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Need to consider used v new purchase for a larger boat. I have been looking at new 35 foot boats -Carolina,henriques that would cost $370,000 or more dressed. I am moving up from a 28 ft. boat and my friends tell me the 35 wont be big enough.
So I was looking at some used 38Vikings. I know they are slower and use more fuel than the 35s,but my buddies may have a point.
There seems to be an active market for these boats and Vikings in general.The prices for ten year old boats make the new boat price seem to be a foolish purchase.
Does any one have experiance with the 38 viking how do they ride in a sea, fuel milage, best power to look for. Also, what are the pros and cons of buying a boat from a northern state(I am from florida) are they typically used less,lower hours,more/less money.
Any comments are welcome. Thanks in advance.
Pura Vida
I don't think they've made a 38 for quite a while. What year is it?
You can get a beautiful year or two old Egg Harbor 37 for that amount. Nice boat...
You might want to check out the listings of boats that are used in fresh water. A friend of mine recently went that route, he searched listings in the lake Ontario area and came up with a 33' Bertram, the boat was an '87 and in absolutely pristine condition. He bought it, I helped him on the trip down from Alexendria Bay in the spring. There were a lot of real clean boats up there, maybe due to the short season.
Whatever you find, on a 10 year old boat you've got to have a competent surveyor go through it, both the hull and engines, especially if they're diesel, make sure you get a written report on engines and hull. Try to stay away from any of the diesels that have been maxed out, like Detroit 6-71's @ 485 HP. They are probably ready to be majored.
Joe
[img]http://www.msnusers.com/_Secure/0PQAAAJ8W2sAaOnQNNMwsj1ekHClIQXvw1!FFpWaQ57mCur09U dOC*uRpDsQDPU3DcG*MGxxvEJjzDTLjs8z1muZGnkj52hxa/henriques_thmb.jpg[/img]
Sorry this will not be much help but the 38' Viking is an especially pretty boat. Has a good reputation as far as I know. Really like the layouts offered. Really do an in depth analysis of the engines because that is where the most money is.
I'd also check out the 37 Bertram's. They made them from 1986 to 1993. With the 550hp 6-92's they'll cruise around 30 knots and top out around 34 knots. Price s'be under $300K.
Viking has a very cool galley/dinette down with a single stateroom layout.The Berts and hatts have a guest stateroom. I like the Viking best.I think that there are three that I would consider 37 Bert, 38 viking or a 41 Viking. I want to stay with a boat built in the 90`s or less than 15 years old. all three seem to run about $225,000 to $275,000 for a 1989-1991 model.
Question, does the viking ride a good as the Bert and will it hold up as well over the next ten years. Why not go for the 41 footer if you are going to buy a used boat? Buy the most boat for the money. Any comments.
Pura Vida
I currently own an 86 33' Bertram and previously owned an 81 28' Bertram, so I'm biased. I will always recommend a Bert.
As far as rides go, I've never heard of either boat giving a bad one. The Viking is a modified v with a 15 degree deadrise at the transom. The Bertram is a constant 18 degree deep v. The Viking is actually 39' 4" long, just over 14' wide, and 33K lbs. The Bert is 37' 8" long, 13' 3" wide, and 32.4K lbs. The Bert may give a better ride because of the added deadrise, but I'd bet it would be too close to quantify.
The Bert came with several different diesel options (cat 3208-375hp, DD 6-71TIB 435hp, DD 6V-92 450hp and 550hp). The only diesel option on the Viking is the 6-71TIB's at 485hp. I have both heard bad things about the 6-71TIB's, and witnessed the same engines on my slip neighbors 36 Blackfin. That boat is an 87 and the 6-71TIB's have been rebuilt twice already at about 1000 hours each time. 485 hp is too much for these engines. I have also heard that 550hp is too much from the 6V-92's. Pascoe has a pretty good article on diesels and mentions both of these engines (as well as others).
The Bert with the 375hp 3208's will cruise around 23 knots and hit 27 knots top, the 450hp 6V-92's cruise around 27 knots and hit 31 knots top, and the 435 hp 6-71 TIB' are in the middle of the other 2. Personally, a 37 Bert with the 450 hp 6V-92's is the way I would go.
The Viking cruises at 22-23 knots and hits around 27 tops.
Spoke to someone in length about this boat and he used it for traveling from NY to Fla and was extremely please with the boat. He did mension that the boat seemed to run better with a bit of a chop compaired to glass flat conditions which slowed the boat a bit. Which was his one complaint, (which is relative), is the cruise speed was a bit slow, which if I remember correctly was 21-22 knots.
He was upgrading to a 43 that cruised at 25 which he said was much better ride and turn of speed.
I personnally think if you run offshore a lot, having a boat in the 42+ area handles a broder range of sea conditions since it's length cover a few set's of waves. Thus better ride.
Many Vik's came with 485 671's, the key is don't push them and you will get good service. Contrary to the desk driving Dave P survey site statements.
My statements about the 485hp 6-71 were also based on the issues the guy next to me is having. Granted, when he got the boat it was in rough shape. Ridden hard and put away wet more often than not.
He had the engines rebuilt when he got the boat, and again after another 1000 hrs. It maybe that he wasn't doing correct maintenance or that the first rebuild was done poorly. I'm just stating what I've seen. Granted these are the only 485hp 6-71's I've been associated with.
It sounds like these may be the exception rather than the rule. Is cruising the Vike at 21-22 knots pushing these engines? Not sure.
I had johnson and towers 671 tib's 485 hp in my old egg harbor..great motors...but your right..dont push them...cruise them at 2000-2100....I never had a problem with them and i put close to 1000 hrs on them......but when i sold the boat, the mechanic had said that there was some wear on the engines...i guess it was only natural, considering pushing 485 turbos out of those blocks....but overall they were great motors
Used Viking 38 Convertible-any opinions 
