Viking 35
The Early DNA of the New Gretna Legacy
By Scott Shane
You know a manufacturer has gotten it right when the majority of its boat owners never leave the fold. They grow their boating experiences, and LOA, within the brand. Certainly, Sea Ray is a prime example of this in the cruising market. Viking Yachts has, in my opinion, equally kept pace with that lofty pinnacle of success within the sportfishing style of yachts. The 35-foot convertible, (there was a limited build of an express-style), was Viking’s smallest yacht, yet one that dominated the niche for years.
“Looking back, it was clear that the plan was to have an entry boat (the 35), a bigger convertible and a motoryacht covering all the bases, while providing room for their owners to grow and expand the boating lifestyle while remaining in the Viking family,” was the corporate forecast back in the day, according to the company website. History has proven it was a well thought-out business model.
The original 1975, 35-foot hull was a modified-V, with hand-laid solid fiberglass bottom, keel, strakes and chines. The sides were balsa-cored. Deadrise at the transom is 15.5 degrees. Steel I-beams supported the early version big-block, gas-powered engines. That proven system, offering strength and reduced vibration, remained in place when the switch to diesels came around.
In the mid-1980s, Viking revamped this best seller with some basic modifications to accommodate owners’ suggestions, design and technological advances. The front windshield was glassed over, the flybridge got a makeover and the interiors were updated, according to the Powerboat Guide.
“For the size, it gives me the best of both worlds—fishing and comfort. Boat builders just don’t make a boat like the 35 Viking anymore; it’s really a shame. If you’re looking for a good balance of fishing and family cruising, this is the boat,” says Chris Squeri, owner of Lady E with a homeport of Freeport, NY.
The cockpit was a compact and efficient plan, though even on the updated versions, it lacked a transom door. The freeboard was a comfortable height and second-generation models had ample tackle storage, a work area for bait prep and two in-sole fish boxes. The cockpit itself is 80 square feet, but Squeri thinks that it’s not enough.
“My biggest criticism on the Lady E, is the cockpit is too small, yet we’ve put plenty of big fish in the boat, including a 454-pound thresher, a large swordfish, and blue marlin,” he said.
It’s difficult on a 35-foot boat not compromise in some aspect of the build when the idea is to give the owners the best of two worlds. Though some may feel the cockpit is a bit stingy, the interior layout offers a wonderful floor plan for those who expect to enjoy extended family cruising as well as fishing.
The teak joinery, even back in the day, is a long-noted Viking Yacht standout. The builder’s mission has been to never skimp on the components, hardware and accessories they use.
Later versions of the 35 convertible offered three distinct floor plans. The dinette “A” plan featured a single stateroom with forward V-berth with filler cushion. A dinette was portside with facing seating and the galley to starboard. Plan “B” had two staterooms, with bunk beds replacing the dinette. The “C” version had a more spacious forward cabin with a full double, island-berth. The head occupies the real estate where the dinette was.
The profile of the 35 sportfisherman is identical to the larger versions the builder produced. It’s incredibly balanced from stem to stern; no aspect overwhelms the other. The newer models, with the glassed-in windshields and painted masks, have stood the test of time with still-relevant styling.
The flybridge is old school with lots of straight hard angles, but of course that was the mark of the day, as radius edging is a more modern design. Squeri loves the roomy bridge on his 3208 Caterpiller-powered 1988 convertible. He says six guys sit comfortably in a side settee and seating forward of the helm on long canyon runs.
Older boats unfortunately fight the lack of horsepower battle, especially the big-block, gas-powered beasts. Lady E’s diesels pump out 375 hp and push her to a cruise speed of 22 knots with a fuel burn of 30 gph. It does somewhat limit the more distant fishing grounds, but it’s still reasonable at .73 miles to the gallon.
I’ve fished aboard Fred Faust’s 35-foot express Viking, Another Outlet. It was a mission of Faust to track down and refit the hard-to-find, 35 express; only 32 were built. He repowered with a pair of 370-hp Yanmar diesels and did a complete refit in the cabin, with more hardy materials, to accommodate its sole mission to fish.
This model, without the superstructure and salon, is a bit lighter and has a lower center of gravity. It sits very nicely in the trough, though some head-seas conditions require a back-off of the throttles. There’s ample room for external fish boxes on the helm space a step up from the cockpit and working a fish since there’s no aft cabin bulkheads. Faust has now fished this boat for decades and still finds his investment worthwhile.
“Lady E has been in my family for over 20 years,” Squeri said. “We’ve updated the boat along the way including from electronics and interior. Viking makes a great hull and there’s never a single issue beneath the water line. By keeping the accent paint fresh and updating the flybridge enclosure, the boat continues to look fresh and new. It still gets plenty of looks as we pull in.”
At the end of the day, Viking Yachts’ great workmanship, quality components and sleek design, coupled with diligent maintenance, keeps this 35-footer one for the ages.
