V70 Viking Sport Cruiser Express 2005

Source: Richard Thiel, Power & Motoryacht Magazine

About ten years ago, I received a call from Tom Carroll, then executive vice president of Viking Yachts, telling me the builder partnered with U.K. builder Princess Yachts to import a line of motoryachts to the United States. He wanted to know if I was interested in shaking down the first two models, a flying-bridge 48 and a 52-foot open, on a run from Miami to Marathon. I said yes, but I was dubious. Viking was sportfishing boats. Over the years it had offered some motoryacht models based on its convertible hulls and had purchased the motoryacht builder Gulfstar, neither with enduring success. Why try again?

Besides, Viking has always built just about everything that goes into its boats, shy of engines and electronics. Now it was going to sell a boat that someone else had built? The concept seemed totally out of character, and while I liked those first two Viking Sport Cruisers—especially their joinery and their sea keeping in Hawk Channel—I wondered how American buyers would cotton to what some might view as basically European yachts.

A decade later, my concerns seem a little silly. Viking Sport Cruisers (VSC) reports it has delivered more than 500 yachts and now sells through 29 retail locations. It has two dedicated service facilities, one in New Gretna, New Jersey, the other in Riviera Beach, Florida. By any measure, it’s a success. And to say its boats are just modified Princesses is a major understatement. Viking is involved at each model’s conception, making sure it will appeal to American buyers. TDI Design, the same American firm that does the interiors of Viking convertibles, also does those for VSC, which purchases the materials stateside and ships them to the U.K. every two weeks in containers that also contain key mechanical components. Even the MAN engines are purchased here.

The result is a true Euro-American boat, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the V70 Express. When I stepped aboard her, I immediately thought of that 52-foot open—the boats have similar exterior lines. But the V70 is bigger and faster and has something inconceivable in the 52’s day: an enclosed, air-conditioned bridge with a large sunroof forward. And she has four pedestal seats directly beneath it to make sure everyone enjoys the breeze. That includes the helmsman, who enjoys excellent sight lines when seated thanks to a single mullion, a bit of an engineering feat. His standing headroom is limited to about 5’7″ with the sunroof closed; when open it is, of course, unlimited, although he has to be six foot or better to see over the windshield frame. Fore- and aft-deck access is good, too, thanks to a starboard door.

Viking’s description of the V70 as a “blue water sports car,” is supported by a helm that screams, “Drive me.” Our boat had the optional Maptech i3 chart plotter/64-mile radar with two VEI touch-screens and electronic displays for the optional 1,675-hp Caterpillar C30s, resulting in an unusually clean, uncluttered panel. It also sported Lenco trim tabs whose controls have LED lights showing tab position—useful but not terribly visible in direct sunlight. Also useful—and enjoyable—are six air-conditioning outlets and a windshield defogger.

Boat Specifications: V70 Viking Sport Cruiser Express 2005

Boat Type: Cruiser

Standard Power: 2/1,360-bhp MAN V12-1360-CR diesel inboards

Optional Power: 2/1,675-bhp Caterpillar C32 diesel inboards

Length Overall (LOA): 70’2″

Beam: 16’11”

Draft: 4’6″

Weight: 79,520 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 1,140 gal.

Water Capacity: 200 gal.

Standard Equipment: Cruisair reverse-cycle A/C; windlass; Furuno FAP 500 autopilot; Raymarine depthsounder and speed log; SidePower bow thruster; garage w/ electric winch for PWC; garage w/ electric winch for tender; 22.5-kW Onan genset; Raymarine GPS/chartplotter; hardtop w/ sliding sunroof; 2/isolation transformers; Vacuflush MSDs; washer/dryer; china, flatware, and stemware for six; TV, DVD player, and AM/FM stereo in saloon; teak decks

Test Engines: 2/1,675-bhp Caterpillar C32 diesel inboards

Transmissions / Ratio: ZF 2060/2.03:1

Props: 33×53 5-blade APS

Steering: power-assisted

Controls: Caterpillar electronic

Optional Equipment On Test Boat: 2/Glendinning Cablemasters; 2/voltage-stabilization transformers; air horns; passarelle; foredeck sunpads; windshield defogger; garbage disposal; Bose home theater; 17″ LCD TVs in guest staterooms; 2/Maptech i3 GPS/chartplotters w/ 64-NM radar; Furuno RD30 depth and speed log

Price As Tested: not available

Conditions: temperature: 74º; humidity: 58%; wind: 10-15 mph; seas: 3′-4′; load: 900 gal. fuel, 200 gal. water, 7 persons, 750 lbs. gear. Speeds are two-way averages measured w/ Stalker radar gun. GPH measured with Caterpillar CAT Vision display. Range: 90% of advertised fuel capacity. Decibels measured on A scale. 65 dB is the level of normal conversation. All measurements taken with trim tabs fully retracted.