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Building a Legacy with Viking Yachts

• By Lenny Rudow
• Updated: July 2, 2021

When brothers Bob and Bill Healey bought Peterson-Viking Builders in April 1964, there was no way they could have foreseen a future including two New Jersey manufacturing facilities totaling over 910,000 square feet; about 1,500 employees; close to 5,000 hulls delivered; ownership of companies that handle aluminum tower fabrication, marine electronics and marine service; and dominance of the production sport-fishing yacht market. Yet, that’s where five-plus decades of boatbuilding has brought them.

Today, Viking Yachts produces 90 percent of every boat in-house, leaving only components such as engines to other companies. The builder offers six different lines of boats ranging from 38 to 93 feet length overall. And the brand is constantly upgrading, re-engineering and refining its designs and construction methods. Even the most successful models have been regularly retired through the years, to make way for new and improved versions.

“Take our 55 for example,” says president and CEO Pat Healey. “That boat was a total icon. It had new styling, a new bottom, a new layout and used new materials. And it started an entire family of yachts leading to the 61, the 65, the 74—all were insane successes.”

Whether it’s utilizing resin-infusion construction, tweaking engine-room vents, or developing a unique electrohydraulic rudder-steering system, the company has maintained a forward-looking attitude, harnessing the latest tech to build better yachts.

“We can do almost everything by computer today. We even tank-test boats virtually now,” Healey says, “and we can do it over a dozen times in a couple of days. We can move strakes, change the center of gravity and tweak just about anything. As a result, our latest models don’t just meet our projections—they beat them.”

Also recently, Viking entered the center-console market with the Valhalla Boatworks brand. Valhallas range from 33 to 46 feet length overall and are powered by twin to quadruple outboards. Running on a Michael Peters stepped-V ventilated-tunnel, twin-step hull design, these boats can hit hat-stripping speeds of 60-plus knots. While on board the V-41, I found that it comfortably cruised in the mid-40-knot range through 2- to 3-foot seas.

Why did a builder so successful with yachts decide to enter the center-console market?

“The project was actually in the works on and off for nearly two decades,” says Viking’s director of communications, Chris Landry. “It didn’t get off the ground until now due to the market, business strategies or other reasons, but it’s something we always wanted to do.”

Innovation is in Viking’s DNA. The fact that the company builds everything it can in-house is part of the innovative philosophy, and Healey says the technique is vital to success.

“We found 30 years ago that building our own parts in our own facility gave us timeliness, quality, and the ability to trace what works best and what can go wrong,” he says. “And it’s part of why we’ve turned into what’s really a marine group, with our subsidiaries Palm Beach Towers and Atlantic Marine Electronics. The vendors were good, but we wanted better. We wanted the best of the best. So, we took control and did it ourselves.”

In-house construction means quality control, whether it’s finely finished cabinetry, ramrod-straight and labeled wiring harnesses, or baffled fuel tanks. That quality also lets Viking service all aspects of the yacht post-purchase. When something does go wrong—we are talking about boats, after all—Viking knows how to remedy the situation. Being able to do so quickly and with minimal effort is one reason Viking purchased a South Florida service center in Riviera Beach and staffed it with Viking-trained personnel.

“It’s part of the commitment we have to our owners,” Healey says. “We pick up the phone. We take care of our customers. You can talk to a Healey. That’s the kind of boatbuilding team my father wanted us to be.”

Viking’s latest projects include a $1.4 million dredging and dock replacement at its New Gretna shipyard in New Jersey. At Viking’s Mullica facility, also in New Jersey, the builder is developing an additional 12,000 square feet of space where the four Valhalla production lines are located. Despite the line’s fledgling nature, Viking expects to build 90 Valhalla hulls in the next fiscal year.

Research and development into new tech also continues on the inboard side. To say that Healey gets animated when asked about the future of Vikings would be an understatement.

“I 100 percent believe that diesel-hybrid technology is close and will be a game-changer for marine,” he says in a rapid-fire staccato. “I can envision running to the fishing grounds on your mains, then shutting them down and ramping up a variable-speed diesel-electric generator. You could then troll all day on electric before running back home on the mains. That could cut engine hours by 70 percent, which alone is huge. But there’s also the potential to use the electric with the mains to get extra horsepower. We’ve been working on this for five years, and it’ll be a few years more, but it’s coming.”

Note Healey’s use of the word “we” when he talks about developing these systems. Viking isn’t waiting for other companies to announce new diesel-electric tech. Viking is hands-on in the development.

Because after nearly 60 years, that’s exactly what everyone has come to expect of Viking Yachts.

Take the next step: vikingyachts.com

• More: April 2021 , Viking Yachts , Yachts
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Meet Pat Healey

• By Peter Frederiksen
• Updated: March 9, 2018

A second-generation boatbuilder, Pat Healey heads up Viking Yacht Co. as its president and CEO. The company is family owned and operated, with plants spanning some 800,000 square feet on the banks of the Bass River in New Gretna, New Jersey, and on the Mullica River, a short ride from the bright lights of Atlantic City. In its last fiscal year alone, Viking built 79 sport-fishing boats, from 37 to 93 feet, and it’s on track to continue its tremendous success in 2018 and beyond.

What were your first jobs when your father, Bill, and uncle Bob Healey started Viking Yachts in 1964? Viking was building wooden boats back then. I was probably 10 years old and would come to the factory with my father on Saturdays. My first job was in the green oil department: The insides of the hulls needed multiple coats of green wood preservative, so I used a big paint brush on a long stick and slopped the thin oil everywhere so it would be absorbed into the grain of the wood. I plugged the teak decks and was taught that each plug needed to have the grain going in the right direction, and I also packed oakum yarn between the hull planks with a putty knife.

Did you know right away boatbuilding would be your career? Pretty much. And any time I complained about how hard the work was, my father told me a thousand times that growing up in a boatyard was better than being on an iron pile, which is how he and my uncle Jerry grew up. When I bitched, my father would ask, “So, you want to go to the iron pile? Come on, I’ll take you to Uncle Jerry.”

Which departments have you worked in? During high school and college, I worked throughout the summer months and part time when I could, and I worked in all aspects of boatbuilding. I spent 10 years full time in production, and enjoyed the fiberglass work because I was a surfer and fixing surfboards was a given in my early teen years. But I also fixed up old boats — Wellcrafts and other rehabs. I wanted to learn how to do all this, and I enjoyed it. I spent a lot of time in mechanical setups and basically went through the whole company. Eventually, Rudy Dalinger put me in charge of the trim section and I worked there for about three years. I became a service supervisor and finally went into sales.

How did Hatteras and Bertram influence Viking designs? My father would wake me up before the crack of dawn when we were at the boat shows in New York, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and we would study the Hatteras and Bertram displays. They had a lot of great ideas, and each time we came away with improvements. We always built a great boat, from the early 1970s, but our boats had what I call a Jersey style, while the others had their North Carolina and South Florida looks. They had that panache. So we set out to change the style, and it began appearing in our 35-, 41- and 46-foot convertibles. We could sell boat for boat with Hatteras and Bertram in the Northeast, but they would kick our ass everywhere else.

What is the driving force at Viking? To build a better boat every day, a mantra my father came up with a long time ago. We strive to out-design, out-build and out-service everyone. In 1995, I was the vice president of sales overseeing marketing, sales and service. My father and I were butting heads on design. I wanted to incorporate the ideas of the younger members of our team. We were hardcore fishermen. So in 1996, my father gave us a shot with Bruce Wilson and his son David, Drew McDowell, Lonni Rutt and me. We reviewed the custom boatbuilding world and took those great features that were focused on chasing billfish around the world and incorporated those into the Viking 55 Convertible. In the fall of 1997, we launched our first 55. By the time the boat appeared at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, we had sold the first 20 hulls. It became one of the most successful boats in our history and accomplished an equally important mission of delivering the boats on time, which to this day remains a company benchmark.

How do you stay in touch with your customers? We are all eyes and ears at fishing tournaments and boat shows. We are still learning every day. If we can tweak something to make it better, we do. It could be changing the layout of the mezzanine or tackle center, fine-tuning the livewell so you don’t lose bait, or tweaking the props. We stay on top of everything we build.

So rather than chase success, you make it happen. To be successful, you surround yourself with the right people. That box is checked: We have the best. You need to stay current on available materials and methods used to build the boats to make them stronger, lighter, more fuel efficient and faster with available horsepower. It’s important to be on the leading edge, whether it’s in fiberglass, resins, generator technology, steering or electrical systems. It’s important to build boats that are Seakeeper ready, which we have done for the past 10 years. Knowing the next big item in the industry helps us build that better boat. We spend $12 million a year in our research and development, and that is a critical investment over the long haul.

How has the Viking acquisition of the former Ocean Yachts plant played out? Ocean’s John Leek III wanted to retire, and he approached me about acquiring his 100,000-square-foot facility, which is only 9 miles from New Gretna, and I didn’t think twice. But I wanted two things in addition to the plant: the 37 Billfish, because it was a nice design although it never had a real chance to be successful because of the timing of its introduction in 2008. I also wanted John Leek IV to come work for Viking because he is an outstanding boatbuilder. In our first full year, we built 35 Vikings in that facility, from 37 to 52 feet. The plant, which we call Viking Mullica, allows us to free up space on our four production lines in New Gretna for our larger convertibles as well as our line of motoryachts.

What does Viking have in store for the 2018 model year? The 68 Convertible premiered at our VIP Preview and then again at the Miami International Boat Show. We also have a new 44 Open and Convertible, as well as a 68-foot Enclosed Bridge on the way.

Who do you admire in the industry? I look up to the boat­builders. They know who they are because I shake their hand and give them a hug and say there are not many of us left. That’s who I admire. We need more boatbuilders to keep this industry going.

Read Next: Viking 92 – Boat Review

What is your favorite type of fishing? My favorite is billfishing, but right behind it is striper and flounder fishing. I just enjoy a bent rod. The reason I enjoy billfish so much is the interaction with all the other teams on the dock. There is nothing like it: the camaraderie, having a beer on the dock box in the afternoon, eating a slice of pizza in the cockpit, rigging baits till midnight, working on the boat. All the challenges that go along with tournament and fun fishing are just awesome. I have the same passion for stripers and flounder, but there’s more at stake when you’re billfishing. It’s a bigger rush.

• More: Sport Fishing Boats , Viking Yachts

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by Magnus Thiersmann

How Viking Yachts Continually Improves to Dominate the Sportfish Market

Jun 29, 2018 | Bluewater Perspective , Featured , Industry News , News , Viking Yachts | 0 comments

With 54 years of boat building in their wake, there is no argument that Viking Yachts is a major industry player, if not the single most influential sportfish builder in the world. In addition to a strong dealership network (in which Bluewater can claim over 30 years of partnership), climbing to the top of the production sportfish market has required a great deal of innovation and re-investment.

With President and CEO Patrick Healey at the helm, the Viking Yacht Company has a remarkable history of investments. The Healeys have always believed in ongoing improvements.

It’s never over, and they’re never satisfied with just carrying on. Now with three facilities in two states, Viking has an immense amount of square footage and equipment to keep up with. Simply learning more about the long string of well-planned improvements that got them to this point can be a journey in itself.

Viking got their start in 1964 with a small 26,000 sq. ft. building on a 100-acre plot of land. For their first 15 years of business, they made the best use of their space and the adjacent boat basin. From 1980-83, two new buildings were constructed that were both considerably larger and taller than the original facility. Production steamed ahead in these new digs through the 80s and 90s, as many other upgrades and additions were made to increase efficiencies, improve production processes and streamline team workflows.

After taking a leading role in surviving and repealing the nineties luxury tax, by the turn of the millennium, Viking was reaping the benefits of a recovered marine industry. Their immense success with new models like the venerable 55 and 65 set them up for several expansions, including two new production buildings and a fully-enclosed make-ready facility.

Smart Money

Boat building in New Gretna, New Jersey is a year-round affair, regardless of what Mother Nature has in mind. In the early days, the production buildings were heated with wood pellets formed from the scraps and sawdust swept from the floors of the wood shop. Ingenious, cost effective and environmentally conscious. Alas, the wood shavings couldn’t keep up with the ever-increasing square footage of the facility.

In 2012, Viking invested a considerable amount of money into an advanced tri-generation power system that would provide more than half of the electricity needs for the entire facility, along with heat or air conditioning in all the enclosed buildings. This system utilizes six enormous natural gas-fueled turbines that produce 65kW of electricity each, and cleverly recycle heat from their own exhaust via heat exchangers and absorption chillers.

Bill Healey fires up the tri-generation plant in 2012

Viking’s sprawling New Gretna headquarters is constantly growing & improving

For over 30 years now, Viking has maintained a fully-staffed medical facility on-site at their New Gretna production facility. Bill and Bob Healey, founders of Viking Yachts, believe strongly in wellness and preventative care for every employee and their families. They realized a healthy staff means greater productivity, and Viking’s incredible workforce of over 1,400 people allows the company to produce 90% of every yacht entirely in-house.

“The Healeys are always looking at overhead costs and how to keep them controlled at every turn,” says Viking Chief Financial Officer John Kasinski. As the New Gretna plant continued to grow via additions, the demand on their waste treatment system was strained and costing the company over $300,000 in annual maintenance and pump-outs. In 2009, they made the bold move of constructing a $1 million on-site waste treatment plant to manage their average daily consumption of 7,000 gallons. “At 25,000 gallons, this system will always meet our needs even if DEP regulations change,” explains Plant Engineering Manager Chris Babek.

Big Boats, Big Changes

As Viking’s newest models swell in every dimension, their investments in facilities must grow with them. The latest upgrades in New Gretna include an impressive 55’ tall, fully-enclosed building intended for tower and sky bridge installations, and a 35’ structure that filled in the final gaps remaining between several older buildings. This 2014 undertaking included the addition of six 10-ton overhead cranes which are responsible for transporting and flipping massive parts, such as the full-length deckhouse of a 93MY.

Currently the basin at New Gretna is being dredged to accommodate the greater drafts of Viking’s largest models including the forth-coming 100′ Cockpit Motor Yacht slated to launch in the Fall of 2019.

The docks are also being upgraded, added on to, and reconfigured to better accommodate the increasing beams and lengths of the boats. The Viking team is always looking forward and never tires of investing in choices that poise them at the forefront of both the sportfish and motoryacht markets.

Unstoppable Growth

When their Mullica, New Jersey production facility was acquired from neighboring Ocean Yachts in 2016, Viking carefully blazed their next trail. John Leek IV, part of Ocean’s original founding family, was brought on to manage the Mullica plant and was encouraged to retain a fair portion of his existing team. Mullica is currently responsible for building Viking’s product line from 37’ to 52’, but only major fiberglass pieces are produced in the factory. For the rest of the boat, they are assembling “modules” of staterooms, galleys, and more that are manufactured and delivered by the New Gretna workforce.

Viking’s Mullica, NJ plant acquired from Ocean

Bluewater Partner and Sales Professional Jud Black helps explain the new operations at the Viking Mullica plant. “With only 15 miles separating the two facilities, supply trucks run daily from the New Gretna plant to provide parts and equipment for the boats in production.” Black continues, “Wiring harnesses, cabinetry, manufactured parts and hardware are all produced in New Gretna and shipped to Mullica by truck.”

Not including the initial sale price of the facility, “our initial investment for improvements at Mullica exceeded $7 million,” Kasinski explains. “The Healeys believe in having the ‘proper tools for the job,’ and that a quality work environment is incredibly important.”

“The Healeys believe in having the proper tools for the job…”

This early investment included retrofitting the buildings with overhead cranes, as well as proper insulation and HVAC additions. Having heat in the winter not only boosts employee productivity, it aids in the curing process of each resin-infused part. Mullica also received their own medical clinic, modeled after New Gretna’s, aiming to give employees a better option for healthcare. Further improvements on Mullica’s horizon include connecting the three separate manufacturing buildings to achieve greater production efficiency.

Listening to Customers

In the early 2000s, a four-time Viking owner approached the Healeys about his next boat and stated flat-out that he would not build another boat. He greatly enjoyed the build process and the quality of all his Viking yachts, but loathed the rigging and finishing process after the sale. He had such a horrific experience rigging his last Viking at a third-party facility, that he could not imagine enduring it again. As expected, the Healeys sprang into action.

Atlantic Marine Electronics and Palm Beach Towers, wholly owned subsidiaries of Viking Yachts, were created in 2003 so Viking could offer a truly turn-key experience to their customers. “We believe one challenge is to win the customer over to Viking, but the greater challenge is to keep the customer for life and have multiple sales,” says Sales Manager Mark Waldron.

The Viking 44 follows the 37 Billfish as one of the first new models to be produced in the Mullica facility

Performing rigging and final outfitting on-site in New Gretna allowed Viking to control every process of the build right up to the final delivery. “Our plant supervisors and management team examine the progress of every build on a weekly basis and work to keep that boat on schedule. We are able to provide a finite delivery date to every customer and they can actually book their plane ticket for that date!” Waldron exclaims.

Viking’s recent re-emergence into the motoryacht market was also driven by customer demand. Customers who had flowed through the bulk of Viking’s product offerings and were ready for the cruising life ended up leaving Viking after multi-decade relationships to pursue the ideal motoryacht. Answering the challenge of keeping a customer for life, the Viking team responded by developing their new American-style motoryacht line. The result? Viking announced the 75MY and an aggressive plan to roll out four large motoryacht models within a few short years.

Service in the South

While Viking was working to incorporate AME and Palm Beach Towers, they also opened the Viking Yacht Service Center in Riviera Beach, Florida. This facility provides OEM service and upgrades for owners who reside or winter their boats in the Sunshine State. Due to surging demand, the Viking Yacht Service Center opened satellite operations here for both Atlantic Marine Electronics and Palm Beach Towers in 2007. In addition to hosting Bluewater’s south Florida sales office since 2012, the location has become an ideal venue for the annual Viking VIP event showcasing their entire lineup of yachts prior to the Miami boat shows each February.

The South Florida location is currently being expanded to the tune of $9 million and includes acquisition of an adjacent property that will provide additional haul-out space. “It’s pretty remarkable,” Bluewater’s Jud Black explains. “They are installing a state of the art service pier where boats are hauled and blocked with shore power, 110-volt electric, and compressed air readily available for any service needs. The boats are fully-powered and air conditioned while being serviced and upgraded!” Additional improvements include dredging the basin and installing more floating docks which will help better accommodate larger yachts.

Staying Power

Bluewater Partner Earle Hall concludes, “It should be clear the Viking team and the Healeys have a winning formula. Their continued investments and innovation through the years have secured their dominant position atop the production sportfish market.” It’s obvious that several decades of well-timed expansions and early-adoption of technology have helped catapult Viking to the number one spot—but their success runs much deeper than that. Despite all the investments, expansions and forethought, none of it would have been possible without the incredible, spirited workforce they have built.

Viking by the Numbers

• 54 years of boat building on the Bass River
• Original building was 26,000 sq. ft.
• At 55 ft. high , the make-ready building is the tallest in New Gretna
• 90 years and still going strong for Viking co-founder Bill Healey
• Over 1,400 employees work in the two New Jersey factories
• Over 30 years of in-house medical services provided to employees and their families
• 390,000 watts of electricity are produced by the tri-generation natural gas turbine generators in New Gretna
• A $1,000,000 on-site sewage treatment plant saves the company $300,000 a year
• $7,000,000 invested on renovations and upgrades to the new Mullica location
• $9,000,000 budgeted to improve the South Florida Viking Service Center
• 100 feet is the length of Viking’s next motoryacht to debut
• 90% of all Viking yachts and their parts are fabricated in-house

VP of Human Resources Drew Davala emphasizes, “All the employees here are career-oriented people and the average tenure easily approaches 20 years.” Co-founder Bill Healey can be found at the plant each day checking on progress and visiting with employees. Bill clearly doesn’t believe in retirement, because at age 90, he still enjoys being a part of the vast Viking family, and helping to build a better boat every day. Bill and Pat Healey’s tenacious drive and customer-first thinking inspires everyone they meet. Without a doubt, Viking has worked tremendously hard and persevered to get where they are today, and they deserve every bit of recognition for it.

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The new Valhalla Boatworks V Series will consist of three outboard-powered deep-V monohulls from 33 to 41 feet in length designed to excel as hardcore fishing boats, to be built in the heart of the hardcore fishing boat manufacturing community, New Jersey.

Mullica Facility

Three years ago, New Gretna-based Viking Yachts purchased the former Ocean Yacht plant in Mullica Township where Viking has already been turning out several models including the Viking 38 Billfish and 44 series of open and convertible boats.  According to Landry, the new Valhalla Boatworks V Series will also be built at the Mullica facility, with the very first model expected off the line sometime this summer.

“The workforce of New Jersey has been instrumental in the success of Viking as the industry’s finest boatbuilder,” said Landy, adding “you’d expect nothing less than this type of innovation from a company approaching its 55th anniversary.”

The announcement coming out in early February said the V-33, V-37 and V-41 models are the result of a cooperative effort between Viking’s design and engineering team and Michael Peters Yacht Design (MPYD).  Each of the three models will utilize MPYD’s patented stepped-v ventilated tunnel running surface to reduce drag while increasing speed, stability and efficiency.

“It’s the most advanced and proven stepped-hull design in the world,” said Viking Design Manager David Wilson. “The twin steps and tunnel not only give you fast and efficient performance but also precise handling and a very stable ride.”

Viking design traits can be found throughout the V Series boats, with gently sloping S-shaped sheers, double forward chines, helm pods, raised toe rails and mezzanine seating, in addition to that tell-tale Viking bow.  Customized Seakeeper installation will not sacrifice storage or deck space, while the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems are being designed and built to levels expected from Viking.

Built to Fish

The V Series will not only boast the latest in hull design for optimal performance, they’ll also be equipped with cutting-edge fishing equipment and innovative deck designs for storage of rods, gear, tackle and bait. The captain will enjoy excellent visibility through frameless wraparound Costa Clear or tempered glass windshields, while Llebroc or optional Release Marine individual helm and companion chairs will offer versatility and comfort with flip-up bolsters and armrests.

On deck, a raised transom livewell, in-deck fish boxes, strategically located rodholders, a port dive door and an abundance of storage space are just a few of the standard features on each of these V Series boats. They also feature a forward console lounge and optional port and starboard forward seating with forward-facing backrests. The consoles of these boats will feature rod storage, a head, a sink, and access to electronics, electrical distribution panel and other critical components.

The same resources of Viking’s vertically integrated company are at the disposal of Valhalla Boatworks, so major components of each build such as hardtops, Marlin and Gap towers and electronics packages are being manufactured in-house by experienced shipwrights to guarantee turn-key delivery; it’s essentially getting your own Vikingized center console.

The V-33, V-37 and V-41 will be powered by four-stroke outboards with horsepower ratings from 300 to 425 in twin, triple or quad configurations depending on the model. The efficiency of the stepped hulls and these direct-fuel-injected engines deliver best-in-class fuel economy and range. Power-assist hydraulic steering will be standard and joystick helm control systems will be optional for all three models.

The Valhalla Boatworks V Series was announced at an exclusive VIP event at the Viking Yacht Service Center in Riviera Beach, FL in early February.  The boats will ultimately debut at the Viking Dealer Meeting and sea trials this fall in Atlantic City.

The Valhalla Boatworks V Series will be offered by the Viking dealer network and Valhalla Boat Sales, which is based in New Gretna at the Viking Yachting Center complex that also includes marina facilities and a waterfront bar/restaurant (Breezes Bar & Grill).  Also new for 2019, Valhalla Boat Sales has added Skeeter bay and bass boats to their lineup of offerings that also includes Contender.

For more details, go to valhallaboatworks.com .

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Latest News

All the latest news about viking yachts.

Germain Motor Company, a fourth-generation family business founded in 1947, announced that it acquired SI Yachts. Previously known as Staten Island Yacht Sales, SI Yachts was founded in 1964 by Frank Bongiorno, who established what has become the longest-operating Viking dealer. Frank plans to enjoy a well-deserved retirement after more than 60 years. We couldn't imagine a more perfect opportunity and partnership to carry on the legacy of Frank, first started in 1964, "SI Vice President Jay Hendrix said in a statement. "The resources, technology and team that Germain has is a complement to what we are building at SI Yachts." Germain’s acquisition of SI Yachts comes two years after CEO and partner Zach Germain established Germain Yachts. Pictured above from left, Viking President and CEO Pat Healey, Zach Germain, Jessica Germain and Austin Germain.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) was another smashing success. With three incredible lines of vessels on display, the Viking Marine Group stole the show. The Viking Yachts display was abuzz with the FLIBS debut of the flagship 90 Convertible. Both fishing and cruising enthusiasts were wowed by the newest model to join the world-class fleet. The five Valhalla Boatworks center consoles saw lots of activity throughout the five-day event. And the excitement grew with the announcement of a V-28 Bay and V-29 Hybrid. The V Series continues to redefine fishing excellence. Princess Yachts America dazzled the crowds with the North American Premier of the Y95. With top-notch performance and stunning aesthetics paired with exceptional seakeeping, she is destined to be a star. The team at Valhalla Boat Sales (VBS) enjoyed a busy show with sales across all models. Based in both New Jersey and Florida, VBS is an authorized Valhalla Boatworks, Contender and Sportsman dealership.

Congratulations to all anglers for a sensational summer of tournaments! There were an amazing number of Viking’s claiming the top spot on the leaderboards. We kicked off the season with Daniel Brown’s Viking 64 Half-A-Buc winning the Salt Life Bluewater Tournament – for the third time in a row. Miss Maysen, a Viking 56, won the Louisiana Gulf Coast Classic with 642-pound blue marlin. Vikings claimed the top three spots in the Release Team, Billfish Boat and Crew divisions at the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic – the Viking 72 Team Supreme, the Viking 80 Wynsong and the Viking 70 Quick Time, respectively. Chris Hatcher landed the Heaviest Blue Marlin (723.7 pounds) at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic while fishing on his Viking 58 Salt Shaker. At the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, Jason Bense set a new dolphin tournament record after weighing a 59.8-pound bull from Chris Hatcher’s Viking 58 Salt Shaker. Tag Team, a Viking 80, won the inaugural Los Cabos Release tournament. Art Favre’s Viking 92 A Work of Art won the Blue Marlin Grand Championship after angler Kevin Courville reeled in a blue marlin weighing 597.4 pounds. Jeff Feuerman’s No Mercy, a Viking 55, claimed 1st Place Overall Points at the Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic. The Anderson family’s Viking 80 Krazy Salt’s took 1st Places in Overall Points, White Marlin Points and Tuna Points as well as Jack Kraczewski’s Top Angler Points at South Jersey Yacht Sales’ Offshore Showdown. The Krake family’s newly delivered Viking 72 Team Supreme won the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship Series after an absolutely incredible season. At Jimmy Johnson’s Atlantic City Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week the Viking 80 demo won the White Marlin category when captain Sean Dooley put Thomas “Smalls” Garmany on a fish that weighed 69.8-pounds. Dane Braun, fishing on his Viking 55 Desperado, weighed the heaviest blue marlin (703 pounds) at the Lone Star Shootout. Tom DeAngelo’s Viking 55 Blinky hung a bigeye that tipped the scales at 224.7 pounds – the Heaviest Tuna at the Montauk Canyon Challenge. At the Tri-State Canyon Shootout the Viking 61 Reel Savage claimed the Largest Tuna with Steven Arcamone’s bigeye weighing 244.6 pounds Synchronicity owner Larry Mathews, fishing on his Viking 48, fought a blue more than four hours to claim 1st Place Blue Marlin with his 726.3-pound fish at the Texas Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. Heaviest Blue Marlin, Top Boat and Top Release Boat went to the Viking 72 Yellow Steel for three blue marlin and three white marlin releases, all hooked by junior female anglers Helen and Katharine Goodloe at the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club’s Ladies Tournament. Carmine “Chip” Caruso’s Pipe Dreamer, a Viking 70, won the Blue Marlin division with an 889-pound fish at The MidAtlantic. Polarizer, a Viking 64, reclaimed the Ocean City Marlin and Tuna Club’s Offshore Open perpetual trophy. Just Right, a Viking 56 run by owner Robbie Brown, rallied on the final day of the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament to win the event. The team aboard Double Shot, a Viking 68, won the 2nd Leg of the Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Series in the British Virgin Islands.

Just Right, a Viking 56 run by owner Robbie Brown, rallied on the final day of the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament to win the event. The team released a blue marlin and sailfish on the first day before adding another nine sails on the final day good for the tournament championship. The team also claimed the Top Crew and F. Wayne McLeskey Memorial trophy as the Top Boat. Just Right team members include Mike Robinson, Collin Hula, John Lamb, Michael Lamb, Ken Fink and mate Fisher Bedmond. In the Gamefish Division, Larry Lusk whipped the largest wahoo at 53.1 pounds. He was fishing aboard the Viking 56 Don’t Panic with captain Bryan Peele.

Over the history of The MidAtlantic the last day of the tournament has become known as “Moving Day” as the leaderboard typically sees a compete shake-up. That was not the case this year as Moving Day came a day early! The billfish bite continued at a wild pace and bigeye tuna showed up in force. As a result, the categories reshuffled on Day Four. And the 11 remaining boats (of the 181-boat fleet) fishing on the final day had no impact on the final scoreboard. Carmine “Chip” Caruso’s Pipe Dreamer, a Viking 70, won the Blue Marlin division with an 889-pound fish. Captain Rich Fernandez pulled up to the scale with a massive blue marlin stretched across the cockpit. Andy Confortini fought the big blue on a 130-pound class outfit and had the fish to the boat in just 20 minutes. When extended, the huge marlin measured 133 ½”. The Pipe Dreamer crew, which has been fishing together for the better part of two decades, landed the fish at 9am on Wednesday then held their breath until the scales closed at 9pn on Friday. Of note, Pipe Dreamer’s payout is a tournament record for a blue marlin and it’s the 3rd heaviest blue marlin in the tournament’s history. An hour later captain Danny Veid wheeled Shon Craig’s Viking 80 Amarula Sun to the scale with a 114 ¼” billfish which weighed 548-pounds for Shon who was also the angler. The fish was good for 2nd Place Blue Marlin. Michael Jordan’s Viking 80 Catch 23, with captain Stetson Turney at the wheel, took 3rd Place White Marlin with Jimmy David’s 75-pounder that measured 71 ½”. Captain Evan Millas put Bob Hugin, aboard his Viking 62 The Right Place, into 2nd Place Tuna after weighing a bigeye of 234 pounds for angler Deane Lambros. Minutes later captain Blaine Birch pulled Ken Hager’s Viking 62 Taylor Jean to the scale and weighed a 216-pounder for angler Tony Chieffo – which claimed 3rd Place Tuna. Most Points Tuna went to Wiiliam Wrede’s Viking 62 Lovin’ Life. The Dolphin category saw David Schockley on the Viking 62 Liquidity take the Heaviest Dolphin award for his 45-pounder. Joe Bernert, on his Viking 72 Quick Raise, weighed a 34-pound dolphin for 2nd Place. Jeff Kogok finished in 3rd Place with a 33-pounder angled from his Viking 68 Too Many Martinis. Jim McArthy, aboard his Viking 58 Covert Mission, finished with a 2nd Place Wahoo for his 52-pound ‘hoo. After spending some time at the top of the white marlin leaderboard with a 72” fish, the Viking 80 demo took the Most Points Cape May title with 21 white marlin releases. Marty Judge and his Viking 64 Judge was the 3rd Place Most Points Cape May Boat. There were 750 white marlin caught and 735 were released – the 3rd highest in tournament history. It’s also a 98% release rate.

The 4th annual Mongo Offshore Challenge is in full swing. The Gulf Division is dominated by Vikings – but there’s still plenty of time to see new names on the leaderboard as the tournament runs till September 30. See current standings below. Blue Marlin 1st Salt Shaker – Viking 58 – 723.7 pounds 2nd Reel Blues – Viking 64 – 657 pounds 3rd Reel Fire – Viking 76 – 580 pounds Mahi 1st Salt Shaker – Viking 58 – 59.8 pounds 2nd Fins – Viking 62 – 53.4 pounds Tuna 2nd Reel Fire – Viking 76 – 203.9 pounds 3rd Gunnslinger – Viking 72 – 191.8 pounds The Mongo is a unique tournament that covers three regions – East Coast, Gulf Coast and Hawaii. Teams compete as often as desired for five-months with weights collected from a network of official weigh stations and approved big game tournaments. This event is challenging because the minimum size limits are set high, for example a blue marlin must be a minimum of 118”. This makes the weighed fish humongous.

We had some wild days in our own backyard as Jimmy Johnson’s Atlantic City Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week drew 80 battlewagons to the shore resort. Winning the White Marlin category was the Viking 80 demo. Captain Sean Dooley put Thomas “Smalls” Gamany on the 72.25-inch fish that weighed 69.8-pounds – more than five pounds heavier than last years’ winning white.

Marlin tournament season in the Gulf of Mexico means big fish and a serious adrenaline rush, and nowhere is that feeling more apparent than in the esteemed Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship Series. This year’s grand champ is the crew on the recently delivered Viking 72 Team Supreme. The team hit their stride at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic and never looked back. Allen Krake released two blue marlin and Allen Krake Jr. a single to put the team on the leaderboard. The blues earned Team Supreme a 3rd Place Release title. Allen was back at it with a pair of blue releases, while Alex Krake added one at the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic. Then, at the final event in the series, the Blue Marlin Grand Championship, Alex released five blue marlin and boated a 113-inch blue in just nine hours of fishing. And he added another the following day. This incredible feat propelled the team to 1st Place Release Boat and clinched the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship for Team Supreme. “I’m so happy for my Pops,” said Allen Jr. “This was a dream for him since we started fishing the circuit. It was a team effort all season, and we came together and fought till the last blue marlin was tagged!” The Krake family and Captain Chase Lake have had an outstanding season with their new boat. “What an outstanding season for Team Supreme with their new boat,” said Carmine Galati of Galati Yacht Sales. “It’s awesome to see a great team at work, especially father and son fishing together – both great anglers. Team Supreme is a first-class operation.” Briar Patch, a Viking 68, claimed 3rd Place in the Triple Crown standings. At the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, they were the only team in the 42-boat fleet to release three blue marlin – winning the Release category. During the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic captain Corey Hurst put Mitchell Rielley on a 544.2-pound 4th Place Blue Marlin – and the team released a blue at the Emerald Coast Billfish Classic. The Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship consists of four billfish tournaments in which teams accumulate points. The tourneys include the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic and the Blue Marlin Grand Championship.

Our Demo team is firing on all cylinders. The Viking 64 with captain Sean Dooley at the helm broke the one-day South Carolina state record with five blues in one day – but it didn’t stop there. They released a total of 26 sails and seven blues in four days of fishing. Keep it going guys! We have two demos running this summer. The Viking 80 is getting her final touches here in New Gretna and will soon be off to fish Jimmy Johnson’s Atlantic City “Quest for the Ring” Championship, July 16-23.

The boating and fishing community continues to gain momentum to halt the federal government’s proposed 10-knot restriction along the Eastern Seaboard. At a House National Resources subcommittee oversight hearing last week, three key witnesses from the affected industries made strong arguments against the dangerous and misguided speed limit, which would extend from Massachusetts to Florida for seven months annually and up to 100 miles offshore for boats 35 feet and larger. Viking was instrumental in facilitating the testimony of long-time New Jersey charterboat captain Fred Gamboa. “Boats over 35 feet would essentially be unusable for approximately seven months of the year,” Fred told the subcommittee. “I simply can’t cover the ground to access the targeted fisheries when limited to 10 knots. This would amount to the loss of no less than 70 trips with an estimated economic cost of $140,000.” Fred, who operates out of Point Pleasant, has been a longtime friend of Viking and active participant in fisheries management issues, also emphasized the devastating safety, privacy and public access impacts of the rule, which “demand thoughtful evaluation and exploration of alternative approaches.” “All of the witnesses did an excellent job of delivering balanced, reasonable statements and solutions,” says Viking Director of Government Affairs and Sustainability John DePersenaire, who attended the three-hour hearing. “Fred played a major role in not only elevating our message to another level but also gaining bipartisan support.” The hearing shined light on the many glaring inaccuracies and false assumptions NOAA made when putting forth its proposed rule changes. Frank Hugelmeyer, the President of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, also made a huge impact: “Recreational boaters and anglers are longtime conservationists who share the goal of protecting the North Atlantic right whale and our ocean ecosystems. We’re committed to investing in technologies that do just that. Marine mammal protection, economic prosperity and access to our cherished waters can coexist. It’s a false choice to make Americans choose one over the other.” Two other positive developments coincided with the hearing. A new bipartisan act from U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Boozman (R-AR) was introduced; the bill aims to prohibit NOAA from issuing the 10-knot rule until technological solutions can help better track the whales and avoid strikes. “As Co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and as an avid sportsman myself, I know firsthand how important our fishing culture is to who we are, whether that’s on our trout streams in West Virginia or coastal fishing along the Eastern Seaboard,” said Senator Manchin. “I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Protecting Whales, Human Safety and the Economy Act of 2023.” ‘It’s a big win for us,” John says of the Manchin/Boozman legislation. Another positive development is NOAA has agreed to assign a liaison to the Whale and Vessel Safety Taskforce (WAVS). Viking initiated the formation of this panel of experts committed to finding technology-based solutions to track and protect marine mammals, particularly the right whale. Jon Hare, Science and Research Director for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, will join WAVS immediately. “Jon represents the laying of the groundwork for the public-private partnership between recreational boating and fishing and NOAA,” says John DePersenaire. “This is critical for our success.”

Gary Reich, editor-in-chief of Soundings Trade Only, recently spent time at the Viking manufacturing plant speaking with women boatbuilders for an upcoming article. Women have always had a strong presence in Viking’s workforce. The COVID crisis saw an increase in the female population since women who were in the hospitality industry lost jobs – but still wanted to work. Viking’s Human Resources Department appealed to those women to “Come join our team, we will teach you a skill and provide a career.”

Congratulations to Team Galati on their unprecedented third Triple Crown win! "We won it all on the last day– incredible!, " said angler Pat Healey. "It's truly amazing what we've been able to accomplish these past few years, especially considering the outstanding competition." “We have a new boat every season and we learn how to fish it. Since 2014 this team has been on stage an incredible 13 times. This feat is due to the amazing anglers, crew and of course, our captain Tony Carrizosa,” added Pat. The team won the 2020 series and then in 2021, the team was named back-to-back champs of the three-leg series. And they’ve returned to the Winner’s Circle for the 2023 season! For the 2022 Series, Carlos Pellas and the team on his Viking 72 Rum Runner captured the crown. That’s four years in a row a Viking has held the coveted honor. Read on for a run-down of this season’s excitement.

Just a month away! The Viking Key West Challenge (VKWC), presented by Christi Insurance and Travelers, is almost here. The 50+ boat fleet is ready for fishing, fun and family at this southern-most event. And the VKWC team is excited to welcome Spot Zero back as the Weigh Station sponsor. Download the Reel Time scoring app to follow all the Conch Republic fishing action. And if you haven’t sent in your registration, please do so at your earliest convenience. Email [email protected] with any questions.

The Viking Yacht Company and Marlin magazine, along with other industry leaders, created a team of female anglers to compete in the 2023 Quest for the Crest sailfish tournament series. The goal of Marlin’s Lady Angler team is to help create more awareness of female anglers in competitive fishing tournaments. This team consists of women spanning all skill levels. Although each is not only a passionate angler, but several are also prominent members of the marine industry as well, ranging from boatbuilding and sales to tournament directors and pro staff members. We are particularly proud of team member Shelby Callison. Shelby is the Sales Coordinator and Office Manager for Valhalla Boat Sales in the Riviera Beach, Florida headquarters – and knows her way around a cockpit. She was this year’s Top Lady Angler at the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament and was recently named The Billfish Foundation’s 2022 Top Tagging Lady Angler in South Florida. “It’s an absolute blast to be a part of an all-female team,” says Shelby. “We all go out with the same goal – catch fish and have fun. And our sponsors have been amazing. Viking Yachts, Marlin magazine, Pelagic Gear and Bucked Up Energy have supported us with the best of everything.”

The first release of the prestigious 60th annual International Masters Angling Tournament was a precursor of things to come for our own Pat Healey as he released a sailfish with a fight time of just three minutes and 15 seconds. After three wild days of fishing, Pat was presented the 2023 Master Angler John Rybovich Award. Pat, Viking CEO and President, also scored the most fish on time. His 12 releases earned him a hat trick as he won The Masters back to back in 2011 and 2012. Pat now has his eyes set on Chase Offield (Valhalla 37 owner) who has won the event an incredible four times. Karen Comstock, owner of the Viking 72 Drag ‘n Fish, was awarded Third High Angler honors, a Masters first for a lady angler. The Second High Boat went to the Viking 64 Team Galati captained by Tony Carrizosa and Third High Boat was the Viking 58 Dealers Choice with captain Scotty Jones. Dale Creamer, owner of the Viking 72 Ditch Digger, released what is thought to be the first black marlin of The Masters. “This was my freshman year fishing The Masters,” said JC Gonzalez, owner of the Viking 55 Pura Vida. “The fishing was great and the boats and crews were amazing. The trophy was meeting some of the most professional, humble and amazing people my wife and I have ever met. I can’t explain how grateful I am to be invited to fish this wonderful tournament.” The Masters, fished this year in Los Suenos, Costa Rica, is the ultimate test of an angler’s skills. Fought in dead boat conditions, the captain is only permitted to turn the boat to maintain the angler’s proper fishing position. Competitors are rewarded points for their fish if released in less than 10 minutes, while a broken line is penalized with deducted points. Each competitor fishes on a different boat with a new captain each day.

Accessibility

New Viking Yachts For Sale

Viking yachts are widely known as the ultimate sportfishing boats built today, equipped for serious offshore tournament fishing. Boat owners demand high levels of performance, space, amenities on board, and range, and these boats definitely deliver. Viking yachts for sale range from 38 to 90 feet in length and are built at their American shipyard located in New Gretna, NJ. SI Yachts has sold Viking yachts longer than any other dealer in the world, and we're the top Viking dealers for New York, parts of New Jersey, and southern Connecticut. Check out our current Viking models for sale today, or contact us to customize your own.

Known for being fast, highly maneuverable, and fun to drive, the Viking Billfish series is a great step up for center-console owners. The Viking Billfish series began with acquisition of the former Ocean Yachts factory, which gave Viking more than 80,000 square feet of boat-building space right on the Mullica River. The Viking 37 Billfish began the new model line, which has added the 38 Billfish and 46 Billfish. The new 46 Billfish features a much larger cockpit as well as more horsepower to combine the speed of a center-console with the accommodations of a sportfish.

Convertibles

The Viking Convertible is what has made the New Jersey builder the dominant sportfish manufacturer it is today. Viking continually tweaks its helm and electronics on the open bridge to ensure that the captain always has optimal control and visibility. From 44 to 90 feet, there simply is no better fishing yacht than a Viking Convertible. Owners have won countless tournaments behind the helm of a Viking thanks to its precision maneuvering, wide cockpit space for teams to work, and the most reliable engines possible. Custom towers can be added from Viking's subsidiary company, Palm Beach Towers.

Enclosed Bridge

Viking's climate-controlled Enclosed Bridge yacht is a work of art. State-of-the-art helm design and electronics combined with extra seating and other amenities redefine what it means to own an Enclosed Bridge, with Viking setting the bar. Large windshields open up complete visibility when cruising from the inside helm, and the ergonomic design makes it easy to adjust all controls. Many of the Enclosed Bridge models even have retractable flat-screen televisions, wet bars, and extra storage. Owners who live in colder climates particularly seek out Viking Enclosed Bridge yachts for sale.

Open Series

The Viking Open Series offers owners a fishing and cruising vessel that has stable performance, sporty horsepower, and the interior comfort of a much larger boat. The Viking Open Series is now offered from 44 to 54 feet, with the 54 Open being the newest model. If you currently own a center-console, the Open Series model line is a perfect crossover boat.

Sport Coupe

The Sport Coupe model range is Viking's take on an express cruiser with sportfish DNA. The gorgeous hardtop looks sleek and can be outfitted with outriggers for trolling. The cockpit and command deck are the focal points of each Sport Coupe model.

Sport Tower

Viking's Sport Tower model range offers the Sport Coupe design with a custom Palm Beach tower. This has become a popular alternative to the Viking Convertible and Billfish series. Perfect for the owner and operator who loves to cruise as much as fish, the Viking Sport Tower series is available now from 44 to 54 feet.

QUICK FACTS

• Type Of Boat: Sportfishing Yachts
• Founded: 1964
• Founded By: Brothers Bob & Bill Healey
• President: Patrick Healey
• Location: "On The Bass River" New Gretna, N.J.
• Model Ranges: Convertible, Enclosed Bridge, Open, Sport Tower, Billfish, Sport Coupe
• Biggest Model: 90 Convertible, 90 Enclosed Bridge
• Smallest Model: 38 Billfish
• Boats Produced Each Year: Approximately 100
• First Viking Model Ever Produced: 33 Convertible

About Viking Yachts

SERVICE & EXPERTISE FAR BEYOND OTHER VIKING YACHT DEALERS

As one of the oldest Viking dealers in the world, SI Yachts has plenty of experience with this legendary brand, which we've worked with for more than 30 years. Our Viking specialists have been trained at the factory, fish with Viking boats recreationally, and have helped many clients over the years to find the perfect sportfish. When you're looking to buy a Viking yacht, just contact our Viking team and you'll get personalized assistance from our experts.

While we continually stock new Viking inventory, our proximity to the Viking shipyard also allows us to offer unparalleled service, including a special hands-on experience, to our customers who choose to build and customize their own boat. In addition, your SI Yachts Viking sales professional will make frequent trips to the factory to give you peace of mind as your yacht is being built. And once your new yacht is delivered, our Staten Island marina and service facility can do all warranty work, repairs, and routine maintenance needed throughout the life of your Viking ownership.

Our financial stability as a company also gives us the opportunity to be able to take your boat or yacht in trade toward the purchase of a new Viking. This makes it easy on our clients who want to own a new Viking yacht but don't want to wait for their boat to sell on the brokerage market. Should you want to sell your current boat or yacht and not trade it in, SI Yachts also offers one of the top marketing programs in the industry to sell your vessel quickly and efficiently. We also specialize in helping clients find used Viking yachts for sale .

ABOUT VIKING YACHTS

"Build a better boat every day." This is the company motto that Viking President Patrick Healey relentlessly drives into everyone who is part of the Viking team, whether they are at the factory helping to design and construct the boats or on the dealer side helping to sell the dream. In 1964, brothers Bob and Bill Healey first bought Peterson-Viking Builders, a small and struggling builder of 37-foot wooden sportfish boats in New Jersey. Today, Viking has become the worldwide leader in semi-custom fiberglass sportfishing boats and motor yachts with one of the most dedicated customer followings of any yacht on the market. It's not uncommon to see a Viking at the top of the leaderboard in any major billfish tournament. Viking has delivered more than 4,500 yachts and shows no sign of slowing down in the near future. On average, Viking builds 100 boats every year.

WHAT MAKES VIKING YACHTS SPECIAL?

While Viking may have an impressive facility with some of the most advanced technological equipment in the marine industry today, it's undoubtedly the people inside the company that make it special. It takes refined skill to build a boat, and Viking has employed generations of families who pass down their talents to their sons and daughters. Whether they're working in Viking's in-house carpentry shop or helping to install the customized interiors, Viking's artisans are dedicated and driven to build a better boat each day. Viking recognizes this passion for their product by rewarding its team with medical coverage at its in-house facility, retirement programs, and many other benefits that go above and beyond what is seen in today's corporate world.

Viking's ability to keep a skilled workforce allows it to build 90% of each model in its factory, which allows for an unprecedented level of quality control. Only the engines and components like HVAC units, transmissions, and electronics are built outside of the New Jersey factory.

But quality control isn't all that sets new Viking yachts apart from the competition:

• Viking is a family-owned business that employs families. There is a true passion and commitment when you're intimately involved with the building of something great. Viking is owned by the people who put their own blood, sweat, tears, and money into the products, not by a corporation or investment firm.The Viking team don't just design the product; they live it.
• The Viking team is no stranger at billfish tournaments worldwide. Whether it's in Costa Rica at the Los Suenos Marina billfish circuit, its own Viking Key West Challenge, Skip Smith's tournament series, or the up-and-coming Montauk Canyon Challenge, you will often see Patrick Healey and team fishing one of their boats. There is even a position at the company manned by Ryan Higgins that focuses on using the product in real customer-life situations.
• The Viking factory is the X factor when it comes to building yachts. It's hard to overlook the advantages that multiple CNC routers and a $1 million five-axis profiler can give you. Being able to create foam plugs to build Viking's complex molds for its models means more advanced capabilities and design opportunities.
• Viking yachts have one of the best dealer and service networks in the industry. If you look around at the dealer network that Viking has assembled to represent its product, it is in the top of its class. Each Viking dealer in the U.S. has the financial stability to weather recessions and downturns and continue to stock new models. The similarity among the dealers isn't a coincidence, as the Healey brothers looked for the same characteristics that made them successful in their dealer network. Additionally, Viking's multiple service facilities in the Northeast and South Florida give Viking owners convenient factory service options.
• Insurance companies prefer Viking yachts because of their high-quality materials and construction techniques, the reliability of Vikings over time, and the safety guidelines that the builder follows.

WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF YACHTS DOES VIKING BUILD?

Viking yachts for sale are divided into several categories that vary by how and where the owner will use their yacht. Each model line has specific characteristics that differentiate it from the others, so Viking is able to tailor their offerings to each customer's wishes.

• Billfish : The Viking Billfish model line began with the 37 Billfish after Viking acquired the old Ocean Yachts factory in Egg Harbor. The 37 Billfish was immediately popular and proved to be a great stepping stone for center-console owners who wanted the space and interior amenities of a sportfish. Today, Viking builds both a 38 Billfish and a 46 Billfish .
• Convertible : Viking's most popular model line is undoubtedly its open-bridge Convertible sportfishing yachts. Viking offers ten different open-bridge models for almost all offshore requirements, ranging from 44 to 90 feet. Two of Viking's newest models in this range include the 58 Convertible (second-generation model) and the 68 Convertible, both of which exceed 40 knots at top speed. Viking's 54 Convertible that debuted in 2020 won the Best in Show award at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
• Sport Yachts : Viking offers both Sport Tower and Sport Coupe sport yachts ranging from 44 to 54 feet.
• Open Express Yachts : Viking's Open express-style yachts offer owners and captains the exhilaration of being in an open cockpit. Viking has three models in the Open Series line, including the new 44 Open as well as a 48-O and a 52-O.
• Enclosed Bridge : For colder-weather captains or owners that simply want the extra interior space of an enclosed bridge, Viking offers five models ranging from 62 to 90 feet. Additionally, there is a skybridge version of the Viking 80 and 90 models.

HOW ARE VIKING YACHTS BUILT?

The process by which Viking yachts are built is quite complex and impressive. It all begins with the five-axis profiler that is able to create the foam plugs needed to build the molds that are designed by the in-house team. The precision that computer-generated cutting of laminates and materials provides far exceeds the quality that any human could achieve. Each hull is built for maximum durability, rigidity, and performance. Like at many builders today, the hull is vacuum-bagged and resin-infused to provide extra strength, but Viking uses only the very best resin available, which has greater impact-resistant qualities. The resin is pulled through the materials in the hull, filling all possible voids. The final result is a hull that is lighter and stronger and allows for greater fuel-carrying capacity. And all of the Viking stringers and bulkheads are encapsulated in fiberglass and bonded to the interior of the hull, which provides additional strength.

Viking also has its very own metal shop in its New Gretna factory. The metal shop is responsible for creating Viking engine beds and hardware as well as other metal components. For example, spiral staircases for Enclosed Bridge models are fabricated here using either a high-polished anodized surface or a powder-coated finish for both aesthetics and durability.

In the Viking fiberglass shop, custom-made fuel, water, and waste tanks are crafted with the resin-infusion process. All tank bases mirror the shape of the bottom of the hull, maximizing space and capacity. Deck assemblies, salon floors, and flybridges demonstrate the talents of the skilled craftsmen on the fiberglass team.

Viking even has its own wood shop to make structural components, interior cabinetry, furniture, and joinery. Hand-finishing is also done here, which results in the incredible high-gloss finish seen inside Viking's salons and staterooms.

Once installation of the engines, wiring, interior components, and furniture is completed, the new Viking is transferred to the water for its initial testing. Quality control managers and the engineering department conduct exhaustive testing and record performance numbers to evaluate any adjustments needed. The result is a perfectly tuned package delivered to the customer ready to fish or cruise.

WHERE ARE VIKING YACHTS BUILT?

Viking yachts are built at one of two factories in the Northeast United States. The main Viking yacht factory is located on Route 9 in New Gretna, NJ, along the Bass River. Access to this river gives Viking the ability to put boats in the water right from the factory and navigate out to the Atlantic Ocean. This factory is as impressive as it gets. Featuring solar power, its own water supply, an in-house hospital and medical facility for its workers, and more than 810,000 square feet of factory floor, the Viking boat factory is one of the most state-of-the-art plants in the world.

In 2016, Viking acquired the assets to what used to be the Ocean Yachts factory in Egg Harbor City, NJ, along the Mullica River. Viking would name this factory Viking Mullica. Here, Viking manufactures its smaller boats, including the Billfish series. The 37 Billfish would go on to receive high praise for its traditional Viking quality, resemblance to the popular Ocean 37 Billfish, and maneuverability. In 2019, Viking began producing multiple models at the Viking Mullica facility, including the 38 Billfish and 46 Billfish as well as the Valhalla center-console line.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST VIKING YACHT BUILT TODAY?

The largest Viking yacht for sale today is the 90 Convertible , which has taken the place of the 92 Convertible and 92 Enclosed Bridge . The Viking 90 Convertible is offered in both an enclosed-bridge and skybridge version and was introduced at the Miami Boat Show in 2023. The previous longest Viking sportfishing boat models were first introduced in 2014 and sold 21 hulls, including the Fa-La-Me, which travels the world for big game.

WHAT IS THE SMALLEST VIKING YACHT BUILT TODAY?

The smallest Viking yacht built today is the 38 Billfish. The Viking 38 Billfish measures 38 feet 8 inches and is a perfect boat for the owner who wants to operate their vessel without a captain and crew. Viking has also designed and is in the process of building a 38 Open Express model. The next-smallest new Viking yachts for sale measure 44 feet and come in Convertible, Open, or Sport Tower models.

HOW MUCH DOES THE VIKING 92 COST?

Viking's previous flagship sportfishing model, the 92 Convertible has a base price of $9,730,000 when equipped with MTU 16V2000 M96L 2,635-HP engines. As bigger engines and other options are added, the cost obviously increases and can potentially reach more than $11 million. The cost of a Viking 92 is nothing compared to the adventures you will experience as an owner.

HOW MUCH DOES THE VIKING 90 COST?

Taking over for the 92 Convertible is the Viking 90 Convertible, the shipyard's newest flagship model. This is the ultimate sportfishing yacht that will reach 38 knots with twin CAT C-32A 1,925mhp engines. The base price of the 90 Convertible is more than $12 million with a fully-equipped boat costing more than $14 million.

DOES VIKING BUILD CENTER-CONSOLE BOATS?

Viking also builds center-console boats under the Valhalla Boatworks brand. Valhalla boats consist of five models:

• V-29 Hybrid

Each Valhalla center-console is made with a deep-V, stepped-hull design that gives owners fast and efficient performance. Each boat has a dedicated space for a Seakeeper Stabilizing System, in-deck fish boxes, raised transom bait wells, and a version of Viking's signature mezzanine seating. The Valhalla center-console line is configured with a variety of possible power options including twin, triple, quad, and even quint four-stroke outboards that will range from 300 to 600 horsepower. Power-assist hydraulic steering comes standard on each model, and owners have the option to add joystick helm controls. Viking's subsidiary companies continue to provide electronics from AME and marlin/tuna towers from Palm Beach Towers.

WHAT KINDS OF ENGINES DOES VIKING USE IN ITS YACHTS?

The size and manufacturer of the engines inside each Viking yacht vary depending on its size and the customer's requirements for horsepower. The 38 Billfish, for example, is powered with a Cummins QSB6.7 550-HP engine, which allows it to reach a top speed of 35 knots. On some of the larger Viking convertibles, like the 58C, owners have a choice of engine brands and options that range from MAN V12 1,400-HP to 1,900-HP engines as well as MTU Series 2000 V10 M96L 1,600-HP engines. The biggest Viking Convertible, the 90C, is outfitted with optional twin MTU Series 2000 V16 M96L 2,635-HP engines.

WHAT'S THE BEST PLACE TO TOUR A VIKING?

Viking offers numerous opportunities to tour its yachts every year at boat shows and two different VIP showcase events. Each year before the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and the Miami boat show, Viking hosts two events for customers and dealers to sea-trial different models, which are held either in Atlantic City, NJ, or at the Viking Service Center in South Florida. Customers from all around the world come to these two-day events to meet with factory representatives, see the new models before the boat show crowds, and try them out for themselves. If you are seriously considering purchasing a new Viking yacht, your SI Yachts sales professional can arrange for a personal factory tour or make sure you are invited to one of these VIP events.

Aside from the VIP events, Viking also displays more than 15 models at the Fort Lauderdale boat show and the Miami yacht show. These two boat shows are among the largest in the world and offer customers a great opportunity to climb on board almost every Viking yacht offered in their lineup.

WHY BUY A VIKING YACHT OVER BUILDING A CUSTOM SPORTFISHING BOAT?

Viking yachts are often referred to as production boats, but that isn't exactly true. Viking yachts are considered to be semi-custom yachts and give owners numerous opportunities to customize their vessel. Whether they want to change the layout from three cabins to four staterooms, convert space into extra rod storage, pick the engine manufacturer and horsepower, select what electronics they want installed, or simply alter the features in the cockpit, owners have a variety of options to make their Viking unique to their boating requirements.

Having multiple production lines also gives Viking an advantage over custom-built boats. From the time when the first deposit is made, building a Viking from scratch is completed years ahead of what a custom boat would take to build. It's also difficult to beat the service network that Viking has created. Whether you need warranty work, routine maintenance, service on your electronics, or installation of a Seakeeper gyro, Viking offers the ability to get your Viking or Princess yacht (thanks to an agreement between the two companies) in front of factory-trained technicians no matter your location.

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR VIKING MODEL BEING BUILT TODAY?

One of the most popular large sportfish models today is the Viking 72 Convertible . Making its debut in 2017, the Viking 72C has been reviewed as a fast, dependable, well-equipped sportfish for the hardcore angler. Designed to compete in and win blue-water billfish tournaments, the 72C features a 209-square-foot cockpit with space for a Seakeeper, all of the tackle storage and insulated fish boxes you could ask for, and a wonderful four-stateroom, four-head layout.

WHAT KINDS OF FISHING OPTIONS CAN I HAVE ON A VIKING?

The only thing better for today's billfish angler than a Viking would be to have multiple Vikings! A Viking yacht's cockpit is larger than the competition's, meaning you have more room for a fighting chair, extra rod-holders, and room for the crew to move around in the heat of battle. From raised transom live wells to in-deck insulated fish boxes to the multiple tackle storage spaces, Viking knows what anglers want thanks to the time spent fishing their own boats on the tournament circuit.

What Kind of Resale Value Will My Viking Have on the Pre-Owned Market? Late-model, well-equipped Viking yachts that have been professionally maintained often do quite well on the brokerage market. Some used Vikings have even been sold before making it online for the full asking price. Pre-owned Vikings do tend to hold their value very well and often sell in a six-month time frame.

Of course, listing your Viking boat with a reputable dealer that offers outstanding marketing is imperative to getting it sold quickly and for the most money possible. Our network at SI Yachts is very deep, since we've been a dealer for so long. We also invest substantially in marketing our clients' yachts through YachtWorld, Google, email marketing, social media, and a variety of other tactics. If you are a Viking owner and wish to find out what your yacht might be worth, give us a call today at (718) 984-7676.

UPDATE ON PRE-OWNED VIKING YACHTS MARKET

The team at SI Yachts are experts are listing and selling your pre-owned Viking. Our Diamond listing program ensure your boat is priced right and is marketed to sell. There are currently 306 pre-owned Viking Yachts for sale on the brokerage market today and 199 Vikings that have been sold in the last 12 months. (Updated: February 2024)

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE VIKING YACHT COMPANY?

In 1964, brothers Bill and Bob Healey first set their sights on Peterson-Viking Builders, a struggling boat-builder in New Jersey. The Healey brothers had great aspirations, but no one expected that the small company that built 37-foot wooden sportfishing boats would become the iconic Viking Yacht Company that would lead the industry. Six decades later, boat-building has changed a lot, having gone through the evolution of fiberglass hulls and a litany of other improvements, but the popularity of Viking has never wavered.

In 1971, the builder released its first fiberglass model, the 33 Convertible. While this was the beginning of the Viking story, it wasn't until a year later, when the Viking 40 Convertible made its debut, that the success of the Viking Yacht Company would really take off. Over the next 15 years, Viking would go on to sell more than 600 of the 40-to-41-foot models. Continuing with their creed of "Building a better boat every day," Viking continuously made improvements to the living areas on board as well as the engine performance and horsepower.

Perhaps one of the hardest times at Viking would come in the early 1990s, which would see both a nationwide recession and the federal luxury tax that would damage the entire boating industry for years to come. Decimated by the economic conditions, Viking lost the majority of its workforce but was able to barely stay afloat because the Healeys invested their own money as well as borrowing extra capital. The Healeys joined the fight against the luxury tax and were instrumental in getting it repealed. Boat-buyers returned to the market in droves once the tax was lifted, and Viking was poised to reap the rewards. By keeping its doors open during those hard years, Viking was able to improve its models during this time while other boat-builders just stayed with the status quo, giving them an advantage once the market returned.

In 1995, Viking partnered with Princess Yachts in Great Britain to create Viking Sport Cruisers, a company that would distribute high-quality cruising yachts that ranged from 33 to 88 feet and were built to Viking's specifications through its strong dealer network in the U.S. Today, Princess is one of the top brands of cruising yachts in North America and sits alongside Viking as one of the most prestigious brands in the industry.

In 1996, the Healeys decided to give back to the sportfishing industry that had made them so successful over the years by creating the Recreational Fishing Alliance, or RFA. This nonprofit organization was founded to protect and promote sustainable fisheries so that generations of families would be able to continue fishing and enjoying the ocean. Viking contributed more than $1 million over the years to the organization, which would transfer its assets to the American Sportfishing Association in 2023.

Between 2002 and 2003, several very important changes in the history of Viking would occur that would improve Viking's control over its quality and the way it serviced its customers. The impetus was the realization that many customers were snowbirds, people who migrated from the Northeast to Florida and back every year, often making the trek on their boats. Florida is also blessed with some of the best offshore fishing in the world thanks to its proximity to the Gulf Stream. Because so many Viking yacht owners were living either full- or part-time in Florida, Viking opened up a service center in Riviera Beach. The Viking Service Center has gone through many improvements over the years and can now handle both in-water work and land storage for larger projects.

In an effort to improve the quality of the electronics, components, and towers that were put on their sportfishing boats, Viking also opened two new companies, Atlantic Marine Electronics (AME) and Palm Beach Towers (PBT). By having the high-end electronics packages and towers installed at the factory, Viking could better control the quality as well as the costs for its owners.

Viking continuously looks to improve its facilities and its equipment in an effort to lead the industry in design, technology, and the evolution of its sportfish and motor yachts. In 2004, Viking purchased a $1 million computer-operated five-axis profiler milling machine that is capable of cutting parts measuring 60 feet by 20 feet by 10 feet; it's the largest of its kind. The new milling machine helped Viking produce larger, newer models like the 74 Convertible. A decade later, Viking would celebrate its 50th anniversary with the unveiling of its largest sportfishing yacht to date, the 92 Convertible.

Today's CEO and president of the Viking Yacht Company is Patrick Healey, but he didn't come into the business starting at the top. In 1976, Patrick Healey was hired on and would be groomed to be the second generation of Viking management, which meant starting from the bottom and learning everything about how each boat is built. Healey continues to lead the company and will for the foreseeable future, but sons Justin and Sean have also begun taking roles at Viking, hoping to become the third generation of Healeys to lead Viking to unrivaled success in boat-building.

While the years have seen competitors come and go, Viking yachts have been a mainstay in the marine industry, and the company continues to lead the way in technology, quality, and customer satisfaction. There simply is no semi-custom sportfish and motor yacht builder that is able to produce the same volume at the highest possible quality than the Viking Yacht Company.

Written by Rob Bowman

Also written or edited by Rob Bowman: 41 Ships, Boats, and Yachts From Pop Culture , All About Viking Ships , The 20 Most Expensive Yachts , The U.S. State With the Most Boats and Yachts

FURTHER READING :

• Fire Up The Bite With These Viking Yachts For Sale
• How Much Does An 80 Foot Viking Cost?
• How Much Does A 75 Foot Viking Yacht Cost?
• How Much Does A 70 Foot Viking Cost?
• How Much Does A 50 Foot Viking Cost?
• Is Viking A Good Yacht?
• Viking 64 Convertible: A Sportfish Evolved
• Viking Announces The New 90
• We Can Sell Your Viking Faster
• Viking 72 Convertible: Battle-Tested

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