Viking Yachts reports workers busy building boats after a successful Miami Boat Show. Show below is a 46 Convertible nearing completion. Shown below is a 42 Open getting its fiberglass windshield frame installed, and the engine room parts installation. Galati Yachts sold three 42 Opens during the Miami Boat Show.
Shown here is a 46 Convertible nearing completion, and another one just starting up.
Matt Condon, Viking Specialist at Galati Yacht Sales, mattc@galatiyachts.com, www.vikingsforsale.com (850) 259-9900
My
first impression from the dock is – “Okay, here is another pretty face from
Viking Yachts”. These guys have been introducing new models faster than a Milan fashion show
runway. But this new girl is unlike the others. She is more shapely and
curvaceous. Forget Paris Hilton, I’m talking real curves like those found on
Raquel Welch or Jennifer Lopez. The Viking design team, led by Dave Wilson, set
out to eliminate any straight lines with the 62 Convertible and succeeded in
creating a sexy and seductive mistress of the high seas.
But, does she run as good as she looks?
I’m
here to tell you the Viking 62 is the real deal. She is a bona fide, certified,
bad a** convertible. Perhaps more eloquent words could be used to describe her,
but those are most fitting. Capt. Ryan Higgins, Viking’s tournament winning in-house
captain took a group from Galati Yacht Sales out Palm Beach into 4 – 6 head seas. Before I
knew it, we were smoothly advancing at a fast 38 knot cruising speed. Wow! With
equal parts power and grace, she reminds me of the great thoroughbred
Secretariat thundering down the stretch. More than fast enough to win, with even
more to give if called upon.
This
totally new design is packed full of innovations and thoughtful improvements. Besides
good looks, she has a big salon with plenty of storage, a refined bridge with
extra seating and ample elbow room, a cockpit longer than her siblings, and fuel
efficient enough to travel more than 500 nautical miles at 30 knots in a single day. I am
impressed!
Galley with Storage Galore
Yes,
the salon is bigger but perhaps more importantly it feels bigger too. Let’s
start with the island galley; it is aligned fore and aft instead of the usual peninsula
design, which tends to divide the salon. There are 6 sub-zero under-counter
drawers, and massive amounts of storage everywhere you look. There are no less
than 15 storage shelves in the galley, 7 of which slide out on ball bearing
sliders for super-easy access to all your goodies, and 8 drawers for cutlery
and miscellaneous. Behind one of Viking’s high polished teak doors is a
pull-out trash bin, and behind another is access to a cavernous storage space
under the sink – perfect for those over-sized pots and pan. Also new on the 62
are 3 deep shelves cleverly hidden behind the mirrored back splash and cabinets
above the port side dinette.
The
L-shape salon sofa extends from the dinette to the entryway with easy access
storage underneath. Viking’s sofas are hinged at the top of the back rests “dewberry
style” providing unfettered access to 40 sq. feet of storage – a perfect spot
for rod storage and spare parts bins.
Presto Chango … the TV Appears
Press
the power button on the universal remote supplied by Atlantic Marine Electronics
and presto, up comes this super-sleek glass-panel Samsung LED TV behind the
curved cabinetry on the starboard side. I’m starting to really like this boat!
The Layout
The
4 stateroom, 3 head configuration is perfect for the traveling family or sport
fisherman on the tournament trail. The master is amidship and off to the
starboard side, with an island queen forward in the VIP suite, the 3rd
stateroom features over/under bunks forward, and the 4th stateroom
is aft with side bunks – ideal for the crew with an en suite head.
The
master stateroom is by far, the best I have ever seen on a Convertible under 70’.
It features a large queen bed facing to port, with 2 huge hanging closets, each
behind twin raised-panel teak doors. They give a rich, warm feeling to the
place. Yes, that’s right a his and hers closet on a 62’ sports fisherman!
My
only disappointment in the layout was no engine room access from inside the
boat, and no in-salon day head like found in the 66. So call me spoiled!
Luxurious Accommodations
Bill
Bales of William Bales and Company is responsible for the “WOW!” reaction most
people have when they first step aboard the 62. He chose a sculpted carpet with
a chevron pattern, to go along with parquet styled Amtico brand flooring in the
galley and heads. The thing that really grabs your attention is the wood work
on the cabin doors, which are done in raised panel teak, finished in high gloss,
and feature an archway top. All the gloss teak throughout the boat is spectacular
with varying degrees of contrast in the grain. It is ultra-rich looking. Also,
the counter tops in the galley counter and the vanities are certainly unusual.
They are granite richly textured “leather-finished” that has the look and feel
of colored slate.
Other
nice touches include teak trim headliners in the staterooms that serve as A/C diffusers, ostrich wall coverings with 1” teak strips at the seams, and highly textured
wall coverings in the heads.
Command Deck
The
flybridge layout is simply perfect. Perhaps in 10 years someone will show me a
better design and laugh how I gushed over this 62. Until then, this is it. The
configuration centers around Viking’s now famous island-style center console
command station, loaded with state-of-the-art glass panel navigation equipment.
Capt. Kirk aboard the star ship Enterprise
never had it so good. There are three sumptuous Release Marine Trillion series helm
chairs suitable for the Captain, the Admiral, and Thor himself. Along the sides
are 2 long bench seats, each with an aft backrest, and a comfortable seat forward smartly integrated in the center
console.
If
you ever get the chance to stand at this helm, take a good look around, tell
your friends to give you a minute, and then close your eyes and dream of
running down that giant marlin. Its okay, we’ll understand. Men dream these
things.
Command Performance
Our
test boat was outfitted with a pair of 1,925 hp Cat C32A’s. We saw a top speed
of 42 knots, with 20 people aboard and 75% fuel load. These Cats can growl!
But, when it is time to purr along, remarkably, she’ll run efficiently at 30
knots burning about 100 gallons per hour at only 1,700 RPMs. This gives you a
comfortable 18 hour cruising range, over 500 nautical miles. To put that in
perspective, you can travel non-stop in a single day from Destin,
Florida to Isla Mujeres,
Mexico or from Wilmington, North Carolina
direct to Palm Beach, Florida
or from Nassau direct to Dominican Republic.
The Viking gods have blessed you!
Action Central Cockpit
Whatever
type of boating you do, the cockpit is the place to be. Tournament fishing, family
cruising, or socializing at the dock, the 62’s cockpit is ideally configured
for all. It is noticeably larger than most – a foot longer than the 70, with a
large transom box and a very comfortable aft facing mezzanine seat. Also large
is the vacant area under the cockpit sole known as the lazarette. It is big
enough to carry one of those $200,000 Seakeeper anti-roll gyros, should you opt
for total comfort at sea. Carmine Galati of Galati Yacht Sales says “Absolutely,
it is well worth it considering the fact that your wife and guests will enjoy
the boat as much as you.”
Beauty and the Beasts Within
The
engine room is bigger than you will expect. Remember crawling into an older
Viking jam packed with horsepower and wondering if anyone will ever work in
there? Not any more. The 62 Convertible offers 6’ of headroom, and easy access
outboard of the engines. Wow! I’m 6’3” so I need to duck a little, but it is truly
an amazing amount of space for a low profile boat with big Cat engines. Viking
creates this height by eliminating the sub floor between the engines. She is
wide, and it shows in the engine room where substantially more space exists outboard
the engines too.
Viking
paints all the thru-hulls, strainers, and various mounting brackets white - even
the Craftsman tool chest is painted white. The Cat C32 engines are shiny white,
with chrome valve covers, and white cat filters. Ransome Cat dressed these
engines to look as good as they run. Nicely done!
The
engine room is smartly laid out. The two generators are mounted aft on top of
the massive stringers and just below the overhead electrical boxes – tucked completely
out of the way, yet fully serviceable. The pumps and centralized sea water
plumbing are tucked inside compartments forward of the engines. I also like how
they have cleverly put the main engine water intake under a hatch as well.
My
only gripe is the oil change pump is located in the walkway between the engines,
slightly in your way for something only used every couple hundred hours.
Innovations Sell Boats
Like
every model that precedes her, Viking continues to innovate. Their mantra of
“build a better boat every day” should also include “never stop innovating”.
The 62 hull design benefits from many Viking speed tricks that now include a
recessed engine water intake, to go along with the recessed and glassed over
strut and rudder mounts. Her hull is perfectly smooth. Like any new baby, a
clean bottom is preferred.
Conclusion
My
final take on Viking’s new 62 is one of pride to see this amazing boat built in
America
by a company that continues to improve on what is already
considered the best money can buy. This boat is a benchmark for Viking Yachts,
a company who refuse to rest on its past successes. She is faster, bigger, more
luxurious, more comfortable, and more efficient. More of everything you want in a Convertible. I
find her simply irresistible!
