Viking 44 Convertible

Viking Yachts introduced the 44 Convertible at the Miami International Boat Show earlier this year. It joins the recently introduced 44 Open in the New Jersey builder’s fleet.

“The 44 C runs on the same proprietary surface as our 44 Open, giving her the high performance of a Viking express fishing boat and the stylish deckhouse, expansive saloon and luxurious accommodations of a Viking convertible,” director of communications Chris Landry says. “In a 44-footer, Viking gives you a boat with two full staterooms, including a guest stateroom with a two-person berth.”

The master stateroom has an island berth and a private head with an enclosed shower. A guest stateroom in the bow has a single offset, bunkstyle berth with a double berth beneath it. A shared head/shower is abaft the berths to starboard. Uncarpeted areas have a teak-and-holly sole.

In the air-conditioned saloon are an L-shaped dinette, an L-shaped lounge and a U-shaped galley with an integrated breakfast bar. Windows surround the saloon to create openness, and satin-finish wood trim adds elegance.

The cockpit mezzanine has bench seating to starboard, along with tackle drawers and a drink cooler to port. Both areas have stowage beneath. There’s plenty of room in the cockpit for rigging baits, watching your spread and playing fish. Hidden beneath the cockpit sole and in the transom are fishbox and stowage spaces.

A pair of optional 1,000-hp MAN diesels push the 44 Convertible to a top speed of 34.5 knots and provide a 30-knot cruise. Twin 800-hp MAN diesels are standard. “The 44 Convertible is a comfortable tournament contender with the largest flybridge in its class,” Landry says, “equally capable of galloping hard to the canyons on gnarly weather days or blasting over to the Bahamas in 90-degree heat.”