Viking Yachts 90 Overview

Particular supply: Enroll for the free Marlin electronic mail e-newsletter. Subscribe to Marlin journal for $29 for 1 yr and obtain 2 bonus digital points.

Freshly launched on the 2023 Miami Worldwide Boat Present, the Viking 90 is the corporate’s new flagship, changing its in style 92-footer that was launched within the 2015 mannequin yr. Viking constructed and delivered 21 of the 92s, and was ready to proceed, however new Worldwide Maritime Group emission rules required the set up of heavy, giant, and doubtlessly harmful Selective Catalytic Discount methods. As a result of the required tools to take care of these modifications neither existed nor could be out there to keep up the boat’s manufacturing schedule, Viking was compelled to discontinue the manufacturing of the 92.

A bitter story maybe, however since 1964, when Invoice and Bob Healey based the Viking Yacht Firm in New Gretna, New Jersey, the builder has handled all types of obstacles, together with the early Nineties federal luxurious tax that crushed the marine trade, and several other recessions. Current challenges embrace COVID-related supply-chain points and a proposed 10-knot East Coast pace restriction resulting from proper whale conundrums. But, someway, none of those obstacles stopped Viking from finishing up its mantra to “construct a greater boat every single day.”

Some 5,000 boats later, Viking president and CEO Pat Healey charged his design, engineering, and manufacturing groups to resume that dedication once more and construct a brand new flagship. Investing $20 million in analysis and creating greater than 240 new molds, together with hull, topside, flybridge and inside, and pouring in reservoirs of sweat fairness and tens of hundreds of man-hours, the revealing of the brand new Viking 90 as a flagship isn’t any fish story. As with all Viking, a brand new mannequin should be pretty much as good as or higher than what it replaces, and the Viking 90 is all that and extra.

Cockpit and Mezzanine

The 90’s cockpit is 224 sq. ft and features a 203-gallon livewell constructed into the ­transom that may double as a fish field. A pair of 103-gallon ­insulated fish packing containers line the cockpit sole, and every might be refrigerated or function a depository for the twin Eskimo ice chippers. A watertight centerline deck hatch opens to entry the Seakeeper 35 ­gyrostabilizer for upkeep and routine inspections.

The cockpit work space resembles the 92, so there’s undergunwale storage, and the lower-mezzanine ­seating ­gives air con for stress-free, watching baits, and staying near the cockpit motion. Insulated packing containers and different compartments stow gear, drinks and sort out, and the crew quarters are additionally accessed by means of this space. The higher mezzanine is reached by means of ­flanking steps from the cockpit sole and contains an L-shaped aft-­going through lounge, a teak desk, and an out there 43-inch flat-screen ­tv that drops down from the overhead. One other ­seating space to starboard ­gives an electrical grill, a cocktail ice machine, and drawer ­storage. Artisan teak decking and a faux-teak bulkhead and cockpit trim work make for a customized really feel.

Inside and Lodging

Entering into the salon by means of the electrical sliding door, you possibly can see that the inside matches what the 92 offered, beginning with entry to the enclosed bridge by way of a large staircase to starboard. The 92’s inside was a success with every proprietor, so the design group capitalized on these earlier efforts, basically becoming the inside lodging of the 92 into the brand new 90 hull and deckhouse footprints.

A large U-shaped lounge to port faces the starboard-side leisure middle with a 65-inch tv that rises from the walnut cabinetry, which is on the market in both a satin or gloss end, together with a moist bar, sink and icemaker. Barely ahead, the starboard galley with engineered-stone counter tops affords super area for a number of place settings, 5 bar stools, and commercial-grade home equipment. Reverse the galley, there’s an immense U-shaped walnut desk on a raised platform that gives a house for rod storage. There’s a day head to port and a walk-in pantry to starboard that may additionally function a makeshift stateroom.

The 90-footer’s design group reworked the 92’s in a single day lodging and tweaked an inch right here and there to refine the out there area with the objective to streamline every stateroom whereas retaining the scale of every mattress and entryway. The grasp stateroom makes use of the total beam, offering a king-size walk-around mattress, finish tables, credenza, 65-inch tv, walk-in closet, lounge seat, ­self-importance and desk. His-and-her heads are separated by a walk-in ­glass-framed bathe. 4 different staterooms, every with a personal head and fiberglass bathe, present consolation and privateness. The aft crew quarters additionally embrace a small galley and laundry middle, enabling the 90 to simply spend a month at sea.

Bridge

Hull No. 1 is constructed with a ­climate-­managed enclosed bridge with the skybridge choice, with 9-plus ft of ­freeboard ­ahead and 3-plus ft aft.

The unbroken ­sheerline melds these dimensions right into a silky-smooth transition from bow to stern, and bridge to waterline. The enclosed bridge provides plenty of options, together with a second salon with an L-shaped lounge, a high-low walnut cocktail desk, refrigeration, and a 43-inch pop-up tv. The command helm is a house run, and particularly noteworthy for its one-piece, wraparound ahead windshield that maximizes the operator’s visibility with out the standard ­distractions brought on by vertical mullions. The added visibility additionally advantages passengers sitting within the flanking Stidd companion seats, whose view is equally unobstructed. Viking ­subsidiary Atlantic Marine Electronics outfitted the helm with 5 24-inch Seatronx MFDs, whereas the decrease portion of the helm console is outfitted with radio packing containers, devices, SidePower bow-thruster controls, Optimus steering, and MTU engine controls.

Exterior, AME complemented the aft-station format with a pair of Seatronx 19-inch shows, which additionally embrace full engine ­controls and ­communication ­tools. A sitting space is to port, ­separated by a ladder to the ­skybridge. The skybridge ­options the craftsmanship of Viking’s different subsidiary, Palm Seashore Towers, which accomplished the ­fiberglass hardtop and added a bunch of equipment, ­together with Rupp hydraulic outriggers, spreader lights, teaser reels, ­customized bridge railings, and a radar pod. Viking additionally affords the 90 convertible in an ­open-bridge model.

Engine Room and Efficiency

The gleaming Snow White Awlgrip-painted engine room has greater than 7 ft of headroom on the centerline, with 40 inches between the principle engines. Twin 2,600 hp MTUs present walkaround accessibility to numerous methods, together with the Furuno CSH8L sonar tube, Octoplex digital switching system, and the Optimus steering system. Parts are neatly labeled, and composite seacocks assist stem corrosion and cut back weight.

The centralized seawater system has been redesigned to scale back complexity and incorporates ElectroSea’s Clearline system with twin pumps to extend reliability and element longevity. A calming-water air-conditioning system gives 18 tons of cooling with reverse-cycle warmth and particular person controls all through the inside.

Learn Subsequent: Get to know Pat Healey, the president of VIking Yachts, in our unique interview.

Twelve folks had been on board for our sea trial off the coast of Palm Seashore, Florida. With a gasoline load of 70 %, the 90 hustled to a mean prime pace of 38 knots, the place one go learn 39.3 knots on the GPS. At 2,100 rpm, the boat eases alongside at 32-plus knots to ship a spread of some 582 nautical miles.

The Viking Yacht Firm hasn’t missed a beat in practically 60 years of steady manufacturing, and the passing of its 92 is simply one other milestone within the firm’s historical past. So, it’s secure to say, with 16 90-footers already on order, the beat goes on.

Viking Yachts 90 Specs

• LOA: 90’0”
• Beam: 23’2”
• Draft: 5’11”
• Displ: 193,490 lb.
• Gasoline: 3,801 gal.
• Water: 480 gal.
• Energy: MTU 16V2000 M96L
• Gear/Ratio: ZF 5000A/2.962:1
• Propellers: Veem, 5-blade
• Gelcoat: Kingston Gray
• Local weather Management: Dometic