Viking Owners a Special Breed?

A Special Breed? Perhaps

Viking owners may be a special breed. Not everybody buys a Viking (they are not for everybody). There are many lesser makes at lower costs. Perhaps we (Viking Owners) are an elite group. I think Viking's commitment to quality, excellent customer support and their moto "Building a better boat every day" has lead to fewer issues than other makes. Accordingly there are fewer issues for owner to discuss and resolve in a forum environment. I don't think that Viking owners are reclusive but just doing their thing. The focus however, seems to be on newer boats and folks with older models are sort of left behind. (This doesn't bother me.) I guess I have been fortunate because I have not had any significant issues (Viking specific) with my 35ft, only the typical small stuff (bilge pump, etc) and usual maintenance items. I'm very satisfied and proud to be a Viking owner. When I tell fellow boat owners that I have a Viking, they typically comment "that's one fine boat".

Not many of us have older Viking motor yachts, at least on this forum, but I am a satisfied owner. Glad the company has such a sterling reputation, as it reflects well on my boat, even if it is not the current sport fisher.

Great boats and their customer svc is tops in the industry for their class.......

Viking has come a long way from the poorly built wooden boats they built to their early fiberglass models that aged badly with their rotten cored foredecks,cockpits,bridgedecks and woodgrain sole complete with sliding glass doors.I think I have surveyed most of those over the decades.

Modern Vikings are second to none in quality, fit, and finish,as is their customer service.

Bamagirl

Many of the threads on this forum are issue related rather than manufacturer related. Start a thread "How do you like your Viking", and I suspect you'll get a fair number of responses

Like Vikings ?

I'm on my second Viking. Does that tell you ?

just bought a 41' viking with Gas 454's, only have 550 orginal hours, she is a freshwater boat. looking to see if anyone has heard of anyother 41's with gas and what their criuse and top speed were. also gph

My Opinion, Viking is the TOP DOG in the semi-production SF industry.

The only issue they have had over the years is with the gelcoat in the 90's which was really a supplier issue.

The boats are top notch, the customer service is top notch (even for for 2nd and 3rd owners)

I also think that those early fiberglass models, like the ones described above, are also great boats that helped build the Viking reputation.

I had one of the olders ones and I had very little issues with it.

There alot of the older Vikings still around, although, I agree they are not as pretty looking as older Hatts.

The other top 2 brands have had, and have issues. both build issues and finincial issues.

Viking seems to have kept high quality and high customer service standards and they are finincially strong and resilient.

Some of it is FORD vs Chevy, but when you add up all the pluses and minuses, Viking always seems to come out on top.

BTW, I am not a Healey, a salesman, or a current Viking Owner......

Viking did what it takes to become the top dog in production sportfishers.

Let's see - Viking is family owned, Hatteras is large corporation owned with a bean counter approach, Bertram is foreign owned - WAY TO GO Healey's et all!

True Viking is family owned and has done an excellent job playing to it's audience. Their product has vastly improved compared to what they had produced. That being said, Bertram and Hatteras were producing top quality all fiberglass yachts for a longtime while the Healeys were still making some really sub standard and poorly built wooden boats, then onto those ****** 33's and 35's with their trampoline soles and decks.
BTW/ i have seen more than a couple of delaminated 48' Vikings and a couple of delaminated newer Bertrams, but yet to see a delaminated Hatteras on a survey.

I had an older 35 Viking.

It was a tank.

Yea, i did some work on it, but nothing major.

The Salon windows would leak driving me crazy and i hated the glass sliding doors.

I put that boat through hell and it always brought me back.

The modern Vikings are a different breed.
They have constantly improved the brand.

AS of today, all things being considered, if i were buying new or late model used, Viking would be my 1st look.


Especially with Brunswicks latest announcement regarding Hatt/Cabo.

In my opinion the Bertram brand has declinde since the offshore take over. I really really hope they rebound in their new facility.

As a consumer, my current ranking of the top 3 is:
1. Viking
2. Hatteras
3. Bertram

not to beat up vintage Hatts, I totally love em.
but here is a pic of a Hatt in need of a deck job.....

Let's not forget that the Healey's purchased Viking while they were still building wooden boats, and they led the transition to fiberglass. I am applauding their vision, committment and business acumen to get to this point from the '60's - a pretty challenging task for a family business in any market. The Leeks family at Ocean Yachts / old Pacemaker/old Egg Harbor and Lazzarra family are the only other ones that come to mind as a family business survivor, but they chose a different path. It is still tough going for every builder in this Industry under today's conditions.

The 33 was the short lived first shot at fiberglass construction, but the 35 Convertible held its' own against the 36 Hatteras and 35 Bertram , as well as the 36 Pacemaker for the times. I would have to give the 35 Bertram the edge on overall performance, but the 35 Viking was the better all-around Convertible amongst them all.

All builders have seen fiberglass construction issues during their tenure and Hatteras was not immune. They ran into coring/delam issues for a while, until they went away from cored bottoms and they like everbody else were not spared the blister issues.

So do you consider 1985 an "old model" Viking? She is a rarity, she was ordered and built with Gas engines straight from the factory. I have yet to have spoken with anyone that has this same boat with Gas engines. I would be curious to see what they had to say about the 454 power and criuse and top speed. ( I have yet to have ridden her, I bought it for X mas for a heck of a deal, and now am drooling until spring). Anyone have any comparables?

Personally, I dont consider the 85 an old model.
But mid 80's is a different evolution in Viking Yachts (and other brands)

As far as an 85 41' with gas, i have not personally seen one.
I have seen the older 41 or 43 with 454s.

I suppose the 41 with big blocks could work in some lake, river or low hours use.
One advantage of the 454s is maint and replacement cost.

a pair of 671s can take almost 20 gallons for an oil change and a 454 takes 7 qts.
It cost me almost $500 in oil and filters to do an oil change, that is if i do it myself.

You can get a reman 454 long block for around 3k and it is not rocket science to change parts.
A repower of a 671 will easilly cost you 12K per engine, on the low side.

So in some limited circumstances, gas engines can work in a boat this size, but you are really on the edge and asking alot out of a pair of 454 in a 41 Viking.


the 1985 41 is an great boat, you will be very happy with the ride.
There are many of them that have ventured out the Canyons and other open ocean places for years.
They also make a great costal cruiser for those that prefer the SF for cruising.

I agree that the 33 and 35 are totally different boats.

I also agree that the 35 Viking can hold its own against the 35 Bertram and 34 Hatt of the same vintage.

What year is this boat?

1985 41' Viking