Lowrance has unveiled a new fishfinder/chart plotter called Eagle, with features that include high-definition enhanced sonar, FishReveal technology, and C-Map charting with Genesis Live.

The Eagle fishfinder is an entry-level product with prices starting at $119. Display sizes are 4 inch, 5 inch, 7 inch and 9 inch, making Eagle usable aboard yacht tenders and toys, in addition to smaller boats that are part of an owner’s fleet.

“Eagle brings Lowrance’s high-definition sonar to our most easy-to-use fishfinder, providing the ultimate tool for weekend anglers,” Jeremiah Clark, vice president and general manager of fishing systems at Navico Group, stated in a press release. “Developed to make fishing simpler and more enjoyable, Eagle is quick to install—whether on a boat or kayak—and features enhanced autotuning sonar and comprehensive C-Map charts.”

Eagle has newly designed TripleShot HD and SplitShot HD that Lowrance says allow for improved clarity, depth performance and sensitivity, resulting in excellent performance under the surface. FishReveal on DownScan helps anglers identify fish separately from weeds and structures, making it easier to see what they’re trying to catch versus what they don’t want to snag on the hook.

Autotuning sonar is designed to optimize the device settings from the start, eliminating the hassle of anglers needing to constantly configure settings (that’s good news: more time for actual fishing). An improved twist-locking connector should allow for easier installation and removal, making Eagle a portable solution for any type of fishing. Boaters can simply connect and cast, Lowrance says.

Eagle also has a new, rugged design with an IPS screen for improved resolution, clarity and visibility in the marine environment, including with the types of polarized sunglasses boaters often wear in direct sunlight. Lowrance says the new range of imaging color palettes also allows anglers to adapt the display for changing conditions, so as sun and clouds shift in the sky, the images can adjust on the screen.

High-resolution C-Map inland charts for the United States are pre-loaded, with coverage of more than 17,000 American lakes and a range of coastal charting bundles. Eagle also lets users create custom half-foot contour maps of local lakes or unchartered water—in real time—with Genesis Live.

Is there an SD card slot on the Eagle model from Lowrance? Yes. This SD card slot can be used for software updates, Genesis Live recording and charting add-ons.

Take the next step: click over to lowrance.com

The post Lowrance Unveils the Eagle appeared first on Yachting.

Most buyers of the Viking Yachts 64C are likely to be serious anglers, which is why the 180-square-foot cockpit is arranged for pelagic pursuits.

The cockpit’s uncluttered layout is the result of thousands of hours of experience aboard other Vikings in big-game tournaments around the globe. The 64C I got aboard had a leaning post/rod holder that bolted into an aluminum backing plate laminated in the cockpit sole, with double-hatch fish boxes on each side. Abaft that, a rounded teak cap rail held a livewell. Overlooking the whole scene was a mezzanine for crew to keep an eye on the spread, along with tackle stowage and a cold box. This 64C also had a Dometic ice machine on the port side for chilling down the fish boxes.

But great fishing setups aren’t the only thing Viking has experience building. Inside, the 64C has the same high-end fit-and-finish for which the brand has long been known.

The salon is accessed via electric sliders, and my first impression was one of volume, helped by the vessel’s nearly 19-foot beam. Not only did the side windows enhance this effect, but the straight passage to the guest staterooms allowed me to look unhindered from the cockpit to the forward VIP stateroom. Joinery was in walnut, with a choice of satin or high gloss, and the layout was simple, with an L-shaped settee to starboard around a walnut table. A pop-up 50-inch TV was to port.

Forward was the galley, with a raised bar above stone counters, as well as two stools so guests could chat with the chef. To port was a settee (raised 10 inches) around a dining table (with rod stowage underneath) that allowed a panoramic view at rest or while fishing. The chef had enough counter space to handle a hungry crew, and six undercounter fridge drawers for stowage. With tournaments in mind, there was also a freezer under the flybridge sun pad.

While this sport-fishing yacht is just under 64 feet in length overall, it has three en suite staterooms and a crew cabin that could be used by a guest.

The master stateroom is amidships with a queen-size island berth that has an innerspring mattress and walk-around space. Full-height, maple-lined hanging lockers fill the after bulkhead; a locker with bureau shelves is forward; and the en suite head has a 3-foot-wide shower to rinse off the heat of a day spent fishing.

Going forward, the passage hides a full-size washer and dryer and ends at the VIP stateroom forward, also with an innerspring queen berth. This walk-around berth is high (40 inches), and there’s an en suite head that has an oversize (28-by-9-inch) shower. A hanging locker and four drawers under the berth handle guest clothing. An optional layout splits the berth space in this stateroom, so you get a double berth and a bunk for extra crew.

Two more sleeping spaces are to port off the passage: a guest stateroom with twin berths, and a crew cabin with two bunks. The guest stateroom has the third en suite head with a shower. It serves as a day head and is used by the crew cabin. The crew spaces have the same fit-and-finish as the guest spaces.

The flybridge is reached via teak steps and reflects current Viking design thinking, with a streamlined console. A trio of Release ladder-back pedestal seats are abaft the black acrylic dash, with a trio of monitors and Bocatech switching. A drop-down overhead box has more electronics.

Three things stood out to me on the 64C’s bridge: the syrupy-smooth wood of the Palm Beach-style steering pod, with single-lever throttles on each side that make for easy control when facing aft; great visibility thanks to the lack of a Venturi windscreen forward; and hidden “glove boxes” with folding lids that conceal VHF radios and mics.

The fiberglass hardtop has a fold-down hatch to access the teaser reels, and the space is partially enclosed with hard side curtains. In each corner of the bridge are thoughtful amenities, including a sink and fridge. Molded into the helm console is a stretch-out lounge with armrests and a freezer underneath.

Viking also offers the 64C with an enclosed bridge, which moves the helm forward and creates an aerie with salon seating, stairs from the interior and a docking station on the aft deck.

Down below and aft, the engine room is accessed via a hatch in the cockpit, with a ladder providing access to all the systems, including a 21 kW Onan genset. There is 6-foot headroom and space between and abaft the diesels for service. Owners and service techs should have no problem with daily checks or repairs. Viking finishes the 64C’s bilge in snow-white Awlgrip, a durable urethane. Batteries are in custom fiberglass storage boxes, and a pair of battery chargers should keep them topped off.

The Seakeeper 26 is accessed through a lazarette hatch, which also leads to the pumps, steering and tabs.

A variety of power options including MAN, Caterpillar and MTU are available. The base package is a pair of 1,550 hp MAN V-12 diesels, and the options go up to twin 2,022 hp MTU M96X V-12 diesels.

The 64C I got aboard had the bigger motors, which topped the yacht out at 42 knots. Pushing down the two single-lever throttles resulted in a satisfying surge to full plane without requiring tabs to prevent bow rise. Viking Capt. Sean Dooley said he had recently brought the 64C back from a tournament in the Florida Keys, running at 80 percent power (2,100 rpm) and 36 knots. The boat consumed 152 gph, giving it a range (with a safety margin) of more than 380 nautical miles.

All Viking yachts benefit from the lessons learned with previous builds, and the 64C is no different. Some of the 64C’s hull refinements include modifying the chine angle from the 12-degree transom deadrise, softening the radius of the chine itself, and rearranging the strakes forward to further reduce spray. The results are faster planing, higher speed and better efficiency.

Once again, Viking has raised the bar not just on its own products but also on sport-fishers in general. Impeccably built, thoughtfully outfitted for fishing and with performance to satisfy, the Viking Yachts 64C is built by anglers and for anglers.

One Tough Beauty

The Viking 64C has a vinylester-resin hull that is vacuum-infused and should prevent blisters. Bulkheads and fuel tanks are resin-infused too, and the hull-to-deck joint is through-bolted every 3 inches. The mold work is impeccable, with the topsides and cabin unmarred by ripples. High-level Viking craftsmanship is evident everywhere, including in the finely mitered joints in the after corners. And, the 64C is the first Viking with matched grain woodwork throughout the salon and staterooms. Making this feature look right requires precise joinery techniques.

Towering View

The tuna tower on the 64C, made by Viking-owned Palm Beach Towers, is a 10-foot gap tower with 43-foot triple-spreader outriggers. It has a centerline helm with a Furuno color scanning sonar, a seat and a padded rail for three people.   

Stick Stowage

Every angler has a multitude of rods for various angling activities. The 64C provides stowage for a full quiver in a pullout drawer under the dinette, as well as inside lockers in the cockpit, which hold tag sticks and gaffs.

Take the next step: vikingyachts.com

The post Reviewed: Viking Yachts 64 Convertible appeared first on Yachting.

Intrepid has long been a popular yacht-tender option. The Intrepid 427 Nomad FE should keep the tradition going with its wave-slicing entry; single-stepped hull form; twin, triple or quad outboards (300 to 600 hp) from Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki; and yacht-level finish. Serious craftsmanship is found in elements such as the standard powder-coating and the optional diamond-stitched upholstery. Anglers will find that the 427 FE has an uncluttered cockpit, 360-degree fishability, cockpit corner livewells (optional), and fish stowage in-sole and forward under an adjustable sun pad. Other angling options include outriggers, rod holders, undergunwale rod stowage, and prewiring for downriggers or electric reels. The helm has a triple-seat setup, and there is more seating forward of the console, on the foredeck sun pad and two more seats flanking the bow. A high-low table at the bow adds a place for lunch or cocktails after a day of catching.

“Robust” is a word that comes to mind when looking at the Scout 350 LXZ. It’s part of the builder’s S-class series, which means the boat has an epoxy-infused E-glass hull that’s oven-baked for eight hours and post-cured. The builder reports about a 34 percent weight savings compared with traditional build methods and about four times the stiffness. Add a deep-V, dual-stepped hull with 24 degrees of deadrise and an all-weather helm with a full glass windshield, and the 350 LXZ is ready to run deep. Power is twin or triple outboards to a maximum of 1,350 hp. The boat has a 31-gallon livewell and 49-gallon in-deck fish boxes to port and starboard. Other notable features are the lithium-ion power system and hardtop-mounted solar panels (read: no generator needed to power onboard systems). If owners want to eat the day’s catch for lunch, the cockpit has a sink, a cutting board and an optional grill.

Designed in Hawaii but built for all oceans, the Aquila 28 Molokai Power Catamaran has a wide, deep hull tunnel that creates an air cushion underway, providing the sensation of flying across the water at 40-plus knots, with optional twin 200 hp Mercury outboards on the pins. (Twin 150 hp outboards are standard.) At its 28.6-knot cruise speed, the cat’s range is about 228 nautical miles.

Aimed at anglers, the 28 Molokai’s notable fishing features include two 94-gallon insulated fish boxes, a 30-gallon livewell for frisky goggle-eyes, 15 rod holders and Taco outriggers. Need more live bait? There is about 4 feet of space forward for cast-net tossing. The boat also has a sink, a cutting board and pullout tackle boxes.

For hanging out on the hook, the 28 Molokai has forward-facing foldout seats in the cockpit, a bench seat forward of the helm console, and two more lounges and another bench seat at the bow.

Contender’s center-consoles are built for speed, running in a seaway and fishability. The Contender 44CB can harness the power of triple or quad outboards to a total of 2,000 hp. With triple 425 Yamaha XTOs, the builder reports a top hop of 58 knots. At 4,000 rpm, the boat’s cruise speed is about 34.6 knots. For anglers looking to keep their catch, the 44CB has two 110-gallon in-sole fish boxes to port and starboard, a 340-gallon fish box forward, and two 55-gallon livewells to keep live bait fresh for that sailfish tournament.

Based in Homestead, Florida, Contender works with owners to customize each 44CB, ranging from hull color and stereo systems to electronics packages, extra rod holders and more.

The Pursuit S 358 Sport is the builder’s first 35-foot center-console. Equipped for chasing pelagics, the S 358 comes standard with a 32-gallon in-transom livewell, a dozen rod holders, a tackle center and 27-gallon in-sole fish boxes. Owners who like to troll for big game can add 18-foot telescoping Taco outriggers or 20-foot carbon-fiber riggers. Powered with twin 425 hp Yamaha XTO outboards, the S 358 cruises around 26.7 knots at 4,000 rpm, for a range around 265 nautical miles with a 10 percent reserve on the 343-gallon fuel tank. Top speed is about 42.6 knots. Other notable options include air conditioning for the cabin and cockpit totaling 18,000 Btu, a Seakeeper 2 gyrostabilizer, and a 6 kW Fischer Panda diesel generator.

With its SeaV2 variable-deadrise hull form, the Grady-White Canyon 326 is a boat with fishing as its mission. Its broad 10-foot-9-inch beam and 20-degree transom deadrise create a stable platform when running, on the troll or when drifting. With just a 2-foot draft, the Canyon 326 can also access skinny-water areas for inshore angling.

When heading out to the deep, the trip should be quick. Twin 300 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboards provide a 26.2-knot cruise speed at 3,700 rpm. Range at cruise speed is 1.6 miles per gallon. Top speed: 43.2 knots.

Standard angling amenities include 16 rod holders, a 32-gallon lighted livewell, a cutting board, two 180-quart fish boxes, a 318-quart fish box, a lean bar with a 38-gallon livewell and more. Some options are a casting platform, outriggers, choice of five hull colors, a SureShade retractable shade with Sunbrella canvas, T-top side wing curtains and a bow thruster.

The post Fishing Center-Consoles to Keep an Eye On appeared first on Yachting.

Cobia 350 CC

This fishing-centric design is outfitted with dual 45-gallon livewells, two tuna-size in-sole fish boxes, a tackle station, and a rod locker belowdecks.

Power Play: How about 54.4 knots at top hop with twin 425 hp Yamaha V-8s? The 350 CC slow-cruises at 28.7 knots. Triple 300 hp outboards are available.

Notable Features: There is a chop-dicing, deep-V, twin-stepped hull form and triple helm seats for the kingfish tourney-circuit crew.

Bertram 39CC

Known for its convertible sport-fish boats, Bertram enters the center-console market with its 39CC. The boat has a deep-V hull form with 22 degrees of transom deadrise and a fine entry for slicing chop. The infused hull is solid fiberglass.

Power Play: Power is either triple 300 hp (standard), 350 hp or 400 hp Mercury outboards. Fuel capacity is 500 gallons.

Notable Features: A berth and head are belowdecks. Standard angling items are two 45-gallon livewells, two 420-quart fish boxes and 20 flush-mount rod holders. Options include Garmin electronics, tuna tubes, a 45-gallon foredeck livewell, teak trim and Gemlux outriggers.

Boston Whaler 325 Conquest

The Boston Whaler 325 Conquest has a side door for bringing in big fish. Two 40-gallon in-deck fish boxes will hold that catch. A cabin with a V-berth, head and galley offers a place to rest and eat between bites.

Power Play: Twin 300 hp Mercury Verados are standard, with 350 hp or 400 hp Verados optional. Top speed with standard motors is reportedly 42.9 knots, and 44.6 knots with the 400s.

Notable Features: There are 12 hull colors, with names like Wasabi, Ice Blue and Jadestone. Other options include a Seakeeper, Raymarine electronics system, radial outriggers, a cockpit fridge, a 7 kW Westerbeke generator and a 12-volt bow thruster.

Grady-White Canyon 326

The Canyon 326 has a variable-deadrise hull form with 20 degrees of transom deadrise. Supporting the form are a hand-laid fiberglass hull and deck.

Power Play: The Canyon 326 can have twin 300 or 350 hp Yamahas.

Notable Features: Fish stowage is in a 152-quart and a 318-quart fish box, and two 180-quart boxes. A 32-gallon livewell keeps baits frisky. Nine rod holders are standard. A bow casting platform and 15-foot outriggers are optional.

Edgewater 340CC

With a deep-V hull (23.5 degrees of transom deadrise), the Edgewater 340CC is built using a single-piece infusion process, combining composite and foam structural stringers, fiberglass and resin into a monocoque and solid structure.

Power Play: The 340CC is designed for twin Yamaha outboards to a maximum of 850 hp.

Notable Features: Anglers may opt for the 38-gallon pressurized transom livewell with a 2,000 gph pump to keep baits in place and alive. The standard livewell is 32 gallons. Also standard are 28 rod holders. Some options include a Seakeeper, Garmin electronics and Lumitec LED lighting.

Invincible 35 Cat

The Invincible 35 Cat has a single-level deck and semi-asymmetrical hull design for a smooth ride over rough water. It reportedly handles quartering and following seas well.

Power Play: With quad 300 hp outboards, the Invincible 35 Cat can sprint at a reported top hop of 62.6 knots. Twin outboards are also available.

Notable Features: Angling options include a folding tower with a second helm, Rupp or Gemlux outriggers, six hardtop rocket launchers, spreader lights, a 70-gallon in-sole livewell, outlets for powering deep-drop electric reels or kites, gunwale and undergunwale rod holders, and a clear lid for the transom livewell.

Scout 305 LXF

A porpoiselike profile makes the Scout 305 LXF easily noticeable. This dayboat also has 360-degree fishability, a hand-laid fiberglass hull, and a center console with a head and berth.

Power Play: The 305 LXF can have twin outboards up to 800 hp total.

Notable Features: The 305 LXF comes with a leaning post with a livewell, four rod holders and a 65-quart Yeti cooler. Options include Garmin electronics and five hardtop rocket launchers.

Vahalla V-33

The Valhalla Boatworks V-33 is the builder’s entry-level model and could make a good companion to a larger yacht.

Power Play: The V-33 has a maximum horsepower rating of 900, and it can be matched with Mercury or Yamaha outboards.

Notable Features: The boat has a stepped-V hull, which should make for a relatively dry ride. A joystick for close-quarters handling is available. There is a 52-gallon transom livewell, five in-sole fish boxes, and options for a second in-sole livewell and on-deck livewell. A hardtop option includes spreader lights and six rocket launchers. Telescoping outriggers, a marlin tower and a Seakeeper are also options.

Pursuit S 378

Like its name implies, the Pursuit S 378 was penned for angling adventure. The boat has a wave-chopping deep-V hull form. It’s built with a hand-laid fiberglass hull and an infused fiberglass structural grid that adds backbone.

Power Play: The S 378 has triple 425 hp Yamaha outboards. Reported top speed is 52.2 knots, with a 27.8-knot cruise speed.

Notable Features: There are 10 standard rod holders to create an enticing spread. A 36-gallon livewell, four 41-gallon fish boxes, and a tackle center with four Plano trays are standard too. Angling options include a transom livewell, a fridge/freezer and 18-foot Taco outriggers.

Everglades 395CC

With a single-level deck and 360-degree fishability, the Everglades 395CC can handle a four- to six-man crew with real estate to spare.

Power Play: The 395CC has triple 425 hp Yamaha outboards standard. Performance data was not available at press time.

Notable Features: Anglers get 39 rod holders, two fish boxes (in-sole and transom), a rigging station built into the after fish box, two 40-gallon livewells and 22-foot Gemlux outriggers.

SeaVee 450Z

The SeaVee 450Z has a twin-stepped hull form designed to grip the water for confident handling at speed. The cored fiberglass hull is vacuum-infused, helping to reduce weight.

Power Play: The 450Z is built for quad outboards. The total maximum horsepower was not available at press time.

Notable Features: The cockpit is 9½ feet long. Live-bait anglers will appreciate the four 40-gallon livewells. (A fifth is optional.) There are two 100-gallon in-deck fish boxes. A Seakeeper 5 and diesel generator are standard. Owners can add items including a tuna tower and second helm, three 22-inch helm displays and integral seating forward.

Southport 30 FE

Southport’s 30 FE has noticeable bow flare to knock down spray. A deep-V hull should cut down whitecaps with purpose. The boat’s hull, deck, console and hardtop are vacuum-infused fiberglass.

Power Play: Twin 300 hp Yamaha outboards are standard. Reported cruise speed is 29.5 knots.

Notable Features: A 30-gallon transom livewell and two in-sole macerated fish boxes flank the helm seating. Mezzanine seating is abaft the helm seats and forward seating. The builder will customize the 30 FE’s hull colors, rod-holder placement, outriggers, livewell placement and engine-paint colors.

The post Top Fishing Tenders appeared first on Yachting.

One of the photos USA Today ran in September 2017 to show damage after Hurricane Irma was of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina, an icon of the Florida Keys on Islamorada that has been around since 1944. More than 40 fishing captains and guides tie up there, and the docks were utterly mangled.

Today, it’s like none of it ever happened.

“Our part of the Keys, and I think probably Keys-wide, everything’s back to normal,” says Stephen Byrd, the marina’s assistant manager. “Especially from Marathon up to the north—you won’t see probably any sign of any damage.”

Even better, he says, since Irma left, inshore fishing has improved. Florida Bay was “flushed out,” with old water gone and newer water in.

“It’s a refreshing of sorts,” he says. “The bonefishing is better now, snook fishing is great, tarpon fishing—it’s good.”

Offshore fishing is also still solid, he says, because Irma didn’t wreck the reef. As of December 2019, sailfishing was just as hot as it’s always been off Islamorada, and Byrd is expecting March and April to bring the same kind of bonanza that this time of year has meant in the past.

“March usually is the beginning of the spring season, so we’re still having cold fronts, but you start seeing the change in the weather pattern, and with that, the species start to change,” he says. “March is a really good time to fish because you still see the winter sailfish, the cobia and others, but you also start to see tuna showing up. It’s in the middle, so it’s a cool time.”

It’s a windy time too—winds are typically easterly at a minimum of 10 to 15 knots—but if yachtsmen can handle that, he says, then the only other consideration is getting a slip. Because so many marinas had to rebuild after Irma, locals moved their seasonal slip reservations around, taking some slips that used to be transient. Thus, visitors arriving by boat may need to adjust their usual dockage plans.

“Things just shifted,” Byrd says. “You just want to call ahead.”

Slips Available

Bud N’ Mary’s Marina on Islamorada has a limited number of slips available for visiting boats up to 45 feet length overall. Gas and diesel are at the fuel dock, and there’s a shop with bait, tackle and ice.

The post Islamorada Is Back appeared first on Yachting.

John “bird” miner, founder of Hawaiian Sea Lures and Hawaiian ­Custom Rods, flips through fish photos on his phone with the same button-busting pride as a new parent. “This was the biggest ahi in Hawaii in 2018, caught on one of my lures,” he says. “This catch was from the Blue Marlin World Cup Championship.”

Since launching his handcrafted lure line in 1990, Miner has developed a devoted following among big-game anglers, with customers from Australia to Gabon to the Northern ­Mariana Islands. His vivid lures—with equally colorful names such as “Ice Man” and “Dirty Man”—are a fixture at Bisbee’s Black & Blue marlin tournament and other major cups.

He doesn’t have to look far for inspiration for his new creations. From his home studio in Hanapepe, Kauai, he can watch the ­Pacific waves roll in on the island’s southwest shore. At night, he can sometimes be found in those same waters, scooping up mullet that he dries and encases in some of his best-selling lures.

Read More: Island Icon

“When it comes out of the mold, a lure looks rough,” he says. “But once I sand and polish to bring out that shine and luster, and I add the skirt, it’s a wow moment.”

How did you get the nickname “Bird”? I grew up in Rhode Island. As a kid, when I’d say my last name, it sounded like “myna,” like the bird. It stuck. I now name a lot of my lures after different birds.

How did you get into lures? A friend wouldn’t lend me his lure, so I decided to make my own, and they sold. I’ve always been good with my hands, and my dad was an artist, so I like to think I got some of my talent from him.

What do you ­enjoy about your work? I’m a creator. I’m putting something in the sea that seems so natural that fish can’t tell the difference. That’s thrilling.

The post The Lure of Success appeared first on Yachting.

When it launched in 1991, the Viking Yachts 58 Convertible was the New Jersey builder’s largest model to date. From 1991 to 2000, Viking built and sold 110 of the 58-footers, dubbed Gen I. That’s a tough act to follow. But Viking is once again aiming for star status, having just raised the curtain on its second-generation 58 Convertible.

The new 58C has a 17-foot-9-inch beam, which is the same width as the builder’s 55-footer, but with a different length-to-beam ratio for enhanced performance. The new hull form also repositions and changes the angle of strakes so water will break behind the house windshield, for a soft, dry and efficient ride.

For big-game battles, the 58C’s cockpit has 165 square feet of teak-covered, fish-fighting space. There’s also a transom livewell, a laminated in-deck backing plate for a fighting chair or a rocket launcher, an in-deck fish box and livewell, and a gaff/mop locker. The teak rocket launcher on Hull No. 1 of the 58C has 11 rod holders, two cup holders and a bait-prep area. Crew can watch trolled baits from the mezzanine seating. A Seakeeper SK9 gyrostabilizer is mounted under the cockpit sole.

For post-battle rest and relaxation, the salon has an L-shaped settee to port with rod stowage underneath. Just forward is the galley, with two stools for breakfast before the lines hit the salt. The U-shaped galley has four Sub-Zero fridge/freezer (with ice ­maker) drawers, a four-burner Miele electric cooktop, a Sharp ­microwave/convection oven, a stainless-steel sink with a ­satin-nickel faucet, and ­cabinets above and below the countertops. A dinette is across from the galley, and a C-shaped settee for six flanks a high-gloss burl pedestal table.

Interior bulkheads and cabinetry are finished in high-gloss teak (walnut is optional), with a mappa-burl cocktail table, an Amtico sole at the salon entrance and galley, padded carpeting, and a Majilite headliner. There is also a Bose home-theater system with a retractable 50-inch ­flat-screen TV. While in the salon and ­g­alley, anglers can keep eyes on the lines through the aft window. ​

With a three-­stateroom, two-head layout, the Viking 58C has room for the ­tournament crew or the family. The master is amidships to port and has a walkaround queen berth set athwartships with stowage below. Two closets are here, and headroom is 6 feet, 7 inches. The shower stall has 6 feet, 10 inches of headroom.

The forepeak VIP has a centerline walkaround queen berth (split upper-lower crossovers are optional), a maple-lined locker, and an overhead hatch for fresh air and natural light. A starboard guest stateroom abaft the VIP has side-by-side berths, with one tucked under the companionway staircase. The two guest heads have Amtico soles, Dometic electric toilets, faux-stone countertops and separate shower stalls. Access to the bow thruster and tube is via a sole hatch in the VIP stateroom. Other hatches allow owner-operator access to a lower machinery space that’s fitted with plumbing, wire runs and pumps.

To add to the interior living space, Viking pulled some space out of the engine room, which can be accessed via a door in the mezzanine seating. Headroom measures 5 feet, 10 inches, and there’s space to work around the twin 1,600 hp MTU diesels. The air conditioning units and 700-gallon-per-day watermaker filters are a cozier fit, and a 21.5-kW Onan generator is mounted abaft the engines, on a platform over the portside drive shaft. Viking finishes the 58C’s engine room like a laboratory, in bright white Awlgrip for spotting spills.

From fishability to fit and finish, Viking’s second-­generation 58 Convertible has the feet to fill the big shoes that the first-generation ­model left behind. Star status may, indeed, be on the horizon.

Speed Demon

Tricked out with optional twin 1,600 hp MTU 10V 2000 engines, the Viking 58 Convertible rocketed to a top-end speed of 42.5 knots during our time aboard in calm seas, with about a one-third fuel load (around 495 gallons), full water (207 gallons) and three people on board.

Twin 1,400 hp MAN diesels are standard, and options include 1,550 and 1,900 hp MAN diesels. Cruising at 36.5 knots with the diesels consuming 129 gallons per hour yields a 424-nautical-mile range. At her 42.5-knot wide-open velocity, fuel burn jumps to 176 gph for a range of 326 nautical miles.

The 58C holds 1,502 gallons of diesel, and there’s an option to increase the capacity to 1,741 gallons.

Command and Control

The Viking 58 Convertible is commanded from a center-console-style flybridge helm. There is full walkaround access to the helm pod (which is available in teak as an option), and visibility fore and aft is clean from the twin helm seats. Guests can sit on dual bench seats with backrests and on a forward-facing seat built into the helm pod. All seats have vinyl-covered foam cushions. For snacks and sodas, a refrigerated drink box is forward to starboard and a freezer box is to port.

Electronics are housed in recessed boxes that flank the helm with split console covers, and a center recessed console box houses multifunction displays and engine monitors. A drop-down box above can house additional electronics.

Take the next step: vikingyachts.com

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The one safe bet you can make in Atlantic City, New ­Jersey, is that there are few safe bets to make. However, on a recent trip to the coastal gambling mecca, I did find one way to increase my angling odds. She was docked in the marina adjacent to the Golden Nugget casino, and she appeared to be as close to a sure thing as they come. The 68 Convertible is a quintessential Viking. She’s sweetly sized for the tournament scene or overnighters in the canyons, but not so ostentatiously imposing that she becomes cumbersome. This is a vessel that can cruise or fish, and that can do both in style and comfort. Viking Yachts, which is a behemoth in the fish-boat industry, had already sold 18 of these boats as of mid-August, just six months after the 68C’s debut at the Miami International Boat Show. (That demo boat, even before the show, had already won the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament in Palm Beach, Florida.) A lot of people, it seems, agree that this boat is a good bet. As with most Vikings, the 68C’s story starts with her ride. As I pushed her throttles forward in choppy 2- to 4-footers off the New ­Jersey coastline, the yacht got up and out of the hole with ease, thanks in large part to a hull with a fine entry that flattens to 12.1 degrees of deadrise at the transom (a design that also helps with stability on the hook or when drifting). The 68C has a Viper steering system, meaning her rudders are independent of each other, a setup that gives the captain a high level of control. As I carved S-turns through the slop, there was no doubt as to the system’s efficacy. She cruised easily at 35 knots at 2,150 rpm, and when I dropped the hammer, she climbed briskly up to 41 knots — a speed that any fisherman trying to beat the clock back to the docks for a weigh-in will appreciate. And even at that speed, she remained dry, with the spray coming off her hull just abaft amidships.

I manned the 68C from her flybridge, where the helm had a slick-looking, highly varnished teak pod that I’d personally consider to be a must-have option. Three Stidd helm chairs provided sturdy and comfortable seating for the captain and mates while a crisp-sounding JL Audio system helped to keep everyone in buoyant spirits. Florida-based Viking subsidiary Atlantic Marine Electronics had installed triple 17-inch Aydin screens, while another Viking subsidiary, Palm Beach Towers, had provided the tuna tower, which stood out with smooth welding.

The Viking’s 176-square-foot cockpit had all the amenities I expected to find aboard a fishing machine of this caliber. There were two in-sole fish boxes as well as a livewell in the transom. A beefy fighting chair made by Release had been installed for battling the big ones. A starboard-side tuna door was designed to let fishermen get their catches on board more easily. Mezzanine seating was a pleasant touch, creating a good perch for keeping an eye on baits, or for using as a place to hang while the 68C headed out to the fishing grounds.

The boat’s salon comes in satin-finish or high-gloss walnut, and the joinery was tight on my test boat. A day-head to starboard meant nobody had to tromp all the way down to the accommodations level for a break. An L-shaped settee to port had a good view of the ­forward-situated TV.

The galley was forward with an island counter and three bar stools, making it an excellent place to pop a cold one after a long day of fishing. The island counter was a useful design choice for a fishing boat. As opposed to a traditional U-shaped ­counter, which hems people in, the island makes it much easier to drop the turkey sandwich and get out to the cockpit fast should the bite start.

Viking built a stowage room forward in the salon, good for extra rods, bedding or other bulky items. Down below is a standard Bosch washer and dryer amidships; it should prove useful on longer sojourns.

Accommodations are laid out for comfort on weekend or longer fishing and cruising itineraries. The en suite master is also amidships, though it’s not full-beam. Instead, it’s to port with an athwartships island king berth; a 6-foot-8-inch-tall, maple-lined hanging locker; and a standard 32-inch TV at the foot of the bed. The yacht comes with a standard three-stateroom layout, including a guest stateroom across the companionway from the master, and a forepeak VIP. The VIP on my test boat had a walk-around queen-size berth, though the space is available with dual scissoring berths for owners who need more room for a tournament team. Crew quarters are aft with a head and access to the engine room.

There are four options for the 68’s power plants: twin 1,945 hp MTU V-12s, 1,925 hp Caterpillar C32s, 1,900 hp MAN diesels, or the base engines, twin 1,550 hp MAN V-12s. Regardless of engine choice, they’re bolted to the center stringers for strength, and are well-ventilated. There’s walk-around access for maintenance checks, and the twin 29 kW Cummins Onan gensets are easy to reach.

Viking has plans for an enclosed-bridge version of this model, which should appeal to more cruise-centric boaters and denizens of colder climes. Yet regardless of the 68 Convertible’s configuration, when it comes to having a sweet ride, a well-appointed interior and fishing-ready features, Viking Yachts has hit the jackpot.

Jersey Bred

The reason we tested the 68C in the waters off Atlantic City, New Jersey, is that the yacht was built at Viking’s facility a stone’s throw away in New Gretna. The company builds boats under 50 feet length overall in nearby Mullica.

The Viking Legend

Back in 1964, brothers Bill and Bob Healey founded Viking Yachts. Today, Bill’s son, Pat Healey, an avid billfishing enthusiast, runs the company, which is reportedly debt-free and is still privately held. Viking has a majority share of the U.S. market for upscale production sport-fishermen and is a major presence at boat shows and billfish tournaments. The builder employs about 1,300 people at two yards in southern New Jersey and builds 90 percent of all its boat components in-house. The company owns CNC routers for cutting wood and composite parts and has a million-dollar, five-axis profiler for creating detailed foam plugs. The current Viking range of models stretches from 37 to 93 feet, though there always seem to be whispers that the company is going to go even larger.

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Last February in Miami Viking debuted its new 44 Convertible, and the pocket-sized sportfish wowed the crowds. The boat is highly versatile, and can be kitted out to be tournament ready, or simply act as a speedy and stylish two-stateroom cruiser.

The 44 C comes on the tail of the 44 Open, and shares many of the same attributes, particularly when it comes to a smooth ride and quick acceleration out of the hole. However since the yacht is a convertible, it expands upon the Open’s creature comforts, and has a true salon and a luxurious interior that make her even better for spending time on board, particularly if you want to do overnights or cruise where whether is regularly inclement.

Like most every Viking, the 44 C has sleek, low-profile lines and a certain boldness to her aesthetics — owed in large part to her steeply raked bow and a black visor of a windshield.

The yacht is also exceptionally dry, thanks to her six feet of freeboard and a configuration of chines and strakes on her hull that provide excellent lift and tracking. If you sea trial this boat, take note of how the water is neatly thrown back, with no spray on the forward half of the boat.

The 44 comes with two power iterations. Twin 800 hp MAN diesels are standard, and twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13s are a popular option. With the latter powerplants, the boat tops out at 38 knots and cruises at a jaunty 33.

Up top, the boat’s got 360 degree visibility from the helm, which also has a good view of the cockpit — super helpful when there is a fish on. A fiberglass hardtop with teaser reel compartments is a popular option there.

The yacht’s interior is usually done in high-gloss teak, which imbues it with an inviting warmth. In the salon there is a dining settee and a 40-inch television forward and to port. A galley to starboard is two steps down and has a two-burner cooktop, oven, microwave and a fridge and freezer.

As for the accommodations, the two-stateroom layout has a port-side master with a queen-sized walk around bed, and lots of stowage. The forward guest has over-under bunks. The accommodations are perfect for a fishing trip with the guys, or for young families.

If you do take that fishing trip, you’ll be happy to find plenty of rodholders, a transom livewell, a tuna door, tackle stowage and an in-deck fishbox in the cockpit.

The Viking 44 C is a low-maintenance, do it all cruiser or fishing boat that falls right in line with Viking’s esteemed pedigree. As such, she should soon carve out a nice little niche in the marketplace.

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At the Miami Yacht show this past February, Viking debuted its 68 Convertible, a four-stateroom fishing machine with excellent interior fit and finish and angling bona fides that should make her a favorite on the tournament circuit.

“The 68 is another legendary boat in a long line of fishing boats for Viking in the 60-foot and 70-foot range,” says Viking President and CEO Patrick Healey. “No one is doing the job we are doing today in this size range.”

Those may sound like bold words from Healey, but it doesn’t necessarily make them untrue, as Viking has enjoyed great success in the sportfishing market for years now. In part, that’s because the New Jersey-based builder focuses both on the fishing and cruising market — turning out both tournament-ready battle wagons and elegant cruising yachts at once.

The 68’s cockpit encompasses a full 176-square feet and has mezzanine seating that is an excellent place to watch all the fishing action, or just to kick back as you run across the Gulf Stream.

Like most Vikings, the 68 C is a speedster. With optional twin 1,945 hp MTU 2000 V12 M96Ls, the yacht can cruise at 35 knots and max out at 40-plus. Mans and Caterpillar options are also available.

The 68 C has that classic, swept-back Viking sheerline and an intimidating black mask that can make it look like its going even faster at speed.

The 68’s interior has a high degree of luxury, with four heads to complement the aforementioned four staterooms. High-gloss walnut is a popular option for interior wood, while Ultraleather is the go to for upholstery. There’s a pop-up 49-inch television in the salon as well as frameless windows that let in a good amount of natural light. Air conditioning vents are well distributed so as not to concentrate the flow of air in any one spot.

The galley has an island countertop so you can quickly get outdoors should a fish strike while you’re grabbing a bite. Three barstools at that counter are sure to be a gathering spot after hours, while the drawers all have aircraft style locking mechanisms to keep them in place. Opposite the galley, a four-person settee with a high-gloss walnut table takes care of on board dining needs.

The 68 comes in either open or enclosed bridge versions. The open version is more popular with tournament fishermen while the enclosed is a favorite of cruisers. Whichever version you choose, you’ll be getting a well pedigreed yacht that’s fast, sturdily built and easy on the eyes. And that’s a tough combination to beat.

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