VIKING YACHTS

Open Bridge Convertible: 42 • 46 • 52 • 55 • 62 • 66 • 70 76 • 80 • 82 • 92 Enclosed Bridge Convertible: 62 • 66 • 70 • 76 • 80 • 82 • 92 Open: 42 • 42 SC • 42 ST • 46 • 52 Sport Yacht: 42 SC • 42 ST • 52 ST Motor Yachts: 75

Patrick Healey, President of Viking Yacht

Simpson Marine has become the exclusive representative for Viking Yachts, a U.S. builder with four and a half decades of experience building luxury performance sportfishing and cruising yachts. Simpson Marine will be selling and servicing the entire Viking product line ranging from 42 to 92 feet in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South East Asia.

Patrick Healey, President of the Viking Yacht Company, answered our questions about Viking and its history.

SM: First of all, welcome to Asia. Patrick: Thank-you. This association with Simpson Marine will help Viking to enter new markets and continue our growth into Asia and other developing regions, so we’re very excited.

SM: Tell us about your roots as a yacht builder. Patrick: The company was started by my father and my uncle, Bill and Bob Healey, in 1964. They bought Peterson-Viking Builders, a small, struggling New Jersey builder of 37-foot, wooden sportfishing yacht. I started working here at 13, sweeping floors. We grew the company into a world leader in semi-custom fiberglass yacht production. Today there are more than 4,000 Vikings out there.

SM: How important is the sport fishing market to you today? Patrick: It’s still very important. The Viking brand is very strongly embedded in the sportfishing industry, and we’re proud of that. We build the best tournament yachts out there. But a sportfishing yachts has become a lot more than it once was, and we’re building yachts that have luxuries, comfort and features that make the yachts much more versatile for their owners.

We still invest heavily in fishing the tournament circuits throughout the world and the lessons we learn out on the water at each event form the genesis for next effective layout.

The fishing roots of our design mean the yachts are fast and very practical in their layout. Every one of our models features a bi-level arrangement with an observation mezzanine to keep guests close to the action but clear of the activity in the lower cockpit. The flying bridge overhang provides excellent shade and protection from spray for long days far offshore. There’s plenty of stowage and freezer space. SM: Asian customers prefer comfortable salon areas. Can a Viking meet those needs? Patrick: Definitely. The luxury aboard our tournament yachts will change the way a lot of people will look at the sport. The salon and galley take full advantage of the yacht’s wide beam, so there’s plenty of space. Of course there’s all the flat screen televisions and audio systems expected in a yacht these days. The galley is world class and equipped to produce full service meals. There’s beautiful teak cabinetry everywhere and they are wonderful yachts for entertaining or weekends away.

SM: Your family has maintained control of the yard. How does that impact how you operate? Patrick: Viking is unique within the marine industry, because not only are we still family-owned and operated with the second generation of Healeys now running day-to-day operations, but also because the company is totally vertically integrated. Virtually 90 percent of what goes into a Viking yachts is designed and manufactured in our 810,000 square feet facility on the banks of the Bass River near Atlantic City, New Jersey. That’s very unusual, and it results in a better product, because we can control the quality of the entire yacht.

SM: What is the range of choice in your product offering? Patrick: We build over 100 different high-end models, from 42 to 92 feet, including 14 models with 23 variations in styles and functions covering open and enclosed bridge convertibles, open express, sport coupe and sport tower and motor yacht offerings. That’s a lot of choice.

OPEN BRIDGE CONVERTIBLE COLLECTION Viking’s Open Bridge Convertible line brings new luxury to blue water tournament boats. The range includes 11 different models from 42 to 92 feet, with every one of them offering the ultimate high performance experience due to Viking’s skilful blending of functionality and style. The versatile open space in the cockpit is ideal for fishing and other water sport activities, while an expansive flying bridge features a professionally appointed command station with superb visibility throughout every point of the compass.

92 CONVERTIBLE

Viking’s 92 Convertible is the largest resin-infused sport-fishing convertible yacht in the world.

The 92 Convertible has six staterooms, each with its own private head and shower. The full beam master suite features a king size walk around bed and private facilities.

The 23-foot beam transforms the salon into a majestic living room with built-in furniture and plush appointments like a 60-inch flat screen television that rises out of the teak cabinetry. An L-shape island in the galley features custom selected granite countertops.

This yacht has dual mezzanine decks, with one in the cockpit and the second on the main level after deck. An outside galley and grilling area are included for added convenience and ambiance.

52 CONVERTIBLE

The 52 Convertible is built for speed and has the muscle and fine bow entry for offshore trips.The Viking design and production team applied what they learned from building the 52’s larger siblings, including the removal of the keel and other hull design modifications to flatten the bottom for better and more-efficient performance.

The resin-infused hull includes end-grain balsa and foam cores, DuPont Kevlar and knitted fibreglass laminates. Carbon fibre is used in the layup of the deckhouse.

The flying bridge area offers a comfortable space with a four-sided enclosure, air conditioning, hardtop and custom Palm Beach Tower. Accommodations are best in class and feature an inviting layout with three staterooms and two heads while the salon takes full advantage of the boat’s 17-foot-6-inch beam. A choice of rich, finely finished woods and elegant fabrics is available to suit individual needs.

OPEN COLLECTION

Viking Yachts offers three sporty open express boats that are loved for their superb handling, open views and speedy versatility. They have seamless access from the cockpit to the bridge station, a popular feature for owners that enjoy socialising or fishing without a crew. The Open collection ranges in size from 42 to 52 feet.

42 OPEN

The Viking 42 Open has created a new class of fun, owner-operated fishing boats. It is quick on the throttle and sharp on the wheel and has rakish sporty looks with a wraparound fibreglass windshield and custom-designed Palm Beach Towers’ tuna tower.

The bridge deck with its centre console station and three helm seats is just steps away from the 120 square-foot cockpit, which features a transom door with a life gate, mezzanine seating and plenty of stowage, keeping everyone aboard close to the action.

The 42 Open is powered by twin Cummins diesels and utilises the Zeus pod-drive propulsion system with the manoeuvrability of joystick controls.

The two-stateroom layout is separated by the salon, galley and head to maximise comfort and privacy, with enough space for adventurous day trips, overnight fishing cruises or long weekends away island hopping with the family.