creature comforts in the master stateroom.
Hull of a Time
Paul Mann Custom Boats have a hull design that incorporates a subtle convexity that allows the boat to run much harder and faster in a heavier sea.
The boat is controlled from the bridge deck as well as the tower helm. The bridge centerline helm places all the controls and instruments within arm’s reach and eyesight. Therefore, it requires minimal movement on the captain’s part when in the thick of the action. The 360-degree unobstructed view from both locations allows clear visibility to what’s going on in and around the boat. The tower helm is offset for a larger display that helps when exposed to weather.
Three Release Marine helm chairs with custom satin finish cushions provide comfort at the bridge helm equipped with the latest in electronic and mechanical technology, including Garmin multifunction displays and KVH satellite communications. A clear, acrylic panel protects the displays while instruments are protected in an overhead compartment that opens when in use.
An ingenious safety feature for the helm is the valve setup incorporated into the steering system. Also, if steering on the bridge fails, valves under the helm can be shut off. This keeps the system pressurized and allow steering from the tower and vice-versa; the same valve setup is installed under the tower helm.
The bridge deck has two lounges forward of the helm that provide plenty of room for guests or the family to enjoy the open air and 360-degree views. Additionally, the area also provides lots of storage space for gear and rods. In front of the console, a cushioned seat conveniently houses a custom-built freezer.
The bridge is protected from the elements with a hardtop and removable front and side panels.
The Trenches
The cockpit is the heart of fishing on Jichi. Theequipment is configured for any style of fishing: Livewell systems are set up very specifically and rod holder systems are strategically placed. “Dredges and chains and teaser systems are set up very high-tech and easy for the captain to operate,” says Mann and adds that the tower and everything put in the tower was made to do certain types of fishing. The boat is set up to adjust from dredge fishing to kite fishing to trolling.
Custom-built pressurized livewells have quick-connect fittings. This means the tanks can be removed when trolling or entertaining. Adjusting the pressure of raw water pumped from the sea chest protects the bait. “Too much pressure can descale your bait, deoxidize them, [and make them] all look bad,” says Jichi skipper Capt. Hanibal Moya. “The bait when you’re kite fishing is what makes a difference from the guy fishing next to you. Your bait is everything when you live fish; it’s the difference from first to fifth [in a tournament].”
When it’s time to empty the wells or if seawater swamps the rail on back down, two three-inch and two two-inch drains quickly discharge the water from the cockpit.
A custom fish box with stainless steel liner along with Dometic freezers and refrigerator built into the mezzanine keep fish fresh and drinks cold. Four electric reel outlets under the washboards and six Release Marine heavy-duty, 30-degree rod holders with liners add to this yacht’s fishing arsenal.
Keep it Cool
In the heat of the battle, air conditioning keeps crew cool. Hidden slots built in the back bulkhead cool the cushions and provide a refreshing breeze. Mann tested overhead and corner chines for air-conditioning vents. Hence, he designed a slot system that provides direct cold air without seeing a grill. “I want you to feel the air conditioning, and I want you to have to find where it’s coming from,” he says.
Started from the bottom now we here
Paul Mann built his first yacht when he was 26 years old, a 52-footer. “ I’ve grown up around the original builders in our area that founded the Carolina boats,” he says. “I was very lucky in my life to have grown up in a fishing era and a boat building era in an area that went from building charter boats and boats to make a living on to yachts that fish.”
Mann started at the bottom, but celebrates 30 years in business in 2018. He’s learned to be consistent in the face of continuing change. By the looks of it, Mann has adapted to new materials, new electronics, and new processes. But he consistently builds magnificent fishing yachts that provide superior performance.
When it comes down to it, the real question remains: Sportfish or Center Console?
There is certainly no shortage of offshore fishing boats suited for bluewater missions. But a notable change over the last few years is the number of larger, outboard-powered center consoles that now compete on the fishing grounds with similar-sized convertibles, which, in the past, were the benchmark for many boat owners. So which is the king? Sportfish or Center Console?
The Convertible
A convertible with a flybridge command station, sizeable cockpit, and mezzanine, spreader supported outriggers, and available tuna tower covers all the bases a serious angler could possibly need. The flybridge offers unobstructed visibility for spotting tailing fish, slicks, rips, bird activity, and protection for navigating in all weather conditions, and there’s ample room for electronics. A centerline helm often has flanking lounges that conceal rod stowage below. Visibility to the cockpit is good for watching baits in the wash, beneath the kites and monitoring angler action below.
This sportfish has decidedly more space than a center console.
In the cockpit, there’s a bait rigging station, a freezer, tackle stowage, an ice chest, a livewell, below deck fish boxes, and a transom door. If the livewell is built into the transom, it also can serve as another fish box or rigged as a reservoir for live bait tuna tubes. A fishing chair or a rocket launcher adds more to the arsenal, and square footage allows the angler to fight his fish from the transom, while the crew has total access for landing or releasing the catch.
After hours, the convertible typically offers a full-featured, air-conditioned salon with entertainment systems. Nearby, a dinette and an adjacent galley—with refrigeration and other appliances powered with an auxiliary generator—makes the boat totally self-sufficient underway and at the dock.
Below, a private and self-contained head with a shower complements overnight accommodations in the staterooms. If the weather turns sour and your fishing plans change, the convertible gives you the opportunity to spend the day aboard the boat enjoying these amenities. Similarly, with its accommodations, the convertible serves as a moveable vacation home for the family that wants to both fish and cruise.
Years ago, the convertible was the step up for boat owners wanting the next best big thing. But it also meant learning more about maintenance and internal ship systems such as running gear and diesel engines, and understanding how an inboard boat handles differently from one with outboards.
The Center Console
Meanwhile, center console builders are not anchored down by their designs. The center console first appeared in the early 1960s as a simple and practical fishing boat. It was a design not unlike a Swiss army knife that could pull off just about any type of inshore fishing assignment. As the style grew in size, more creature comforts such as T-tops and small heads in the console became the norm.
But nothing changed the complexion of the center console as much as the explosive growth of fuel-efficient outboard motors that exceed the 500-horsepower mark. Coupled with two, three, four, or even five outboards with available joystick controls, the operator enjoys fingertip ease maneuverability on center consoles exceeding 50 feet in length.
With design cues from convertible boat manufacturers, today’s center consoles are equipped with features for fishing and cruising. The appeal is broad. Everyone from tournament anglers to their families can appreciate a center console. First and foremost, multiple engine packages deliver heady cruising speeds in the 30- and 40-knot range. Some boats can blaze across the water at better than 50 knots. On the days you can utilize all this speed, an operator can be the first one to hit prime territory and stay there longer when the fish are still chewing.
The intrinsic beauty of the center console layout is the use of space. Working lines all around the boat and dunking live baits from kites are reasons why crews on big center consoles often win release tournaments. A midship-located helm station provides protection for the operator and generally good visibility. On acceleration, bow rise is mitigated with engine trim until the boat is up on plane.
More is More?
Larger boats also benefit with a tower helm above the hardtop. Windshield design varies from a wraparound plex or acrylic screen to an anodized or powder-coated frame. Get more protection against wind, spray, and rain with a clear vinyl enclosure. Engine instrumentation and multi-function display electronics fit neatly in the dash. Drink holders, stowage bins and aptly placed grab rails are a nice touch. There is more overhead stowage when the boat has a T-top.
Most center consoles have two or three seats or a leaning post. But sea conditions and speed over the water will determine whether you are sitting or standing when underway. Handholds are important in any case.
Inside the console of larger models, there is room for amenities. That could be a head compartment, a refrigerator, a cooktop, or a convertible dinette for a berth that’s cozy for two. Some smaller-sized center consoles are configured with lower compartments. However, space is better suited for stowing fishing rods and safety gear.
Abaft the seats is where the center console boat builder shows its expertise. There’s stowage for fishing tackle, a drink cooler, rod holders, and similar gear. This is a good location for a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer, space permitting, so consider other stowage and fish box areas. Some builders offer galley features in the cockpit, such as a freshwater sink, electric grill, and a refrigerator. If so, you will need a generator and a water tank to operate these items underway.
The stern is obstructed by outboards. This means fishing off the side. Considering you have the rest of the boat to walk around, it is hardly an issue. When you have multiple hook-ups, it can be an advantage in quick releases and tossing over fresh baits to a lit-up school of sails. Some center consoles have a small door to the swim platform and the engine mechanical. Others have a side door, often preferred when diving and swimming.
In the End
Both convertible and center console boats are adaptable, and each serves as an excellent platform for fishing. Center consoles without a lower compartment don’t offer a place to get out of the weather. Nor all of the amenities typically found aboard a convertible. However, they provide anglers space all around the boat. They can also be less expensive to maintain. And you can go home with you on a trailer at the end of the day to eliminate dockage costs. The key to choosing is to be sure you know how you plan to use the boat. So you tell us: what’ll it be? Sportfish or Center Console
Boat building is an art. Jaruco, formerly known as Project Ireland from Jarrett Bay, proves it.
Built using advanced techniques, the 90-foot custom sportfish sports a carbon fiber bridge, cabin, decks, and stringer system. Jaruco is the world’s first sportfish to use carbon fiber. Technical aspects aside, watching the build process in this video from Jarrett Bay really highlights the art of boat building.
Jaruco was built to ABS class standards and pushes the envelope for efficiency and safety. The flagship project was led by an owner with long-distance fishing dreams.
Carrying 4,400 gallons of fuel, she’ll be able to go far and fast. 2,600-hp 16-cylinder MTUs that propel her into the mid-40s.
Lightweight construction helps in this endeavor: carbon fiber stringers and bulkheads, titanium shafts and ultra-thin marble veneer flooring. There are six staterooms, including a full-beam master and two separate crew quarters, and the finish throughout is impeccable.
Jarrett Bay builds lightweight, rigorously-engineered boats that deliver cruise speeds in the high 30-knot range and easily attain a top-end of over 40-knots.
The Viking 44 Open delivers on so many levels, you’d swear she’s a lot bigger boat.
When Viking decided to beef up the other end of its sportfish boats, it introduced the 37 Billfish and a 42 Open outfitted with pod drives. Seeing an opening for yet another size slot to fill, Patrick Healey, the company’s president, and CEO, along with his design and engineering team, decided on a 44 Open with traditional drives to join the company’s much-admired line-up. But don’t let her size fool you. At 44 feet, she packs in all the horizon-chasing, battlewagon DNA found in her larger sisterships.
“We wanted the 44 Open to appeal to those coming out of the center consoles or new boaters looking for a family-oriented, easy-to-run sportfish that can and will offer comfort, safety, and our Viking performance,” remarked Healey. “She’s even a practical solution for those wishing to downsize as well.” Her sleek and low profile, subtle bow rake and eye-pleasing, gentle sheer all combine with the design of the wraparound windshield as it rises up from the foredeck to present that unmistakable Viking look. However, it is from the bottom up that the real story about this boat begins.
Built at the Mullica, New Jersey facility, a strong, resin-infused hull is a hallmark of a Viking build no matter the size and something the company has continually been developing over their 50+ years in operation. A hull-to-deck joint is utilized and again, is typically found in all its sportfish boats. “A sealed flange joint Is through-bolted and fiberglassed from the inside making the resulting structure extremely strong and watertight,” said General Manager John Leek IV.
Going the Distance
Viking goes the distance to ensure the entire Viking 44 Open is as robust as possible. The stringers are glassed to the hull then the floors are secured to the stringers and glassed to the hull. The bulkheads are also glassed to the floor and then into the hull and deck. “Everything that goes into that boat construction-wise comes together in a very strong, solid structure. It’s not any one thing but a combination of techniques,” Leek noted.
Leek’s statement rang true as no matter where I examined, whether it be door or hatch opening or closing, or underfoot on her decks, her sturdy build was quite evident. In the Awlgrip-finished engine room—accessed via the forward part of the cockpit area—and being a hands-on skipper myself, I found more than ample space around the pair of standard 800-hp MAN I6 diesels to do all critical maintenance checks or work, as well as having an easy reach to all pumps and switches. The dedicated space for the Seakeeper is also located here. In addition, there were some more important construction details to note.
Viking uses an aluminum extrusion, referred to as a saddle, affixed to the stringer creating a full-length engine bed. Getting it right is important, and Leek noted the exact positioning of the vibration isolators and the engine mounts themselves. “Making sure the drive train is aligned and sitting securely on those beds is essential to the smooth, stable ride of the boat,” he said. Other points are her main structural bulkheads with the light resin transfer method utilized on all lids, doors and hatches. In addition, the fuel tanks are infused and built integral to the hull.
Easy Owner Operations
With boats of this size being traditionally owner operated, Viking made sure everything that fits this profile was put aboard making the experience as good as it gets. “From families to a bunch of friends going out for a day or even several days of fishing, we can offer a package complete with everything they would need,” added Healey.
One merely has to step aboard the 119-square-foot cockpit area to know she is built for comfort and safety and ready for action. Along with the requisite in-sole fish boxes, I found a transom livewell and lazarette aft, a deck with deep channels to quickly drain deck water, and dedicated space already supplied for a Seakeeper gyro in the engine room. The mezzanine is set to starboard to accommodate the port-side access to the command deck and provides up close and personal seating for all the fishing action that is sure to happen there.
I particularly liked the centerline helm mounted on a raised platform. Given the large wraparound windshield, with its posts pushed back on either side to create a single, centerpiece of glass, I could see, even at the dock, the great sightlines afforded with the design.
Indeed, when I got to drive her once we were out on the ocean, whether doing hole shots, tight circles and turns, running straight and true, or backing her down hard where I
noted she pirouetted like a prima ballerina—all a testimony to her fine design and engineering—my view into the seaway was just as it should be. And, of course, there is the essential custom tower by Palm Beach Towers, a Viking subsidiary. By the way, this association allows the company to always have direct influence on the design, fit and finish, and quality control. The expert electronics install is courtesy of Viking’s own Atlantic Marine Electronics.
To port of the helm is a built-in console housing a tackle center, refrigerator, and storage locker. Over on the starboard side and aft is a seating area with a table. Access to the living accommodations is also to port, and Viking utilized every square inch of space to provide a livable and comfortable area in which to enjoy the time, whether it be overnight or longer periods after a day of fishing or cruising.
Livability Aboard
The seating area on the Viking 44 Open has ah a table is to port and a quite comfortable alternative sleeping area for weary fishermen after time spent in the cockpit. Opposite from the full galley is all the counter space and equipment necessary for complete meal preparation. The breaker system for the entire boat is on the aft bulkhead. “Our design means you do not have to go searching for a particular breaker. It’s all here,” remarked Healey.
The generous forepeak quarters, with a shared head to the central room, offer Viking’s attention to detail and excellent fit and finish work, as does the second stateroom located aft and under the command deck. Again, it’s a great space in which to catch some rest from angling action or for the kids to continue their adventures while underway, at anchor or in for the night. Regardless of where I looked, I found more than adequate storage room throughout the boat in which to pack clothing, fishing equipment, and food and drinks for extended time away from the dock.
All of this comes together in a very exciting package once the hull hits the water and she is off to fish or cruise. On my test day, with a rolling sea offshore of Atlantic City, New
Jersey, we were able to put this Viking 44 Open through her paces. I found her to be a nimble, quick-to-react boat, answering the helm with all the attitude of a sports car as interpreted by Viking. She is definitely the kind of Viking ready and willing to take her place in the company’s prestigious line-up of sportfishing boats. Healey is proud to say, “We strive to build a better boat each and every time.”
With the Viking 44 Open, it’s easy to see they’ve done it again.
Specifications
LOA: 45′ 1″ Beam: 16′ 4″ Draft: 3′ 10″ Gross Weight (Standard Fuel): 49,500 lbs. Fuel/Water: 845/120 gals. Power: 2x 800-hp MAN I6 diesels Cruise/Top Speed: 30/34.5-35 knots (depending on fuel load) Range at cruise: 345 nm Price (base): $1,315,000 Contact: Viking Yachts vikingyachts.com or (609) 296-6000
Viking Yachts debuts two models: the 68 Convertible (68’7″ LOA, 19’2″ beam) and the 44 Convertible (45’1″ LOA, 16’4″ beam). The 68 C is a four-stateroom, blue-water convertible with advanced propulsion and boat control technologies. The 68 C is designed and engineered to function equally as well as a tournament ready offshore runner and a cruising yacht. The optional Seakeeper gyro stabilizer heightens the level of comfort, and anglers do battle in a 176-square foot cockpit, guests watch from an air-conditioned mezzanine. Running on Viking’s proven hull shape with a 12.1-degree transom deadrise, she has a 35-knot cruising speed and a top end approaching 40-plus knots.
Also new, the two-stateroom 44 C features a raked bow, sloping sheer and swept-back deckhouse with a black-masked windshield. With nearly six feet of freeboard, the 44 C’s bow shoulders aside the seas with ease. The boat’s wave-slicing entry gradually flattens moving aft where the deadrise provides lift and support for exceptional performance. The chines and strakes knock down spray, but also contribute to lift and stability.
Jarrett Bay, the custom sportfish builder, shows off its biggest and most advanced creation, Jaruco (formerly Project Ireland, 90′ LOA, 22′ 6″ beam), in Fort Lauderdale. Built to ABS class standards, the flagship project was led by an owner with long-distance dreams who pushed the envelope for the ultimate in safety and efficiency. Carrying 4,400 gallons of fuel, she’ll be able to go far and fast with 2,600-hp 16-cylinder MTUs that propel her into the mid-40s.
Lightweight construction helps in this endeavor: carbon fiber stringerss and bulkheads, titanium shafts and ultra-thin marble veneer flooring. Six staterooms are incorporated, including a full-beam master and two separate crew quarters, and the finish throughout is impeccable.
Since opening the doors to its new facility in Tampa, Florida, last year, Bertram has rolled out seven of its latest 35-foot models. At this year’s show, it will display the 35 (35′ 1″ LOA, 12′ 5″ beam) in full sportfishing regalia. The deep-V hull that started it all more than five decades ago is still the cornerstone of the smooth ride, while the flybridge up top is the perfect vantage point to spot the fish. In between are many semi-custom options to design the 35 your way. Thanks to twin 500-hp Caterpillars, the 35 tops out at a swift 40 knots.
Angler’s Delight
Looking for a new sportfishing boat? These 13 builders have some of the best designs currently on the market. Our Sportfish Buyers Guide makes browsing easy.
You’ve probably noticed the increase in traffic in the inlets and along the shores as the big sportfishing boats come out to prowl. The parade routinely includes custom-everything yachts as well as semi-custom production boats, most with breathtaking lines and many with gleaming varnish. Here’s a look at some of the newest, or best-known, designs you’re sure to see—and to admire.
When Robert Roscioli designed the R-58, he made it available in three custom configurations—Express, Sport Cruiser and Convertible. It is easy to admire the low, sleek hull (LOA 58′; Beam 17’8″; Draft 4’10”) on which all three layouts are based.
Twin 1,600-hp Detroit Diesel/MTU 10V2000 common-rail diesels turn traditional shaft drives and propel the boat to a cruising speed of 32 knots and a max speed of 40-plus knots. Standard tankage for the Roscioli Donzi is 175 gallons of water and 1,500 gallons of fuel, but there is an option to increase fuel tankage in the Convertible to 1,660 gallons. The well-laid-out flybridge features a large helm console to port with a centerline wheel and a pair of custom helm chairs that have good views of the action in the cockpit.
Never Enough is a cold-molded, two-stateroom Whiticar Custom Convertible (LOA 56′; Beam 17’6″; Draft 5′) designed by Robert Ullberg, with an interior by Sam Rowell of SR Marine Interiors. Power is supplied by a pair of MTU 8V2000CR M94 diesels with a conventional drive train. Tankage is 1,350 gallons of fuel, with 180 gallons of water.
The yacht will cruise at 29 knots turning 1,950 rpm, and top out at 38 knots turning 2,350 rpm. She has classic deckhouse lines, a reverse sheer that breaks just ahead of the large main cockpit and rises forward to handle big waves easily, and sports a full tuna tower. Her interior is remarkable for its rich wooden finishing and joinery and its classic layout.
