Article overview: The first sea trials of the new MTU 12V2000 M96Z package delivered impressive results: more horsepower, a solid 40-knot cruise, speeds exceeding 45 knots, remarkably quiet opera...
The first sea trials of the new MTU 12V2000 M96Z package delivered impressive results: more horsepower, a solid 40-knot cruise, speeds exceeding 45 knots, remarkably quiet operation and the same straightforward approach to maintenance owners have come to expect.
But the sea trial was only the beginning.
Following those initial runs, the Johnson & Towers team put the Viking 64 to work on the Northeast tournament circuit, fishing the White Marlin Open, Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational and The MidAtlantic.
After completing that schedule, the boat will head south to be on display in the Viking Yacht ms booth at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS). From there, HMY Yacht Sales will run and demonstrate the boat throughout Florida and the Southeast during the winter and spring.
Here’s what the Johnson & Towers team had to say following the first sea trials.
Q&A: First Impressions of the New MTU M96Z
Q: After the first few sea trials, what’s been your biggest takeaway from the new M96Z package?
A: We’re very impressed with the new MTU 12V2000 M96Z. One of the first things that stood out was just how quiet the engines are.
A new silencer package has been installed on the engines, virtually eliminating turbo whistle during acceleration and while running the boat. The smoothness and quiet operation of the engines far exceeded expectations.
It’s a significant amount of power delivered in a surprisingly refined package.
Q: Was there a moment during testing when you realized this engine was something special?
A: Almost immediately.
As soon as the boat accelerated, the increased horsepower was noticeable. The advancements in turbocharging, combined with the new air silencers, create a package that’s extremely responsive on the low end.
That responsiveness carries all the way through the performance range, bringing the boat to a clean 45-plus knots on the top end.
Q: Have you noticed improvements in cruise speed?
A: Absolutely—and this may be one of the most meaningful improvements for owners who regularly cover long distances.
With the previous M96X engines producing 2,000 horsepower, the boat cruised at approximately 36 knots at 80% load.
The new M96Z engines provide an additional 220 horsepower per side, and the result is a solid 40-knot cruise at 80% load.
Four additional knots at cruise can make a major difference when you’re running back and forth to fishing grounds, traveling between tournaments or cruising with family and friends.
Q: Is there any difference in maintenance with the new engines?
A: No. The maintenance philosophy remains largely unchanged.
The engines maintain the straightforward service approach owners are accustomed to, including approximately 1,000-hour valve-lash adjustments along with normal filter and oil changes.
There’s also no routine aftercooler maintenance requirement. The charge-air coolers are designed to run approximately 6,000 hours before overhaul.
In other words, the additional performance doesn’t come with a substantially more complicated maintenance program.
Q: What does the warranty look like on the new MTU M96Z engines?
A: The standard MTU M96Z warranty is two years, with the ability to purchase extended warranty coverage for up to a total of 12 years or 6,000 hours.
There’s another important benefit specific to the Viking application: the ZF gears are automatically included in the warranty coverage.
The MTU control system and its associated components and harnesses are also included. Extended warranties largely mirror the standard warranty other than a deductible, with coverage applying as long as an issue isn’t maintenance-related or the result of negligence.
Owners also have flexibility when extending coverage. As long as the additional warranty is purchased while the boat remains under warranty, an additional inspection, sea trial or borescope inspection isn’t required. Coverage can continue to be extended up to the 12-year or 6,000-hour limit.
From Sea Trials to Tournament Fishing
The initial testing established the performance numbers. The Northeast tournament schedule gave Johnson & Towers the opportunity to begin validating those numbers in real sportfishing conditions.
The Viking 64 competed in the White Marlin Open, Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational and The MidAtlantic, putting the M96Z package through long offshore runs, tournament days and repeated hours underway.
That experience adds an important layer to the initial sea-trial results. Cruise speed and top-end performance matter, but so do responsiveness, comfort, reliability and how the package performs over extended periods of use.
Next Stop: FLIBS
Following its Northeast tournament schedule, the Viking 64 will head to South Florida, where it will be on display in the Viking Yachts booth at FLIBS.
By that point, the M96Z package will already have both sea-trial data and tournament experience behind it, giving customers the opportunity to see a boat that has been actively run rather than simply introduced as a new power option.
HMY’s Winter and Spring Demo Program
After FLIBS, HMY Yacht Sales will take over the next phase of the program, running the Viking 64 throughout Florida and the Southeast during the winter and spring.
The preliminary schedule includes:
Pirates Cove Sailfish Classic
Pelican Yacht Club Annual Billfish Tournament
Buccaneer Cup
Viking Key West Challenge
Sea Spray Billfish Tournament
Skip Smith’s The Shootout – Custom vs. Production
HMY Lowcountry Cup
The goal is simple: continue putting meaningful hours on the boat while giving customers and owners the opportunity to experience the M96Z package firsthand.
The initial sea trials already set a strong benchmark with a 40-knot cruise at 80% load, 45-plus-knot top-end performance, strong low-end response and exceptionally quiet operation.
Now, after a Northeast tournament run with Johnson & Towers, the boat will continue building real-world experience through HMY’s Southeast program.
Three Words: Exceeds All Expectations
At the end of the first sea trials, the Johnson & Towers team was asked to describe the new MTU M96Z package in three words.
Their response:
“Exceeds all expectations.”
The early performance numbers support that assessment. With tournament hours now behind it and a full winter and spring of Southeast use ahead, the next phase will show even more of what the new M96Z package can deliver.
Contact an HMY Viking Yachts Product Specialist at (561) 331-5200 for any questions about the winter demo program or these new engines.