$1,000,000 to Spend

[capttonyf]

I have a customer looking for a convertible for Bahamas fishing trips. Hatteras or Viking Preferably. $750,000 to $1,000,000 Budget. 54 to 65 feet, 3 or 4 staterooms. What would you buy? We have a few ideas and are starting to look next week. Kind of know what direction we may go but was looking for some insight from group. Start the opinions flying. Thanks in Advance. Tony

 

[Cricket]

For a production boat in that price range it would be a 61 Viking with Cats, try to find one with a mezzanine. 56 Viking is also a great boat, would go with one with MTU's instead of the MANs. Second would be a Hatteras 60 with Cats and mezzanine.
On the custom side there's really not much available in that price range, custom sportfish market is out of control.

 

[SEVEN]

I’ll sell my 53’ for a million. Has to be cash.

 

[BOATER BOB]

Pick up a 65 Hatteras for around 250k have new Cat's installed and new gen good to go for years.
Bob

 

[Boatsb]

A customer with that much money to spend wants a turn key vessel not a repower.

Look at the newest and cleanest boat possible. Something in mint condition is easier to sell to a discerning buyer.

For production boats, Hatts and vikings would be my first choices and cats probably the engine of choice but Mann's and mtus may be ok with the buyer. Some don't worry about the cost of maintenance and rebuilds as its the price of fishing.

It look at what the wife wants too. If she's going on the boat she will have a lot of input.

 

[capttonyf]

For a production boat in that price range it would be a 61 Viking with Cats, try to find one with a mezzanine. 56 Viking is also a great boat, would go with one with MTU's instead of the MANs. Second would be a Hatteras 60 with Cats and mezzanine.On the custom side there's really not much available in that price range, custom sportfish market is out of control.

Cat powered Viking 61, Hatteras 60, and a later model 65 Hatteras are on my short list. Haven’t had much time on a Viking 61. I know it’s faster then a either a 60 or 65 Hatteras but does anyone know how is the ride compared to Hatt 60/65? Tony

 

[Cricket]

In your scenario, as a 33 year Hatteras owner, I hate to say it but I would buy a Cat powered 4 stateroom 61 Viking over the same 60 Hatteras, and I think the 60 Hatteras is a really great boat, just the Viking is better, and will also fish better than the Hat.
60 Hat might have a small edge in a huge sea but it's close, 95% of the time the Viking will run away from the Hat. I don't like the huge wheels Hatteras used, makes caring spares almost impossible. Viking bridge layout is better, especially with the freezers on the bridge, engine room layout is better........

 

[capttonyf]

In your scenario, as a 33 year Hatteras owner, I hate to say it but I would buy a Cat powered 4 stateroom 61 Viking over the same 60 Hatteras, and I think the 60 Hatteras is a really great boat, just the Viking is better, and will also fish better than the Hat.60 Hat might have a small edge in a huge sea but it's close, 95% of the time the Viking will run away from the Hat. I don't like the huge wheels Hatteras used, makes caring spares almost impossible. Viking bridge layout is better, especially with the freezers on the bridge, engine room layout is better........

I hear you, and have to agree about speed and space. Just wasn’t sure on head sea ride. I sold and ran a 57 Viking and for all the bad I heard prior to selling it I loved it. It was a 1989 Rybovich Version with DD 12V92’s and fished great. It had a 25knot cruise and rode solid. Just wasn’t sure about the Viking 61. What your saying is reassuring though. Thanks

 

[Passages]

I am stunned...

Never would have thought this crowd would give fair consideration to a Viking.
Especially after I got panned when word got out that my 63' MY was actually a Viking/Gulfstar. (Thanks Krush)

Putting that aside, I have to agree with the above comments.

 

[Cricket]

Forgot Rybo was a Viking dealer for a bit, was fishing on the Viking demo boat quite a bit back in those days, one winter Viking had two 57's at the Buckaneer, for the winter around that time. Pretty sure that's when the Feds instituted the boat luxury tax so boat sales where tough.
Night and day between the 57 and 61 ride wise and everything else. Friend ran 2 different 61's, can't remember if it was a 3412 or c30 boat and then one with MTU's, he said the Cat boat was just bad ass.

 

[capttonyf]

Forgot Rybo was a Viking dealer for a bit, was fishing on the Viking demo boat quite a bit back in those days, one winter Viking had two 57's at the Buckaneer, for the winter around that time. Pretty sure that's when the Feds instituted the boat luxury tax so boat sales where tough. Night and day between the 57 and 61 ride wise and everything else. Friend ran 2 different 61's, can't remember if it was a 3412 or c30 boat and then one with MTU's, he said the Cat boat was just bad ass.

Does the Viking 61 ride better then the Viking 65 or the same era? There are a few 65’s and they’re cheaper then the 61’s. Either way I’m setting up some appointments for next week to go look at a few 61’s. One of them for sure has CATS. The others are 12V2000 boats. Tony

 

[Cricket]

Friends call the 65 Viking the perfect dock condo queen, away from the dock they compare them to a 17' Whaler. There's a reason they demand far less than other similar size and vintage boats.

 

[capttonyf]

Friends call the 65 Viking the perfect dock condo queen, away from the dock they compare them to a 17' Whaler. There's a reason they demand far less than other similar size and vintage boats.

Makes Sense, I've heard similar things. Good looking boat though.
Tony

 

[Cricket]

Passages, this thread is about sportfish/convertables, not motor yachts, and especially not Viking wanna be Gulfstar motor yachts.

 

[Boatsb]

Passages, this thread is about sportfish/convertables, not motor yachts, and especially not Viking wanna be Gulfstar motor yachts.

Don't pick on that big floating condo just because it's not a Hatt.

Its got a ton of room. An air conditioned engined room on many and a comfortable layout. As a live aboard it's a great boat.

 

[capttonyf]

Thanks for the Insight everyone.

After looking at everything currently available out there and looking at a ton of boats with my client we decided to purchase a 2007/08 Viking 68 Convertible.

The boat has MTU 16V2000's, the M93's at 2,600 hp a piece. Also has optional fuel bringing the total capacity up to 3000 Gallons. What sold the buyer was the Air Conditioned Island Helm, Air Conditioned and Misted Mezzanine, and the Engine Room access from the Crew Stateroom.

The boat ran Awesome, 2,460 RPM at WOT and did 41 Knots. At 1,850 RPM and 68% to 70% load it Cruised between 32-34 Knots. The boat ran solid up and down sea, I was really impressed. it's a sweet ride, and shows why Hatteras lost Market Share in the 2000's to Viking.

Tony

 

[Cricket]

That's a long way from a 60' at $1mil.
She will be one bad ass ride, pretty work.
The sportfish world is now totally Viking and the custom builders.
The new Hatt's are nice but they just don't seem to be able to get any traction.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

That's a long way from a 60' at $1mil.She will be one bad ass ride, pretty work. The sportfish world is now totally Viking and the custom builders.The new Hatt's are nice but they just don't seem to be able to get any traction.

Theyre kinda ugly.

 

[capttonyf]

That's a long way from a 60' at $1mil.
She will be one bad ass ride, pretty work.
The sportfish world is now totally Viking and the custom builders.
The new Hatt's are nice but they just don't seem to be able to get any traction.

The boat is set up really nice and carries 900 Gallons of extra fuel over the standard capacity totaling about 2950 gallons. with about 1800 gallons on board we did 41 Knots. We topped it off to Full just to see and it only did 35 knots. So that extra fuel in the bow made a huge difference on the top end.

He wants to update the Electronics to all 8000 Series Garmin. Right now it has a mix of Garmin and a couple Furuno. Anyone ahve a suggestion on a good place for install and price? The Boat is in Lauderdale.

Thanks
Tony

 

[Cricket]

Maybe Viking's marine electronics outfit AME??

The original $1mil spend is quickly headed towards a $2mil spend...........
Looks like a lot of fun to me.