41 Viking Convertible

Source: Ray Pendleton, Sea Magazine

A Class Act

It was a crystal clear Southern California morning. Shimmering with just a hint of an offshore breeze, the Pacific Ocean was truly living up to its name – one could skip a rock to Catalina Island.

Imagine completing this idyllic picture by stepping aboard a luxurious new sportfisherman for a day at sea, and you have the stuff of which dreams are made.

Viking Yachts’ Newport Beach broker and manufacturer made this dream come true by offering Sea the use of their new Viking 41 Convertible. Mother Nature, of course, supplied the crystalline weather.

As with most of the finer things in life, the Viking 41 design is understated. The vessel offers no unnecessary frills, just well constructed, flowing lines. It does not draw attention to itself with gaudiness. It is definitely a class act.

Because beauty may be only skin – or gelcoat – deep, the Viking’s construction is important. Crawling through the bilges, we were able to get to know the boat a bit better. The hull is reinforced with stringers every six inches, and the stringers are bonded to the hull with fiberglass gussets. All holes cut through bulkheads have been beveled to reduce the chaffing of wiring and a layer of gelcoat has been applied to all surfaces.

The layers of fiberglass that comprise the hull are each hand laid and ground smooth before the next layer is applied. Air pockets in the laminate are avoided this way. A high gloss, extra hard gelcoat is applied last.

Access to the engine room is through the usual hatch in the main saloon. As we crouched between the twin GM 6-71TI diesel engines, it appeared that servicing them and the 8kw generator would require only normal effort. The engines are mounted on steel girders, which in turn are bolted to dedicated bulkheads. This feature tends to isolate the engine and the torque from the hull, thus reducing strain to the hull.

Another feature we appreciated was the wiring. Behind each breaker panel, the wiring was loomed and coded so that even a novice electrician could easily trace a circuit.

Back in the saloon, it was obvious that the boat’s simple but elegant interior was designed using the same philosophy as the boat’s engine room and exterior. The teak cabinetry is solid and attractive but easily maintained. In the galley, as in the engine room, the layout is functional and logical. Standard features such as the microwave/convection oven and instant hot water at the sink should help with the cooking chores.

The Viking 41 is available in two models. Our test boat had a dinette adjacent to the galley. The other model uses that area for a second stateroom. In both, the forward stateroom contains a spacious double bunk surrounded by teak cabinets and lockers. The enclosed head and shower complete the layout.

After firing up the 450 hp diesels and casting off, we made our way out of Huntington Harbour toward the open sea as Viking representative Frank Gibson gave us a brief rundown on the company.

Begun in the early 1950s, the company was purchased by bill and Bob Healey in 1964. In 1971, the New Jersey based builders switched from wood to fiberglass construction. Our 41 Convertible came off the drawing boards in 1982, replacing the Viking 40, to join a line of Viking 35s, 43s, and 48s.

As we cleared the end of the jetty, we inched the throttles up to 1,000 rpm. This gave us a comfortable trolling speed of just under nine knots. From the flying bridge helm, it took little imagination to look down at the cockpit and visualize a hook-up with a striped marlin. The visibility, both fore and aft, was totally unobstructed.

Because getting to the fishing grounds is a top priority, our next throttle setting was to a top end of 2,400 rpm. With a slight manipulation of the recessed trim tabs, the Viking was planing over the water in excess of 30 knots.

As the speed increased, the boat did not feel as if it were using a great amount of effort to get up onto the step. To achieve this, Viking has developed a unique hull design that runs from a sharp bow, back to a reverse chine at the transom. Coupled with an additional hard chine, or notch, below the boot-top, it is stable at speed and resists rolling at idle.

Our third throttle setting was at 1,750 rpm. The speed was reduced to about 20 knots but the 6-71 diesels sounded as if they would run forever. A quick sound check of the main saloon showed the noise level to be quite acceptable for normal conversation.

The approximate fuel consumption at this speed was one gallon per nautical mile. With the standard 430-gallon tank installed, the 41 has a conservative range of 400 miles. Cabo San Lucas is but several fuel stops away.

In driving any twin engine boat, it is usually necessary to manipulate the throttles to synchronize the engines for comfort and efficiency. On the Viking, the optional Glendinning auto synchronizer was extremely effective throughout the throttle settings. The use of one throttle was virtually eliminated.

As people invariably tend to gravitate to the flying bridge, it was good to see extensive seating provided there. The optional hardtop, with its welded aluminum frame, is rock-solid. It creates the perfect platform for mounting radar antennas, and while a bit expensive, it will never need replacing.

Back in the cockpit, we noticed that Viking uses a simulated wood grain on the deck. Our shoes seemed to adhere to this as well as to a normal non-skid surface. The texture would definitely be easier on bare knees and probably easier to clean. The two recessed fish boxes and the fresh and sea water washdowns all added to the usability of this fine boat.

Once again looking beneath the surface, we found that the deck is joined to the hull with a layer of Butyl rubber. Stainless steel bolts, every three inches, complete the connection for another example of built-to-last construction.

Even when a boat is constructed with longevity in mind, it is not unreasonable to consider the possibility of a future resale. We were pleased to find that many yacht brokers consider the Viking one of the best boats as far as maintaining its price.

The Viking 41 Convertible offers performance, creature comforts and quality which, when combined, create a vessel of the highest standards.

Is the boat stable under way? Well, when we came aboard, the dinette table was set for four. This included wine glasses. Returning to the slip, after hours of running in every direction and at various speeds, someone on board remembered that the place settings had not been secured. Scrambling below to pick up the pieces, we were amazed to find everything in its place. Not so much as a chipped glass.