Vintage Viking Fan Club!

Vintage Viking

Paul,

Interesting you should use the phrase "vintage viking". I recently purchased a 1980 35' Convertible Sportfish, aptly named Vintage Viking. I fell in love with her classic lines, exceptional construction and comfortable layout for us. After spending most of her life in the Boston, MA and Long Island NY areas, she is now on the New Jersey coast comfortable in her new marina.

Since my wife gets ill from diesel fumes, it was difficult to find a Viking that I wanted with gas engines(Crusaders) so that my wife could enjoy her time on the water as well (I love my wife, too!).

She's going thru a refit & upgrade now (the Viking, not the wife). We will use Vintage Viking as a weekend retreat while we restore her and get her ready for extended cruising. I've already had Vintage Viking out striped bass fishing and she has proven to be a comfortable fish platform as well as a capable cruiser. She handled 25+MPH winds and 8' seas on her shake down cruise with no problems and provided a stable and dry ride.

I'm sure that we will enjoy many years with this Convertible.

Its a look that never goes out of style and built like a tank.

Good luck with her.

Vintage Viking

Hi Paul, hope your still out there. I just joined the site and would like to let you know that I'm crazy about my 1980 43' Viking Double Cabin MY with a pair of 671N's. Were based in New Jersey and do a lot of cruising on the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay. I too was unable to find a fan club of vintage Vikings. Maybe one will show up some day.

Not sure if you would consider it "vintage" but my wife and I just purchased a 1989 45' Viking Sportfish (Plan C) powered by DD671's. We will cruise the Chesapeake, mooring it in Middle River, MD.

Can't wait for spring!

Good luck with the boat.

My wife and I love our 38. These are great boats.

We have 5 posters so far who love their Vikings. Sounds like the beginning of a Fan Club!

OK Let's make it six!

VntViking,
My wife and I cruise to Atlantic City at least once a season and are always looking for other ports to stop for a few days on our way. Last year we went to Wildwood for a few days. This year I was thinking about Barnegat since a I spent many childhood years on LBI.

Is there a preferred marina in Barnegat?

I've heard that the inlet is tricky, is local knowledge needed?

Thanks

My wife and I like to cruise to Atlantic City (for lunch>>>have to stay out of those casinos!!). We have staye in the Wildwood area, but enjoy Cape May much more. Its a farther run, but she likes the Victorian town and the shops.

If you're looking to stay on LBI, there are few marinas that cater to transients. Beach Haven Yacht Club (ICW Marker 107) is probably the best, with the most to offer. You will be on the barrier island (Long Beach Island) and there will be plenty to do and see. But the LBI marinas are a little south of the Barnegat Inlet access to Barnegat Bay, so you will have a bit of a run once you clear the Inlet. Barnegat Inlet can be tricky, especially during opposing tide & wind, but if you follow the channel markers you'll be fine. It is not a line-of-sight passage, as you must follow the markers around the shoals and sandbars. If you stick to the markers you will have plenty of water. Barnegat Light has a commercial fishing fleet as well as the Coast Guard station, so the main channels are deep.

Once you clear the inlet proper and pass along the western side of the lighthouse and the Coast Guard station, you will have to bear right and loop around the sandbars to the approach for Double Creek or Oyster Creek channels. These lead into Barnegat Bay. If you travel due west across Barnegat Bay (about 2 miles) there is Key Harbor Marina and Holiday Harbor Marina. Both are on the mainland, but are much closer to the Inlet than any of the LBI options, and both service transients. Key Harbor has a restaurant on premise, where you have a short walk or ride to food if you stay @ Holiday Harbor. I keep my boat at Holiday Harbor, and it offers everything we need.

Check the latest release of Dozier's Waterway Guide. It as plenty of useful info on where to go and what to see. Or better yet let me know wh yu plan on being in the area.

count me in make it 7

I currently own a 77 35' convertabe for the last 20 years and have spent many great vacations traveling from Cape Cod to up the Hudson. We weekend every week at Atlantique a town marina on FI. We are in the process of buying a 81 43' aft cabin model which will give us a lot more room when guest come to spend the week end. I would be happy to join a Vintage Viking club...

Bob,

Good luck with the purchase. We go to Watch Hill several times a season. Fire Island is a great place.

Fire Island

Yes it is a great place we are very lucky to be so close. We also try to hit Watch Hill before the mosquito's take over.

Just became a Vintage Viking owner. 76 43 DC. Still getting better acquanted with her.

Getting acquainted with a Viking is akin to dating your highschool sweetheart; you will remember those moments for the rest of your life. Enjoy your 'new' Viking. The 43DC made for an excellent live-aboard.

I guess I will always love the lines of a Viking.

Just purchased a "vintage Viking" 1978 35' C. Would love to be a part of such a club.

New Jersey!!!

Great to see you Viking guys getting together like us Roamer guys......ALL classic boats are meant to be enjoyed.....also great to hear guys talking about the "Jersey Shore".....Grew up with my Grandparents on Barnegat bay, and spent my high school summers at Ocean Beach Marina in Lacy-Forked River aboard my buddy's Egg Harbor 32' sportfish......ahh, how i wish my 1958 Roamer could one day see the NJ coast....... Tim

Nj

BTW VntViking...you were my neighbor......i'm orig from Union Twp......my aunt used to live in the "Geary Park" area of South Plainfield....just a short ride down Route 22 !!!!!!!

Hey yall, I have an 86 48C and too have been looking for other Viking owners. Looks like more activity has been happening here lately, maybe we can keep it going.

Looking forward to learning all I can from other Vintage Viking owners. I will begin moving my 35c next week from Lake Michigan to Lake Ontario. Anyone ever cruise this? Never have and would appreciate any tips especially through the Huron area, where I have no experience.
Also, will need some bridge ladder steps. Any good sources out there? I have heard they are available in different materials. Thanks.