Why I don't like Vikings

[jim rosenthal]

Hatteras learned their lesson on this, on the 41 convertible in the 80s, I think, and never did it again.

It's possible to build a boat with a cored bottom- Sonny Hines used them- but you always wonder whether water is in the core. Yet. Because it's going to get in there.

 

[saltshaker]

nobody mentioned that viking still uses balsa coring in there hull bottoms. not a good idea if you ask me. think coring problems are a pain in the ass on the top sides.....

That's a relatively new practice for them. They started using Balsa in the hull around 2009-2010? There are plaenty of strong light-weight synthetic coring materials that would seem to be a much better choice, particularly bellow the water line. Not sure why they went with balsa and why the hull bottom. Nearly all pre 2002 or so Vikings had core issues in transom. Balsa cored and all would leak around the hawse pipes soaking the core. Keep in mind all cold molded boats are wood covered in glass so the same issues apply. You have to build them right and treat maintain them right. I'd take a Rybovich, Merrit, Whiticar etc in a heart beat but the maintenance on those boats is significantly higher than that of an FRP boat.I'll echo what Cricket said, Viking is way ahead of the rest when it comes to SF sales and demand. They are not the same Viking from the past. The boats are built better, ride better and the company knows how to retain and build it's customer base. The Healeys have done an exceptional job of building what their customers want and marketing their products world wide. I don't think they're building better boats than Hatteras but they sure know how to sell them. Look at the variety of models they offer and it's easy to see how they build to keep their customers by offering them a logical move up in the line.

 

[Tinman]

nobody mentioned that viking still uses balsa coring in there hull bottoms. not a good idea if you ask me. think coring problems are a pain in the ass on the top sides.....

I always assumed rule#1 was no coring below the waterline. Had problems with my Viking transom and a Jim Smith around the rudder post. Some mfg's have been using Airex in hull bottoms for years, so with the right methods maybe? Let one of those Vikings have a hull core problem and it could get ugly.

 

[Cricket]

Polorazer and I spent spent a lot of time on the Hatteras 63 demo at last years WMO, parked right behind it was a Viking 62 in stock boat for sale that was pretty plain jane which we also spent some time on. Afterwards we both decided given a choice we would prefer to buy the Hatteras, basically because it wasn't a Viking, several weeks later we both changed over to the picking the Viking after thinking about it. Same or better ride, faster, better engine room, less fuel burn with the same engines. As Polarizer posted on here he actually purchased a 2 year old 55 Viking this summer giving up probably 45 years of Hatteras ownership in his family which is quite a statement. Btw, his new boat is bad ass.

 

[pizzazsdaddy]

OK...I'm all upset here. See what happens when I go away for a couple of weeks? Wasn't anybody in charge of watching RSMITH? You guys were supposed to keep him locked in his main salon until I got back. WHAT HAPPENED?

What we are failing to consider here, is the discussion covers different products. A 2000 model Bertram is not a Bertram, it's a Feretti. If our discussion covers pre-1990 makes and models, the pecking order was as follows...Hatteras, Bertram, Viking. They all had models with issues. Yet, they were the best in the world. Nothing was structurally better than a Hatteras or Miami built Bertram back then. ...or since.

After the luxury tax on yachts killed the American boat building industry, all bets were off. Viking Survived. Ferertti ruined the Bertram brand name. Hatteras lost it's focus.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Hatteras seem to be getting some of their mojo back. Modern Vikings seem like solid boats- I haven't been out on one. Modern Bertrams- I think I'd check my estate planning before I went too far offshore on one.

 

[Avenger]

Uh....no...he brought up the subject, not me..... and as I said, he was talking about Viking sport fish boats, not the MY designs of which the one of interest to me was more Gulfstar than Viking. Plus I hadn't actually bought it yet.

As I recall it was close to a toss up between Viking and Hatteras. He felt Bertrams were the best by far.

As to support, Viking does have lousy support for the mid 90's and older MY style boats but they may have excellent support for the C or sport fish boats....or maybe not...don't know really. My impression is Hatteras support for mid 90 and older boats is not that great either...it seems ok because there is Sams...which is not Hatteras.

There's supposedly a saying among captains: Deliver a Bertram. Fish a Hatteras.

If this guy doesn't stop to fish he's never beheld the thrill of a Bertram on the drift. As far as quality I'd be hard pressed to believe a Bertram is "far superior" to a Hatteras. There may be some details or variations between models, but more likely he's doing apples to oranges, or has has some pet issue that he's stuck on.

As far as support, is that why you're on a Hatteras forum asking how to fix your Viking?

 

[Milacron]

There's supposedly a saying among captains: Deliver a Bertram. Fish a Hatteras.

If this guy doesn't stop to fish he's never beheld the thrill of a Bertram on the drift. As far as quality I'd be hard pressed to believe a Bertram is "far superior" to a Hatteras. There may be some details or variations between models, but more likely he's doing apples to oranges, or has has some pet issue that he's stuck on.

As far as support, is that why you're on a Hatteras forum asking how to fix your Viking?

He did mention stopping to fish but he's probably looking at it from a "less stuff went wrong during delivery" and better ride standpoint.

Re why I'm on Hatteras forum, some out of habit, since Hatteras was my main focus when looking for a used boat. Far as I know there is no Viking forum. But whatever I might ask about "fixing" is generic stuff to all larger boats....plus I'm here trying to assist others with their trouble shooting as well.

Having said all that, this topic is ridiculous in the first place. What's next .. "why I don't like Egg Harbors"..."why I don't like Pacemakers"..."why I don't like Ocean" "why I don't like carrots" ??

 

[Avenger]

Maybe, but "less stuff went wrong" on an older boat is more a reflection of maintenance than quality. I would concede a Bertram probably rides better, at least downsea. Problem is we use convertibles for more than traveling. Every design is a compromise. Since I fish, I like Hatteras' compromise better.


Now on thread topics, how about: "Why I don't like Milacron."?

I know, I know. But it was irresistible.

 

[rsmith]

He did mention stopping to fish but he's probably looking at it from a "less stuff went wrong during delivery" and better ride standpoint.

Re why I'm on Hatteras forum, some out of habit, since Hatteras was my main focus when looking for a used boat. Far as I know there is no Viking forum. But whatever I might ask about "fixing" is generic stuff to all larger boats....plus I'm here trying to assist others with their trouble shooting as well.

Having said all that, this topic is ridiculous in the first place. What's next .. "why I don't like Egg Harbors"..."why I don't like Pacemakers"..."why I don't like Ocean" "why I don't like carrots" ??

Especially carrots!!!!

 

[rwappleton]

SCRODDY!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bob Bradley]

Now on thread topics, how about: "Why I don't like Milacron."?

Great. Now how do I get the coffee and boogers out of my keyboard.

 

[Boatsb]

Great. Now how do I get the coffee and boogers out of my keyboard.

Try a vacuum. Like the topic, it sucks.

 

[Finalee]

This 1964 Viking 36 is being dismantled next to me. The planks appear to be 1 inch thick.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Kinda sad, really. 50 years ago that was someone's dream boat.

 

[Avenger]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. Hundreds of man hours to build. Tens to fit it into a dumpster. Kind of like the Titanic. Years to build and two hours to destroy.

 

[captddis]

As a kid I remember my Father dreaming about a wood 38 Viking double cabin
powered with twin 318 Chryslers. Next in line was the 37 Egg Harbor.

I always liked the Chris Crafts........ and still have one.