Our drone ran hard toward the Viking 62 Convertible . As it captured video of our sea trial, its blades whirred and spun at a blistering pace over the azure waters of Miami Beach. The flying video camera struggled mightily as the big sport-fisherman came up on plane and her twin 1,925-horsepower Caterpillar C32A diesel turbos spooled up. It wasn’t long before Yachting’s managing editor, Jake Lamb, had to retrieve the drone so we could really see what this blue-water beast could do (and so that our mini helicopter didn’t drop into the drink).
The single-lever controls hit the pins, and my eyes widened as I watched our Viking yacht’s speed climb in quantum-leap fashion: 20 knots, 30 knots and an average top hop of 42.2 knots. She impressed me with that last speed while her motors ran at 2,300 rpm, which is the precise top-end rating for these diesels, indicating a near-perfect combination of power, running gear and design. At this speed, her big Cats gulped about 190 gallons of diesel per hour. The 62’s comfortable cruise speed averaged 36.9 knots with the Cats spinning at 2,000 rpm and consuming 156 gph. Suffice it to say, if you’re a hard-core tournament angler, many boats will be left wallowing in your wake when the Bimini start gun goes off.
Her fine entry sliced the sea, which had about a 6-foot groundswell, and water never made it up and over her nearly 8 feet of forward freeboard or her flush foredeck. This battlewagon’s running attitude remained relatively flat too, thanks to a hull form with more convex shape than past models, particularly in the forward third of the hull. Additionally, the builder has steadily increased aft deadrise in its yachts, including this 62.
Big iron in her belly contributes to her speedy nature, and so does a build that ensures she is constructed with relatively light weight (94,025 pounds with a full load) and extreme strength. Viking Yachts have built cored-hull sport- fishing boats for years, and this 62 is no exception. She features a balsa-core, resin-infused fiberglass hull reinforced with Kevlar and carbon fiber, enhancing strength without added weight. She feels solid underfoot and is ready to take on the most ornery of seas. Doors and cabinets are built with honeycomb coring, further enhancing the vessel’s relatively lightweight nature.
This 51-years-and-going-strong company also creates yachts born to chase fish, and with the 62, angler-friendly features start with a 172-squarefoot, teak-covered cockpit. A standard mezzanine with comfy Ultraleather seating offers a great place to watch baits in the shade, and underneath is stowage for a tournament’s worth of mullet, ballyhoo and Spanish mackerel. For live bait aficionados, there are two quick-connect setups in the aft corners atop the cockpit scuppers that are plumbed to run on-deck livewells. That is, if the two in-deck boxes and transom box aren’t enough to deal with your goggle-eyes and pilchards. And when the bite is red-hot and you’re burning through baits, it’s good to know you have options. Rod stowage is plentiful here too, including room for 20-plus outfits between the gunwale, tower and rocket launcher rod holders.
As built-for-battle as this sport-fishing yacht is, Viking also pays attention to the comfort equation, which is obvious the moment you step through the salon door. Our test 62 has a cushy carpet to relax the dogs after a long stand-up fish fight, while the Ultraleather sofas beckon for a nap when the day is done or the bite tails of . The island galley table, which has a dorsal-fin shape and granite countertop, has two stools that make it a great spot to grab lunch on the fly, or breakfast and coffee before lines are in the water. The galley’s Amtico walnut sole warms the space and makes for easy cleanup.
Depending on the size of your crew, the Viking 62 can be outfitted with three or four staterooms. My test vessel had the four-room setup with an athwartship master stateroom to port, island queen-berth VIP forward and two bunk-equipped guest staterooms to starboard. In the three-stateroom arrangement, the master flips to the starboard side, one stateroom goes to the port side, and one is eliminated. The forepeak can be equipped with crossover berths too.
The Viking 62 Convertible isn’t a boat for everyone. She’s for those who can appreciate a pure bred sport-fisherman. Wherever the fish are, she can get to them quickly and in luxe comfort. But when she runs, keep an eye on your drone.
