It’s unusual to see a sportfisherman on Megayacht News. But, this 83’5” vessel (more than 87 feet LOA with the pulpit) is no ordinary fishboat. With 235 square feet of fish-fighting room in the cockpit, the Viking 82 Convertible means serious business for serious anglers. She simultaneously means serious fun for folks who simply like the sportfisherman style and don’t plan to wet a line.
Both of those personalities describe the buyers for the New Jersey-based builder’s yachts for many years. Like many owners, they wanted a larger yacht to step up to; previously, the 74 Convertible was the largest offering.
Instead of simply stretching spaces, however, Viking gave the 82 design elements of her own. She has a flush foredeck, for example, rather than the raised decks of many other Vikings. While a raised deck lends a nice profile, the flush deck here does as well, accentuating the raked stem. And it doesn’t interfere with room below decks; there’s nine feet of freeboard forward. (Compare that with three feet in the cockpit, letting anglers tag and release big fish easily.)
Inside, abundant granite plus high-gloss and satin-finished teak lend an upscale look, from the saloon to the four staterooms. I particularly liked the three distinct seating areas in the combo saloon-galley-dining area. There’s an L-shape settee to port just inside the doors from the mezzanine level of the cockpit, fo rinstance. A C-shape dinette (with granite tabletop) is just forward. Opposite, lining the aft part of the galley countertop, a handful of barstools make for a great spot to grab breakfast, a snack, or even après-dinner/après-fishing drinks.
One of the best “rooms” aboard, however, has to be the stowage area just forward of the galley. It’s a standing-headroom compartment easily housing a freezer and a handful of boxes, with space left for other big items. As Peter Fredericksen, Viking’s director of communications, quips, “This is worth $5,000 a month in Manhattan!”
Because of the dual nature of Viking’s buyers, the stateroom layout is versatile. The 82 I was aboard had the full-beam master, fitted with a king-size bed, aft. However, some owners who fish a lot tend to prefer a two-person crew back here. In that case, the Viking 82 Convertible’s master can instead go forward. Regardless of layout, the guest staterooms can feature queen berths or twins. Hull number one featured a queen VIP in the bow, a queen stateroom just aft to port, and a twin opposite it.
When it comes time to back down on a fish (at a reported 7 knots), the 82’s open flying bridge is suited to the task. The centerline helm provides great visibility all around; even I, at a mere 5’2”, could see well. Acrylic panels protect electronics, and a true crawlspace within the base of the helm pod yields access to wiring. Overhead, a drop-down box houses the GPS, depthsounder, and other units. Electric teaser reels are located just above the helm seat, along with extra speakers.
Below, four in-sole boxes in the cockpit can be outfitted however an owner wishes. Some, for instance, want livewells, while others prefer a combination of livewells and stowage. From the fighting chair to the four-person mezzanine seating, plus plenty of stowage and a freezer beneath the mezzanine, it’s well-organized.
The same holds true of the engine room, with walk-around access to the MTUs. This was possible due to Viking dedicating tank access and a pump room beneath the sole in the hallway leading to the staterooms.
According to Fredericksen, the Viking 82 Convertible was three years in the making,. This included tank testing at the well-regarded Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. It’s also worth noting that within that time period, sales of yachts up to this size range began slowing. Yet, Viking had orders for several 82s, bucking the trend.
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