57 Viking

Source: Michael Jones, Sea Magazine

A muscleman in a white tuxedo

While most boat owners develop an ongoing, mental “wish list” of the things that will be different on their next boat, few ever follow through with their plans.

However, in Scott Guenther’s Desperado, a new Viking 57, visitors will find an unparalleled expression of someone who decided, once and for all, to put every item of his wish list on one boat.

Guenther’s list is a staggering array of 135 separate custom modifications and additions. Experience gained from time on the water makes these modifications blend smoothly into the look and function of the boat’s design, and address specific, well defined needs.

Guenther started with a Bruce Nelson/William Healy Jr. boat design that offers the understated, classic styling of the East Coast: something unique for a West Coast buyer. In the Viking 57, Guenther found those lines on a powerfully built hull that keeps this 57-footer within the workable range of a serious sportfisher.

The boat, purchased through Chuck Hovey Yachts of Newport Beach, is constructed of double-bias heavy mat, sandwiched between triaxial fiberglass. In addition, with lightweight balsa coring above the waterline, six full-length fiberglass encapsulated stringers and a single-mold superstructure mated to the hull for structural integrity, Viking delivers a strong foundation in a surprising package.

What is so surprising is that this 57-footer comes up on plane easily and even more assertively than much smaller sportfishers. The 18 foot beam give the hull a wide and steady footprint for a boat that delivers 33 knots of top-end speed.

Guenther also wanted a high degree of comfort for extended trips. And, although he admits a 57 foot boat is on the edge of practicality as a true sportfisher, he feels the Viking 57 doesn’t sacrifice much in either creature comforts – or creature catching.

Before he bought the 57, Guenther was already a Viking 35 owner and had confidence in the company that produced it. However, he was hesitant to unleash his wish list on any production boat builder. “I was concerned that perhaps a production builder would be unwilling to slow down and do the things I was requesting.”

Instead, he found the family-owned, New Jersey yacht builder a most willing counterpart to his dream. Also, he found people at Viking who not only appreciated his desire to build something special, but wanted to do it with style.

With a black boot stripe at the waterline and on the bridge, Guenther’s Viking 57 appears to have kept that promise. But, that’s where the simplicity of his vision ends. Behind the subtle demeanor of this Viking 57 is a real muscleman in a white tuxedo.

The first indication that this simple, sleek boat is something special comes on the flybridge. In addition to an already well-built tower, Guenther had the legs double braced and built over-sized to withstand the rigors of long-range travel.

Guenther’s list of electronics for Desperado was so complete that, during installation, someone remarked that the only piece of electronic equipment missing was an onboard automatic teller machine – to finance the countless additions. Soon thereafter, a flag appeared on the bridge with the letters DC$DC: “Desperado Cash Disposal Company.”

Forward of the bridge is a spacious entertainment area with a complete wet bar and ice-maker hidden behind some unobtrusive hatches. A roomy storage locker beneath the padded bench seat, on Desperado, holds four scuba tanks and gear.

To power the massive electronics console, not to mention ampere hungry galley equipment, Guenther requested not one, but two 20 kw Northern Lights generators.

He also added a 2,000 watt inverter, hooked to eight deep-cycle batteries, to solve the problem of shutting down the generator at night. Since not everyone sleeps on the same schedule, the inverter provides power to accommodate someone who wants to watch a late movie or make a pot of coffee at 3 a.m.

In the bowels of this classy Viking is yet another welcome sight – a spacious engine room that offers 360 degree walk-around access. It creates a wealth of convenient space for the inverter, 1,100 gallon per day water-maker, tool box and possible future additions.

The attention to detail in the engine room is nothing short of spectacular, with electrical raceways to keep the wiring under wraps, power-coated handrails along the ceiling, a fiberglass ceiling to mask the insulation and easy access to filters for both the engines and generators.

Massive twin Stewart & Stevenson 12V92TA diesel engines produce 1,080 hp to rapidly power the boat to favorite fishing grounds. But what visitors cannot see – or hear – probably is the greatest design element in the Viking engine room. Rather than merely piping the sound out under the cockpit, Viking decided to muffle the noise at the source with fiberglass lift mufflers positioned in the engine room.

Aft, Guenther’s custom inlaid-mahogany fighting chair is the artistic centerpiece to a simple, yet versatile cockpit. The standard cockpit includes a bait prep center, sink and freezer, walk-through transom door, teak covering boards and both freshwater and saltwater washdown systems.

Inside, Viking’s saloon and staterooms display open, uncluttered design. The Viking 57 makes the most of the available space in a classy and comfortable treatment. For instance, under the suede sofa cushions in the main saloon is a hidden rod storage area.

Teak parquet flooring and marble-look countertops add elegance to the small, U-shaped galley that overlooks the saloon. Its long list of standard features includes a large side-by-side refrigerator freezer, stainless steel sink, microwave/convection oven, trash compactor, dishwasher and garbage disposal.

Staterooms on the Viking 57 show stylish yet responsible use of floor space. The port side guest stateroom rivals many master staterooms in size and has two twin berths that can be locked together to form a double berth. An en suite head, vanity and cedar-lined hanging lockers are provided.

The master stateroom features a walk-around, queen-size berth and a large, mirrored private head with a vanity and shower. All staterooms are equipped with Bomar hatches that provide fresh air and safety in case of emergency.

Lockers, cabinets and furniture are constructed by Viking’s own craftsmen, many of whom have woodworking experience that dates back to the days when Viking built wooden boats, dealer chuck Hovey explained.

Adjacent to a smaller, starboard stateroom that offers upper and lower crossover berths is a main head with companionway access.

The companionway provides access to a stacked washer/dryer, a central vacuum system and a locker that Guenther uses as a food pantry. In all galley lockers, Guenther lined the shelves with teak panels and a gridwork of pegs to hold glassware, cans and other items firmly in place.

Right down to the smallest detail, Scott Guenther has taken a good thing and made it better. His ability to integrate his wish list into a production boat proves that skippers can have a comfortable “dreamboat” without giving up too much in terms of pure production sportfisher practicality. And, with a boat like Desperado, Guenther may just find himself fishing more often.