Viking Owners a Special Breed?

I had a 1990 38 for 5 years. Best boat I have owned and the only one I miss.

A friend has a 1988 41 with Detroit 6-71 TIBs. It is a great boat,beamy and comfortable.

With gas she will be a bit slow and a little thirsty. I think her weight is around 31k and that is a lot for a pair of 454s to push around. You should be able to get some information from the Viking site. I think they have older literature available.

One of the things you will love about dealing with Viking is that with the hull number, they can tell you every part that was put into your boat. Great company.

Yeah, I know the 454s are gonna be a little underpowered and thirsty, however for the price was well worth the cost of fuel.TRUST ME. So in my mind I am thinking if I run her around 3500 rpm, I should get about 15-18mph, and wont run the motors into the ground. The crusader book says they top out at 4400 rpm, but I think if I ran her like that they would just blow up pushing that heavy boat. I'm happy with 18mph. I have some notes from the prior owner that says it went 21 mph @ 4000 rpm....so this is how I am getting my assumption of 3500= 15-18 mph.

She is what she is, just looking to see if anyone knows of another gas 41' or has info on comparable boats with gas they have been on.

As I said before, I have to yet ridden on her! May cant come soon enough!

Jserb, I was referring to the pic on RT46's post, the Hatt with the rotten deck...

I want to thank you all for your input of information.
I am a new and first time Viking owner and honestly more than a little nervous over this adventure. My wife and I just purchased a 1976 Viking 43' double cabin M/Y. Boat is in reasonably good shape. We had a full survey and are addressing the necessary items now. I have alway felt Viking had a stellar reputation in line with Hatteras so I have placed a lot of confidence in the name.
I am somewhat apprehensive over the fuel consumption to expect as I never could get any clear data for this boat. We have original 671n's so I hope to get to keep consumption down based on our ability to not be in a hurry to get anywhere (except travel to home port). It will simply be a nice weekender for us and travel out to the MS coast islands, Orange beach. Al., etc.. If anyone is familiar with this viking and has any insight , please feel free to share. Here is the I may be crazy part.......... we have almost a 1000 nm trip to home port of Biloxi, MS. This is going to be a fuel monster of a trip even being conservative not to mention our novice status. LOL, prayers would be appreciated.
Has anyone here made the run on ICW and the jump from say Daytona Beach, FL to Biloxi, MS area.
no nodern electronics so could use any advice on economical chartplotter/ gps, etc. I plan to use a laptop as a backup, and any suggestion on a reasonable unit for helm would be greatly appreciated. Once again Prayers
Sad part is this has to be done very timely in one 9 day trip or split up into two runs as we are simple working stiffs and time to adventure is limited.
Once in home port pressure should be off and start recovering financially I hear yall laughing now.
Well friends and neighbors, I do hope yall get a proper kick outta my foolishness.

Several things: first, abandon any notion that you can or should keep to a schedule. Even an experienced boater with a thoroughly maintained boat can never be free from weather or mechanical problems. If you have no electronics, then you need to get something and become familiar with it before you go offshore. Garmin makes good, and easy to use chartplotters, but you should make sure you know how to navigate without one. Redundancy is a necessity - the saying is that "two is one and one is none." Also, you need to research the trip with fuel stops, weather holes, and alternate arrangmenents to accomodate weather and mechaical delays. Active Captian is your friend, but add to it with Waterways Guide and Salty Southeast. Know your fuel range and leave plenty of safety factor. Know your draft and check the ICW and current OWW depths. Know your own stamina - a good rule of thumb is a lay day every third day to rest, refuel, reprovision, repair, and wait out the weather. If you're going to cut the corner from Tampa to Appalachicola, then you'll need an EPIRB and life raft. Since you're a novice, get an experienced captain for that leg, or at least wait for a buddy boat. Remember, it's a boat, which mean there is something that is going to go wrong at the worst time. And, I'll say it again, the most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule. Good luck, stay safe, don't over do it and you'll love the Viking!

Well I know your boat is newer, a foot longer, and a little lighter but here are my specs from my 40' Viking which I think you may be surprised by, but it has 2 new 8.1l MPI's from Crusader plus new Hurth transmission and what a difference. Because of the regearing and different size props, My cruise speed went up to 22knts with a burn rate of 24gph (with 454's cruise was 17knts and burn rate was 26gph, WOT WAS 26knts) and now it tops out at 34knts. I also put brand new fuel tanks in increasing the fuel capacity from 300 gallon to 400 gallons now. There is not one thing I can complain about on this boat now that i've changed out the things that bothered me or they didn't have back then. I bought off the orginal owner (6months ago) who purchased it at the NYC boat show in 1974.

Congrats on your new vessel, it is great for our industry to have newcomers like yourself. Once you get the boating "bug' it is difficult to imagine time away from the water.

The 6-71N is my all-time favorite marine diesel, reliable pretty thrifty and sounds just plain awesome. Never had a situation where it let me down. Some Oil leeks for sure but get a Walker Airsep or Racor System for the Crankcase Breather and it will do much better than a tube running into the bilges. I found a Fuel Burn Spec Sheet and you can use this to estimate your fuel burn, keep in mind that this is calculated data for a new engine in optimum condition and assumes that it is installed as requireed - the right amount of air-flow, clean high quality diesel, factory spec compression, etc. Make sure to use the Propeller Load Fuel Consumption Curve at the bottom.

Now, start working on collecting your spares - belts, filters, water pump/impellors, etc.

@GeorgeG,

Congratulations on the new boat! I agree with the last few replies in this thread. Be sure to watch the weather closely and it's good to always be self sufficient by having redundant systems, spare parts, etc. should anything go wrong. Since this is a new boat for you, if you can swing it, taking an experienced captain with you might be a good idea, especially if you run into any issues such as engine problems if you are not comfortable with dealing with something should it arise.

I don't have any first hand experience with the 6-71's, but Detroit diesels do have a great reputation for being reliable.

Haven't yet done the stretch from Daytona to Biloxi, but I'm familiar with Orange beach to Biloxi. There isn't much to it. It's all deep water as long as you stay in the marked channels once you reach Mobile Bay.

Be sure you have a current set of charts for your trip and you know how to use them. They can greatly assist you in staying out of the shallow areas if you need help finding the channel. However, charts are not exact, only estimated depths are found on them.

Main thing to remember, never go faster than what you are willing to hit something at. Since you are unfamiliar with the waters, take it slow and providing weather and sea conditions are calm, will help keep you from running aground and not being able to recover should it happen at any point in your trip.

Personally, I would make sure you have at the very least a depth sounder, hand held VHF, and a GPS. If possible, back-ups of these systems are a good idea. For safety, type 1 offshore life jackets are a must. It's one of those things you hope you never need, but want to have with you. EPIRBS are great, so are life rafts, but can be expensive. PPIRBS are slightly less expensive, but a VHF equipped with DSC can be a cheaper option for your trip to Biloxi. The vessel's VHF radio must be registered for a Maritime Mobile Service Identity if you choose this option. However it doesn't replace an EPIRB.

Nobeltec offers a PC navigation software. However it is a little pricey, but a descent system.

Furuno has a MFD black box system that is great. You can use it to add radar, GPS, sonar, chart plotter, etc. I have a 60ft Viking Cockpit Sportyacht that we use multiple Furuno systems along with several other systems aboard it. However, it is expensive. While my personal preference is Furuno because of the capabilities of the system, Garmin does make a more user friendly unit.

Hope I've been of some help. Good luck and have fun learning your new boat! I'd love to hear how your trip goes. We keep our boat in Ft Lauderdale, FL. I think it would be a fun trip to bring it home here to Diamondhead MS or at least Gulfport for a little while, but for all the fuel we would burn to bring it here its difficult to stop exploring the Bahamas.

Very happy with my Viking 44

I just bought my Viking in October of 2012 and live aboard in Northern Florida.
She's a 44 aft-cabin motor yacht (1989-90) with twin J&T 671TAs and twin disc transmissions. I got a great deal on her because the owners could no longer take care of her. Yes there were, and are issues but I can accomplish a little every day since I live aboard.

Would like to find others here with the same model because I'm having difficulty with the owner's manual not matching what is actually on the boat. Also would like to find a place that sells Viking "stuff".

A work in progress, but overall- very,very happy!

Welcome, I've owned a 1987 version of this boat for 12 years. If I can be of any help just ask.As far as 'Viking Stuff' other than the builder there is no Viking stuff store.

Viking Aft cabin

Since i've owned a 40 Viking SF/Convertible i've been noticing more and more Viking Aft cabins. To be honest, I think i've seen more Aft cabins on the treasure coast here in FL than anywhere else in FL. It seems the Viking owners who own the SF's take care of them very well and it seems the Aft. cabins are always in poor to ok shape. I wonder why that is? I suspect it appeals to an older crowd that has a hard time keeping up with all to do. I definitely would have liked to have found an Aft. cabin when looking around at boats so I could have that extra space, but i'm definitely happy with my SF for sure.

Thank you. This is the only site I could find for Viking Wear: 2012 Viking Wear Catalog

But I have seen license plates and window decals, maybe I can get my vinyl guy to help.

Maybe you can help me find the "Y" valve which I have been looking for for two days now. I have 2 vacu-flush heads. I found two sea cocks under the galley floor which are labeled "head discharge" and "macerator pump discharge" but cannot find the "Y" valve as pictured in the manual. Not a problem, since I can always go to the city marina for pump out, I would just like to know that everything is "there" and that it works if I need it to.

I had to gut a lot of the upholstery because of mildew, but for the better because now I converted the never-used hide-a-bed into five storage bins and re-upholstered the entire couch. Also ditched all the heavy upholstery window trim and the like. Next....the big mirror is going, as soon as I can figure out if it's glued onto the wood.............. 100% new canvas and new "Racor" fuel filters throughout. Getting there, slowly but surely. Thanks again, Mo

Most, if not all, Viking aft cabins, including my 55, were built in Tampa at the old Gulfstar plant, after Viking bought Gulfstar in the 80s. when the luxury tax killed the yacht market, the factory and yacht line was closed. Since then, Viking exclusively builds YFs in NJ.

Check under the floor hatch just inside the forward stateroom, that's where mine is.

I did not know that Viking produced the aftcabins from that generation in the FLA location.

you learn something everyday on YF..........

My last boat was a 38 sportfisher. Loved that boat.

Don't forget you can call Viking with questions. They are very helpful with all past models.

I had a 35 Viking.

I loved the boat, it was a tank.

Viking is a great brand with great customer services
(even if you are the second or third owner of a vintage Viking)

I'd buy another Viking, new or used, no problem.

You almost never hear a bad story from a Viking owner.

For the record, I a not affiliated with Viking and my last name is not Healey....

They produce a great product

Viking plant in FL

I didn't know that Viking had a plant here in Fl when they bought out Gulfstar. This explains why I see so many Aft. cabins in FL. Thanks for the info, very interesting indeed.

If you provide them the hull number, they can tell you anything you want to know. In addition, I bought replacement gaskets and matching paint to touch up handrails etc. They were great.

Thank you. Found it. There is a hatch in the galley floor where it meets the fwd stateroom; I thought that was the only one. Now found one forward of that and there it is. The manual (onboard at purchase) states it is on the forward bulkhead of the engine room......it is not; at least not on mine.

Thanks to those who replied.