HMY’s Viking Yachts Update: March 2024
TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
This month we are proud to feature HMY Yacht Sales Professional, Tim Gredick out of our Charleston, SC office. Since joining HMY in 1999, Tim has consistently been one of the top-tier salesmen for the company on a yearly basis and has been a top 5 broker every year since 2019. He’s a Viking Master’s graduate and is well-versed in all aspects of the transaction process, including surveys, tax laws, market valuations, marine finance, and insurance, as well as contract negotiations. Fishing is Tim’s passion, and he is a board member of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup. He enjoys fishing at home and all over the world with clients, friends, and his family. He also founded our HMY Lowcountry Cup Billfishing Tournament! We are proud to have Tim as a member of both our Valhalla Boatworks and Viking Yacht Product Teams.
We sat down with Tim and asked him a few questions about Viking Yachts and his experience in the build process and with the product.
What is your favorite Viking Model?
"The 80' Viking! The ability it gives you to travel with crew and family anywhere in the world is second to none! The combined size, speed, and range of this model provides no limits to what you can do."
What is your favorite part of the Viking Build process?
"I enjoy making the custom additions for the owner and captain to truly give them the unique boat they are desiring. Viking Yachts and their engineering team are great about coming up with ways to satisfy custom requests. Being able to be a part of that process time and time again brings me joy each time we get it perfect for the client, and equips me with more knowledge for the next client and the next build."
What is your most memorable Viking experience?
"My most memorable Viking experience was this past summer with Sean Dooley in Charleston aboard the 64' Viking Demo. The fishing and company were legendary. We released the most blue marlin ever to be released in a day off the coast of South Carolina! I also got to enjoy the day with my son and watch him pitch and catch a blue marlin. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity made possible by Viking Yachts and their incredible Viking Demo Team."
BUILD UPDATE
As the winter months transition into spring, HMY has some exciting new Viking opportunities for buyers looking to prepare for their summer fishing or cruising excursions. Thanks to HMY’s long-term commitment to the Viking Marine Group and its strong belief in all its products, the company invests in Viking stock inventory on a regular basis. Having stock vessels gives HMY clients a unique advantage of having the boat of their dreams perhaps quicker than clients who have relationships with other dealers. However, the HMY New Viking Product Team takes extra care in making sure that stock Vikings are optioned to attract most of our clients. Hull #55 of the 68 convertible and Hull #71 of the 72 Convertible are no exception, and even Hull #5 of the new V28 Bay Boat are no exceptions.
Hull 68-055 (Hull #55) is an open bridge convertible that already turns heads even before she is completed. Having just exited line #2 at the end of February at the Viking Yacht Company factory in New Gretna, NJ, her sharp and sleek lines give the impression of a much larger battlewagon on the hard that can beat everyone else to the canyons. Imagine how she will look in the water over the next week for startup, and how she will run during the initial sea trials with her twin MTU Series 12V2000 M96X that are rated at 2002MHP a piece? The cockpit will surpass any angler’s expectations, with all the important options such as an Eskimo Ice Chipper, ample refrigeration throughout such as a refrigerated sole fish box on the port side, and mezzanine air conditioning in the overhang. The captain and crew will greatly appreciate the open bridge on 68-055, especially the custom helm layout. The helm layout is the same as a 64 convertible, with a full flush mounted helm console that gives the captain easy access to all the electronics bocatech switches. Most notably, however, the fwd. helm seating is a full sun lounge, which gives guests the ability to stretch out their legs on the ride out to the fishing grounds. This helm layout is extremely rare and sets 68-055 apart from the rest of the 68 fleet. HMY is also excited about the décor onboard 68-055. With a high gloss finished walnut wood package with a horizontal wood grain orientation, the mix of blues and whites throughout provides a nice compliment to each other and overall, a classic feel to the vessel. 68-055 will be completed in New Gretna by mid-April and will then travel to Palm Beach Towers in Riviera Beach for its gap tower.
We will be making a special announcement regarding 68-056 at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, so stay tuned!
Shortly after the completion of 68-055, 72-671 (Hull #71) will be completed in mid-May. 72-671 is a 72 Convertible Open Bridge with a Nardo Grey Gelcoat Hull Color. Each day, this hull progresses further along Line #2 at the New Gretna plant and continues to take shape as another excellent example of one of the most popular convertibles Viking has ever produced. Powered by the ever-popular MTU 16V2000 M96Ls rated at 2635MHP a piece, along with a CJR running gear package and black widow bottom paint, this hull can be expected to cruise in the high 30-knot range, and with a WOT speed into the low 40s. To manage the power in close quarters, HMY decided to option 72-671 with a hydraulic bow thruster, which is becoming more popular among captains who are running larger Viking Convertibles. On each stock Viking, HMY works with AME (Atlantic Marine Electronics) to pick the best electronics package for that particular model and tries to specify an electronics package with the latest electronics in the industry. For 72-671, HMY and AME chose items such as three Seatronix 19” MFD (Multi-Functional Displays) at the helm, a control for the optional Furuno Omni Sonar system under the helm and an additional Garmin 8612 MFD overhead in the powered actuated drop-down radio box. The décor onboard 72-671 will be no exception; with a combination of Greys and Whites throughout, the décor is designed to continue the grey color scheme based on the exterior gelcoat hull color, but help the boat stay light. After the boat is completed in New Gretna, the vessel with travel to Palm Beach Towers in Riviera Beach to receive its custom gap tower.
The V-28 and V-29 from Valhalla Boatworks have created a significant amount of buzz since their announcement at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. HMY is excited about the world debut of the V-29 next week at the Palm Beach International Boat Show and the first opportunity to see the V-28 in the Southeast! HMY has the incredible opportunity to offer a stock V-28 for our clients, Hull #5. Hull #5 will be a snow-white gelcoat hull colored hull powered by twin Mercury V8 300hp 4 Stroke CMS Cold Fusion White Engines with Optimus Steering and Dometic Jack Plates. 28-205 is being ordered with extensive options that also give customers the ability to choose additional options in the future. For example, the vessel is being ordered with an optional fiberglass hardtop and with the optional underside gel coat in ice blue. However, the vessel is being ordered with outrigger bases only, giving customers the ability to choose the outriggers of their choice in the future. The boat is also being ordered with additional options such as a head with a built-in 6.5-gallon tank, direct overboard and deck fitting pump out, faux teak helm pod, faux teak toe rails, and the upgraded Release Marine teak helm chairs (3) with outboard out rests and flip-up bolsters. With regards to the electronics, 28-205 will be optioned with dual Garmin 19” 9219, an autopilot core kit system, and an extensive Fusion Entertainment package. 28-205 will be completed at the start of the summer and be displayed at the 2024 HMY Low Country Cup.
SAVE THE DATES
Palm Beach International Boat Show - March 21-24, 2024
Viking Key West Challenge - April 3-7, 2024
Registration for the Viking Key West Challenge is officially open! Once you have secured a slip at a marina in Key West you can register here! Reach out to your Viking Specialist today for more information or assistance to register for this event! *Please note – every person attending the event must be registered regardless if they are fishing.
HMY Lowcountry Cup - July 3-6, 2024
HMY VIKING’S IN-STOCK OR ON-ORDER LISTINGS
- 68 Convertible – Finishing Stage - Spring 2024 Delivery
- 72 Convertible – Interior Start Stage - July 2024
- V-28 Bay - Start Stage - July 2024
- 46 Billfish - Fiberglass Stage - FLIBS 2024
- 64 Convertible – Specs Due Soon – VIP/MIAMI 2025
