Tag: sportfish

Viking 38 Billfish

Viking 38 Billfish

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.

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.

Specifications

LOA: 38′ 8″
Beam: 14′
Draft: 3′ 4″
Displacement: 30,954 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 460/69 gal.
Cruise/Max Speed: 31/35 knots
Power: 2x Cummins QSB 6.7 @ 550-hp
Price: On request

Contact

Viking Yacht Company
(609) 296-6000
vikingyachts.com

By Peter Frederiksen, Southern Boating June 2019

Viking 68 Convertible

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

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

Specifications:

LOA: 68′ 7″
Beam: 19′ 2″
Draft: 5′ 5″
Displacement: 115,306 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 2,060/344 gals.
Test Power: 2x 1,945-hp MTU 12V Series 2000 M96L
Cruiser/Top Speed: 32.6/40.9 kts
Range: 496nm @ 32 knots
Price: $4,065,000 (base)

Contact:

Viking Yachts
(609) 296-6000
vikingyachts.com

 

Sportfish or Center Console?

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

By Peter Frederiksen, Southern Boating June 2018

The Art of Boat Building: Jaruco

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.

More about Jaruco and Jarett Bay Boatworks.

Viking 44 Open

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

By Ken Kreisler, Southern Boating December 2017

Viking debuts new Sportfish and Motoryacht

Joining the Viking fleet this Fall is the 44 Open express sportfisher and the 93 Motor Yacht, the largest Viking has ever built. The 44 Open (45′ 1″ LOA, 16′ 4″ beam) is a new design delivering in equal parts fishability and accommodating quarters—underscored by performance, of course. Helping with the first is a tournament-ready cockpit and tuna tower with complete electronics.

Accommodations are aided by the extra-wide beam. For the queen 93 (93′ 5″ LOA, 24′ 4″ beam), Viking designers packed in everything on an experienced yachtsman’s shopping list: an enclosed bridge, a congenial country kitchen, a full-beam master
with private entry, four additional staterooms, two-cabin crew quarters, two decks of wet bars, lounges and alfresco dining, sunpads at the bow, and dinghy stowage aft.

vikingyachts.com

Return to the FLIBS 2017 Preview

Bertram 35

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.

bertram.com

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Roscioli Donzi Yachts

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.

donziyachts.com

Whiticar Custom Convertible

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.

whiticar.com

Merritt Custom 86

Merritt’s Boat and Engine Works Beginning in 1955, when brothers Buddy and Allen combined their talents to build vessels for South Florida fishermen, a custom boat bearing the Merritt family name has always been a proven, desirable platform for catching fish.

Today, the custom fishing boats emerging from the Pompano Beach, Florida, yard, that was started back in 1948, range right up to a Merritt Custom 86, with luxurious amenities that far outstrip the bare-bones features of the first builds.

Currently, the yard is busy with the construction of a 66 and an 86, with the most recent launch being a 72 named My Love. One thing has not changed over the years—the yard is renowned for the craftsmanship of its builders.

merrittboat.com

Rybovich and Sons Custom 86 Sportfish

Persistence is a Michael Rybovich and Sons custom 86 Sportfisherman, a recent launch with four ample staterooms, including an amidships master suite. The yacht has a contemporary interior by Elizabeth Dalton of Dalton Designs that takes maximum advantage of the stunning wood and joinery to create a lush, comfortable environment family and guests.

The flybridge is massive, with loads of seating and storage for guests, finished in white with varnished accents and protected by a large hardtop. There’s seating for four to five on the mezzanine, which is replete with storage lockers.

A pair of 2,600-hp MTU 16V2000 M94 diesels help this yacht (LOA 86′; Beam 21’6″; Draft 5′; Displ. 125,000 lbs.) achieve top speeds of 45 knots and cruise at 35 knots.

michaelrybovichandsons.com

Bertram 35

Unless you were sleeping at the switch, you undoubtedly know that Bertram is back, with a 35 that pays homage to the renowned 31-footer that helped Richard Bertram build an empire of tough, hardcore sportfishing yachts.

The new 35 is from the board of Michael Peters, with a longer and beamier version of the iconic Bertram 31 and retains its classic style and desirable rough-water ride. (The new design has a deadrise of 22 degrees.)

The 35 (LOA 35′; Beam 12’5″; Draft 2’6″; Half-load Displ. 20,800 lbs.) will be offered in cruising and fishing configurations, with twin 460-hp Caterpillar C7 diesels aimed at 40-knot top speeds. Attractive options include a bow thruster to help move the nose around authoritatively in cross winds and a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer to help ensure comfort aboard for family and guests.

bertram.com

Hatteras GT 70

The Hatteras GT 70 Convertible fuses the renowned builder’s reputation for toughness and reliability with luxury and comfort afloat. Designed with the performance-minded tournament angler in mind, the GT 70 (LOA 70’6″; Beam 21’4″; Draft 5′; Displ. 120,000 lbs.) has a fuel capacity of 2,140 gallons and standard twin 1,900-hp CAT C32A diesels, which provide cruising speeds in the mid 30-knot range and top-end speeds of more than 40 knots, according to the builder.

The five-stateroom layout includes two suites with double berths and three with Pullman berths, along with crew quarters. Mezzanine seating offers comfortable viewing, as well as a place for the next fisherman in the queue to get ready for the fight. Twin custom helm chairs have excellent views of the action in the cockpit.

hatterasyachts.com

Viking 48 Open

Based on its proven and successful  48 Convertible hull, the new  Viking 48 Open (LOA 49’1″; Beam 17′; Draft 4’8″; Displ. 66,342 lbs.) is designed with the serious fisherman in mind.

The 124-square-foot cockpit has aft-facing seating on a split mezzanine, plenty of storage, easy under-steps access to the engine room, and separate coolers for bait and drinks. The transom has a large door and liftgate for boating big fish, as well as family and guests, plus a livewell. The oversized lazarette will accommodate a ton of gear and a Seakeeper 9 gyro stabilizer.

Several MAN diesel engine options offer performance up to 39 knots at the top end and will cruise efficiently in the low to mid-30 knot range.

vikingyachts.com

Jarrett Bay Boatworks

Builder’s Choice is Jarrett Bay’s fourth custom hull built for a well-known family in the sportfishing community, and it is the largest boat to date for those owners (LOA 64’8″; Beam 18’8″; Draft 5’4″; Displ. 78,000 lbs.). Power for this yacht is a pair of CAT C32 ACERT diesels in a conventional drive configuration.

The boat carries 1,800 gallons of fuel and 275 gallons of water. With a raised mezzanine for spectators, the cockpit has three teak-planked levels, a mid-height step with storage, a 140-square-foot main level with room all around, and a custom fighting chair.

The spacious bridge contains a large console, room for two custom chairs with a good view of the cockpit and a huge lounging area forward. The luxurious salon is warm and comfortable. jarrettbay.com

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