Fresh Fish

VIKING YACHTS LAUNCHES A NEW CENTER CONSOLE

Hard-core anglers, take note: Viking Yachts, the New Jersey builder of sportfishing convertibles and motoryachts from 37 to 93 feet, has announced a new brand of luxury center consoles called Valhalla Boatworks.

The builder will produce the high-performance, outboard- powered open boats at its Mullica, New Jersey, factory. Debut models are expected to include 33-, 37- and 41-foot iterations with deep- V, twin- step hulls by Michael Peters Yacht Design. According to Viking, the stepped-V ventilated tunnel running surface will reduce drag while increasing speed, stability and efficiency. “The twin steps and tunnel not only give you fast and efficient performance, but also precise handling and a very stable ride,” says Viking Design Manager David Wilson.

The project’s origins go back 17 years, according to Chris Landry, director of communications. “This is when our design and engineering team started discussing the project. It came back on our radar five years ago, and customer and dealer demand played an important role in our feeling that the time was right to carry out this project.”

The V-33, V-37 and V-41 are expected to have four-stroke outboards with horsepower ratings from 300 to 425 in twin, triple or quad configurations. Each boat will have raised transom live wells, in-deck fish boxes, rod holders, dive doors and more. The consoles will be fitted with rod stowage, a plumbed head and a sink.

Viking says the full Valhalla model lineup will be unveiled this fall at the company’s annual dealer meeting to be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.