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Random Quote: It ain't long, but it sure is skinny
In looking at Viking’s new hull, the 42’ Convertible and Express, it seems to me that they could easily reconfigure this hull to a center console design without much effort at all. As described on the website, the 42’ uses the IPS pod drives, probably in the new IPS 850 (600 HP) rating.
This means for the first time that a center console design is possible from Viking. Not only is it possible, it might be the ultimate large CC, and quite possibly the fastest boat ever produced by Viking, as I would guess at a 45-50 kt top speed. Not only that, it would dwarf everything else in it’s class with a 15’6” beam. Another industry first, it would be the only hull ever produced available as a CC, express, or convertible. (perhaps even a walkaround could be done adding a fourth configuration). I can’t see anything else even coming close in a CC, given the size and build quality of Viking.
Now this would be no SKA boat, it would be too big and too slow to compete in the kingfish space, but it would make a great tournament boat with an uncluttered transom, 360 degree fishability, and joystick manoueverability of the IPS drives. On the other hand, this would be no Intrepid either, with almost 16’ of beam, you could put a fighting chair in, and it would easily carry a full tower. I see it being rigged for hardcore fishing.
The console and helm station would be huge. I could see 3 across Stidd chairs for the helm, an enclosed stand up head, mini galley, and a couple of stacked berths below for a overnight to the canyons. Nothing too fancy, no trash compactors or dishwashers, just basic refrigeration and a microwave. If you need the other stuff, just get the express.
The other advantage is that the diesels would not be under the helm seating, as on the Sea Vee 39’ with IPS. So no jackshafts, and greatly reduced noise, and better service access.
Now I know some will say what would you do with a 42’ CC, it comes up every time a big CC is mentioned on THT. I see two markets, the move down buyer who maybe has an older 55’ or 61’ Viking sport fish, and is tired of paying a captain to go out for a few fish on Saturday morning, and darn tired of $25,000 maintenance bills on expensive MAN diesels. A boat like this hypothetical 42’ CC could be fished single handed, get good economy, not require any crew, and cost a fraction to maintain compared to a big sport fish. The other market is a guy who wants a top quality big boat to go out in big seas, but is primarily a day boat kind of guy who would just as soon stay in a hotel at the tournament.
Naturally, you would be able to get all the great options that the big boats have, like ice chippers, teak decks and teak covering boards, live bait wells, tuna tubes, bait freezers, gensets, etc, etc. if you wanted to spend the money.
For this to work, I think Viking would have to adjust their pricing expectations, and consider this boat as way to bring new owners into the Viking fold. Maybe even sell it at cost, just to keep the work force busy, hey, it beats a layoff. Currently, Viking offers nothing under $1mm in the rest of their line. To compete with the likes of Sea Vee, with their 39’ IPS center console, they would have to price the Viking CC with that price point in mind, although a premium is justified given the (much) larger hull and the upgraded HP of the IPS 850 drives. I think the Sea Vee 39’ IPS is around $400k-$450k. Such an “entry level” boat might energize Viking’s dealer network, giving them something to sell at a totally different price point in a market which is probably not seeing much if any sales activity.
Can’t imagine too many $3mm 60’ boats are flying off the shelves these days.
What do you guys think, should they build it, or does the world really not need another big CC?
A couple of years ago when everyone was frantically upgrading and buying larger and larger CC's every other year to try and keep up with the Jones -- this might have worked if the manufacturer could have gotten people over their love affair with quadruple outboards as the power plants of choice.
Build it ,with out even thinking about it , the viking 42' is going to bring back alot of old customers and new . The 42 open i think is going to sell like a bat out of hell , don't no if it was a smart move putting ips drives in the open , than again the cabin layout looks preaty cool with the back bearths , for Viking to use Volva Pentas , they must no something we don't..Don't think Viking is going to put that boat out cost either , bad economy or not , guessing at $650, - $700,000. well equiped tower and all , cant wait to see it ........
Build it ,with out even thinking about it , the viking 42' is going to bring back alot of old customers and new . The 42 open i think is going to sell like a bat out of hell , don't no if it was a smart move putting ips drives in the open , than again the cabin layout looks preaty cool with the back bearths , for Viking to use Volva Pentas , they must no something we don't..Don't think Viking is going to put that boat out cost either , bad economy or not , guessing at $650, - $700,000. well equiped tower and all , cant wait to see it ........
I would bet you are going to be looking at allot more than 650-700...............Well equipped would be closer to 9 figures then to 650....... They should come out with a 32-35 footer if they really want to move product and expand their market share....Then you would be in the half mil range
This is a stupid Idea, and I think you would be better suited to looking at yellowfin or some other large CC manufacturer....
Do you really think that a company that has made Convertibles and Sport Yachts over the past 15 years can make a CC that is competitive and relevant in todays market vs. all the other builders??? Its not in their business model, and no one is thinking of Viking as a CC builder.... For someone to drop that amount of $$$ on a CC from a Builder that has no experience in CC building has a few screws loose if you ask me...
Ryan
__________________
Lets have a Sexy Party! 38 Henriques FB 2000 ~ 17 Montauk 1978
This is a stupid Idea, and I think you would be better suited to looking at yellowfin or some other large CC manufacturer....
Responding to a post as "a stupid idea" might not be the best way to express your opinion. At the present time, there seem to be two groups of people out there; those of us who are broke and worried and those who have enough money that the fall in the prices of many things represents a real buying opportunity. There were a lot of eople who went from being simply wealthy to being just plain rich in the Great Depression. I saw nothing in the post that said he was looking for a 42 foot center console, but rather that the new hull with IPS drives might be a good platform for a center console. Entry point pricing for the average Viking buyer is so far out of my own world that it would not matter if it was 400,000 or 4,000,000. I 'm never going to own one.
Consider the following bit of trivia. Toyota will run at a loss this year. But, every time Ferrari releases a new model, they are sold out almost instantly. So, you and I may not be the part of the market that Viking is shooting for, but there may be Viking customers who'd say, "yeah, I'd like one if they made it".
I would expect the list on a 42' Viking Express typically equiped with a tower to be close to $1.2 million and sell for $1.05 million. I doubt there would be much of a market for even a $900,000 center console (assuming it would cost Viking about $100,000 less for the simplified cabin, when the quad outboard boats are selling for half that price. The other issue is unless you are fishing 10+ guys, do you really need all the fishing space a 42' long 15.5' wide cc would have?
I apologize for using the phrase "stupid idea" in my previous post... In retrospect, it is indeed not the best way to express my feelings on the topic... My apologies... I think a better way to say it would be that this is far out of Vikings MO and an unlikely scenario...
Ryan
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Lets have a Sexy Party! 38 Henriques FB 2000 ~ 17 Montauk 1978
I saw the OP idea put to the test in th 70's. A couple of very successful billfishermen in Morehead City bought a 40'ish sportfishing hull. They never added a salon or flybridge and turned it into the mother of all CC's (if you can even call it that). I don't know what happened to it once they decided to go back to a traditional sportfish.
IMO, the only advantage offered by a CC design vs. the Express is the easier 360 degree fishability. But those who need that to fish are limited to live baiters- typically the SKA or E. Fla. sailfish guys. I think most hardcore canyon/billfish boat owners that drag hardware or dead bait are looking for a boat with at least overnighting capabilities as opposed to a big azz open platform. There's already plenty of super-sized CC's on the market, and I don't think that's a market Viking's trying to target.
There are already boats of this size that offer 360 degree fishability from a walkaround design. Gamefisherman, Rybovich (at least one 42 was built), Strike (37,44,51), and Shearline all build walkaround (CC comparable) boats. There is market for these boats, but it is typically the light tackle billfisherman.
Henriques had a 42' walkaround at the Annapolis show (same hull as the express and flybridge versions). It was intended as a charter boat, but same basic idea discussed here. Full walkaround with a 42' hull and inboards, and a small pilothouse/cabin so you have a protected helm and a little room to get out of the weather. Couldn't find any pictures of it online.
About 2-3 years ago, Viking announced that it would be building a center console. They dropped the idea even though there were a lot of people already lined up to put down a deposit.
__________________ Bill Lindsey
VP of Marketing
Star brite, Inc
Fort Lauderdale, FL
22' EdgeWater / 225 Yamaha
JJC - 1/5/2009 1:08 PM Henriques had a 42' walkaround at the Annapolis show (same hull as the express and flybridge versions). It was intended as a charter boat, but same basic idea discussed here. Full walkaround with a 42' hull and inboards, and a small pilothouse/cabin so you have a protected helm and a little room to get out of the weather. Couldn't find any pictures of it online. John
I looked at that boat online last month. It's awsome and should be pretty successfull.
Viking 42' Center Console? 
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