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Supersize Sport-Fishers

• By Chris Caswell
• Updated: January 12, 2021

Once upon a time, sport-fishing boats were sized to meet lesser demands. Ernest Hemingway’s Pilar was 38 feet, which was large enough to get him into the Gulf Stream to chase marlin and the occasional U-boat during World War II. The first Rybovich, Miss Chevy II , was just 34 feet long, while the first Hatteras convertible sport-fisher, Knit Wits , pushed the length-overall envelope at 41 feet some 60 years ago.

Today, sport-fishers have soared past the 90-plus-foot mark with regularity, ranging up to the 144-foot Trinity Bad Company (originally Marlena ) that carries a dozen guests and a half-dozen crew on adventures to far-flung fishing grounds.

For years, both production and custom-built sport-fishers have grown. Owners demanded vessels that were bigger and more comfortable for running on their own bottoms from the United States to the fertile Pacific waters of Costa Rica and Guatemala to chase supersize sailfish and blue, black and striped marlin. To chug across the Atlantic for the summer billfish tournaments in Bermuda. To chase world records, wherever the bite was at the moment. It’s an attitude reminiscent of the film Endless Summer , where surfers gallop around the planet in search of the perfect wave.

The builders Viking, Hatteras and Bertram have long been the 900-pound gorillas of production sport-fishers, drawing the line at around 90 feet, with the Viking 92 emerging as a front-runner in this category. To date, Viking has built 19 of its 92-footers, with hull numbers 20 and 21 currently in production. While the Hatteras 92 and Bertram 80 are out of production, they still enjoy popularity on the brokerage market.

On the custom, cold-molded construction side of sport-fish yachts, North Carolina’s Jarrett Bay Boatworks launched the 90-foot Jaruco in 2017. The boat is a 44-knot battlewagon with a foredeck for touch-and-go helicopter landings. And for those who believe wooden hulls raise more fish, Bayliss Boatworks—also in North Carolina—has the 90-foot Reel Wheels II , with five staterooms and 38-knot speed, making quick work of runs to the canyons or back to the scales on tournament day.

In general, the hallmarks of a great sport-fisher, at least those in the 40-to-60-foot range, have included nimbleness when fighting a fish, as well as speed. Today’s larger sport-fishers can compete in those areas as well.

Consider the 92-foot Viking Fa La Me , owned by Frank Rodriguez. It swept the Bermuda Triple Crown tournament series with the highest point total in the event’s history and became the first three-time winner of the series. Another 92-foot Viking, A Work of Art , grabbed second place in the 2017 Orange Beach Billfish Classic release division, and the 95-foot Jim Smith Relentless Pursuit took the tournament in 2019 with a 658.2-pound blue marlin and third-place wahoo.

The reigning queen of the mega-sport-fisher world, though, continues to be Bad Company , which was at first 132 feet length overall and subsequently stretched. Its top speed with twin 3,500 hp Paxman V-12s is 33 knots, which at first blush may not seem special. Keep in mind, however, that a 300-gross-ton 144-footer traveling at 33 knots can maintain that speed in rough seas while smaller, albeit faster sport-fishers have to pull the throttles way back. The amount of hull in the water matters.

The newest of the big-gun sport-fishers is the 130-foot Lanakai . Michael Peters designed it, and New Zealand’s Yachting Developments built it. It is the largest carbon-fiber sport-fisher and has twin 3,150 hp V-12 MTU 4000 M93 diesels that reportedly push it to 30 knots while carrying 10 guests and six crew in superyacht style.

So what changed to make larger sport-fishers tournament-viable, aside from owners being willing to spend considerably more money on a bigger boat?

First, of course, is maneuverability, which is essential—especially when faced with an angry blue marlin. Hydraulic bow thrusters are a key component of these vessels, allowing a captain to position the yacht precisely when backing down hard. Captains describe the big sport-fishers as being just as nimble as smaller boats.

On Fa La Me , one of the secret weapons is the fly-by-wire Viking independent programmable electrohydraulic rudders, eliminating the tie bars between rudders, and allowing independent rudder control, much like pod drives but with conventional shafts and props. The setup optimizes maneuverability at low speeds. Add to that modern technology such as joystick controls, which make the captain’s job easier. Two fingers on a joystick on the bridge rail keeps the yacht perfectly positioned for the crew in the cockpit.

Available horsepower has also driven up the sport-fisher’s length overall, with up to 7,000 hp now tucked into engine rooms for hammer-down power. Add in other technology such as gyrostabilizers that make a yacht more secure for stand-up tackle, and the result is large sport fishing yachts that are as agile as smaller sport-fishers in the hands of an experienced helmsman.

Sheer size has other benefits. Consider the cockpit on Bad Company , which spans the vessel’s 27-foot beam. A half-dozen crew can be prepping bait and rigging lines and leaders, and never be crowded. That same width also allows outriggers that spread 120 feet to get lines into clean trolling lanes.

Mega-sport-fishers also have more balconies and mezzanines than Italy’s La Scala opera house, so it’s easier to keep a eye on the spread. Three decks on most offer good viewing of the fishing action. And the height matters. A taller flybridge allows for better visibility than tuna towers on smaller craft.

Larger yachts also mean more rod-and-tackle stowage and immense fridges and freezers with multiple ice chippers to keep the catch fresh and cool. Enclosed bridges provide comfort on extended passages as well as weather protection on snotty days.

The owner of Lanakai , according to Peters, puts those and other features to good use. “This owner is an absolute sportsman and adventurer,” Peters says. “He wants to stay out for weeks. He wants to fish Fiji and the [Great] Barrier Reef. He wants to roam far and wide in search of big fish. He had an 85-footer, and it simply wasn’t big enough for his goals. Besides, it’s not just about fishing; a water-level cockpit gives great access to the water for diving too.”

This type of boat is indeed a beautiful thing. As Luiz de Basto, designer of the 105-foot Broward Odyssey and the 95-foot Seaforce IX sport-fisher series, puts it: “Something that I, as a yacht designer, realized many years ago is that the pure, classic fishing boat—its unique purpose and the resulting lines—are probably the most original creation of the vast and diverse American pleasure-boat universe. From 30-footers to the largest ones, they all share a sporting purpose and beautiful elegance that demonstrates America’s ingenuity at its best.”

The style also represents fishing at its finest. Sam Gershowitz—owner of the Star Island Yacht Club and Marina in Montauk, New York—is a serial owner of sport-fishers, all named Marlena . His current big gun is a 105-foot Jim Smith. When asked how he planned to fish the boat, his answer perfectly summed up mega-sport-fishers: “very comfortably.”

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Viking Yachts 90 Review: New Flagship Boat Replaces the 92

• By Peter Frederiksen
• May 9, 2023

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Freshly launched at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show, the Viking 90 is the company’s new flagship, replacing its popular 92-footer that was launched in the 2015 model year. Viking built and delivered 21 of the 92s, and was prepared to continue, but new International Maritime Organization emission regulations required the installation of heavy, large, and potentially dangerous Selective Catalytic Reduction systems. Because the required equipment to deal with these changes neither existed nor would be available to maintain the boat’s production schedule, Viking was forced to discontinue the production of the 92.

A bitter tale perhaps, but since 1964, when Bill and Bob Healey founded the Viking Yacht Company in New Gretna, New Jersey, the builder has dealt with all sorts of stumbling blocks, including the early 1990s federal luxury tax that crushed the marine industry, and several recessions. Recent challenges include COVID-related supply-chain issues and a proposed 10-knot East Coast speed restriction due to right whale conundrums. Yet, somehow, none of these obstacles stopped Viking from carrying out its mantra to “build a better boat every day.”

Some 5,000 boats later, Viking president and CEO Pat Healey charged his design, engineering, and production teams to renew that commitment again and build a new flagship. Investing $20 million in research and creating more than 240 new molds, including hull, topside, flybridge and interior, and pouring in reservoirs of sweat equity and tens of thousands of man-hours, the unveiling of the new Viking 90 as a flagship is no fish story. As with any Viking, a new model must be as good as or better than what it replaces, and the Viking 90 is all that and more.

Cockpit and Mezzanine

The 90’s cockpit is 224 square feet and includes a 203-gallon livewell built into the ­transom that can double as a fish box. A pair of 103-gallon ­insulated fish boxes line the cockpit sole, and each can be refrigerated or serve as a depository for the dual Eskimo ice chippers. A watertight centerline deck hatch opens to access the Seakeeper 35 ­gyrostabilizer for maintenance and routine inspections.

The cockpit work area resembles the 92, so there is undergunwale storage, and the lower-mezzanine ­seating ­provides air conditioning for relaxing, watching baits, and staying close to the cockpit action. Insulated boxes and other compartments stow gear, drinks and tackle, and the crew quarters are also accessed through this area. The upper mezzanine is reached by way of ­flanking steps from the cockpit sole and includes an L-shaped aft-­facing lounge, a teak table, and an available 43-inch flat-screen ­television that drops down from the overhead. Another ­seating area to starboard ­provides an electric grill, a cocktail ice machine, and drawer ­storage. Artisan teak decking and a faux-teak bulkhead and cockpit trim work make for a custom feel.

Interior and Accommodations

Stepping into the salon through the electric sliding door, you can see that the interior matches what the 92 provided, starting with access to the enclosed bridge via a wide staircase to starboard. The 92’s interior was a hit with each owner, so the design group capitalized on those previous efforts, essentially fitting the interior accommodations of the 92 into the new 90 hull and deckhouse footprints.

A massive U-shaped lounge to port faces the starboard-side entertainment center with a 65-inch television that rises from the walnut cabinetry, which is available in either a satin or gloss finish, along with a wet bar, sink and icemaker. Slightly forward, the starboard galley with engineered-stone countertops offers tremendous space for several place settings, five bar stools, and commercial-grade appliances. Opposite the galley, there’s an immense U-shaped walnut table on a raised platform that provides a home for rod storage. There is a day head to port and a walk-in pantry to starboard that can also serve as a makeshift stateroom.

The 90-footer’s design group reworked the 92’s overnight accommodations and tweaked an inch here and there to refine the available space with the goal to streamline each stateroom while retaining the size of each bed and entryway. The master stateroom utilizes the full beam, providing a king-size walk-around bed, end tables, credenza, 65-inch television, walk-in closet, lounge seat, ­vanity and desk. His-and-her heads are separated by a walk-in ­glass-framed shower. Four other staterooms, each with a private head and fiberglass shower, provide comfort and privacy. The aft crew quarters also include a small galley and laundry center, enabling the 90 to easily spend a month at sea.

Hull No. 1 is built with a ­climate-­controlled enclosed bridge with the skybridge option, with 9-plus feet of ­freeboard ­forward and 3-plus feet aft.

The unbroken ­sheerline melds these dimensions into a silky-smooth transition from bow to stern, and bridge to waterline. The enclosed bridge adds a number of features, including a second salon with an L-shaped lounge, a high-low walnut cocktail table, refrigeration, and a 43-inch pop-up television. The command helm is a home run, and especially noteworthy for its one-piece, wraparound forward windshield that maximizes the operator’s visibility without the typical ­distractions caused by vertical mullions. The added visibility also benefits passengers sitting in the flanking Stidd companion seats, whose view is equally unobstructed. Viking ­subsidiary Atlantic Marine Electronics equipped the helm with five 24-inch Seatronx MFDs, while the lower portion of the helm console is outfitted with radio boxes, instruments, SidePower bow-thruster controls, Optimus steering, and MTU engine controls.

Outside, AME complemented the aft-station layout with a pair of Seatronx 19-inch displays, which also include full engine ­controls and ­communication ­equipment. A sitting area is to port, ­separated by a ladder to the ­skybridge. The skybridge ­features the craftsmanship of Viking’s other subsidiary, Palm Beach Towers, which completed the ­fiberglass hardtop and added a host of accessories, ­including Rupp hydraulic outriggers, spreader lights, teaser reels, ­custom bridge railings, and a radar pod. Viking also offers the 90 convertible in an ­open-bridge style.

Engine Room and Performance

The gleaming Snow White Awlgrip-painted engine room has more than 7 feet of headroom on the centerline, with 40 inches between the main engines. Twin 2,600 hp MTUs provide walkaround accessibility to various systems, including the Furuno CSH8L sonar tube, Octoplex digital switching system, and the Optimus steering system. Components are neatly labeled, and composite seacocks help stem corrosion and reduce weight.

The centralized seawater system has been redesigned to reduce complexity and incorporates ElectroSea’s Clearline system with dual pumps to increase reliability and component longevity. A chilled-water air-conditioning system provides 18 tons of cooling with reverse-cycle heat and individual controls throughout the interior.

Read Next: Get to know Pat Healey, the president of VIking Yachts, in our exclusive interview .

Twelve people were on board for our sea trial off the coast of Palm Beach, Florida. With a fuel load of 70 percent, the 90 hustled to an average top speed of 38 knots, where one pass read 39.3 knots on the GPS. At 2,100 rpm, the boat eases along at 32-plus knots to deliver a range of some 582 nautical miles.

The Viking Yacht Company hasn’t missed a beat in nearly 60 years of continuous production, and the passing of its 92 is just another milestone in the company’s history. So, it’s safe to say, with 16 90-footers already on order, the beat goes on.

Viking Yachts 90 Specs

• Beam: 23’2”
• Draft: 5’11”
• Displ: 193,490 lb.
• Fuel: 3,801 gal.
• Water: 480 gal.
• Power: MTU 16V2000 M96L
• Gear/Ratio: ZF 5000A/2.962:1
• Propellers: Veem, 5-blade
• Gelcoat: Kingston Grey
• Climate Control: Dometic
• More: Boat Reviews , Boats , July 2023 , Viking Yacht Company

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Check out Moscow’s NEW electric river trams (PHOTOS)

Water transportation has become another sector for the eco-friendly improvements the Moscow government is implementing. And it means business. On July 15, 2021, on the dock of Moscow’s ‘Zaryadye’ park, mayor Sergey Sobyanin was shown the first model of the upcoming river cruise boat.

The model of the electrical boat with panoramic windows measures 22 meters in length. The river tram - as Muscovites call them - has a passenger capacity of 42, including two disabled seats. The trams will also get cutting edge info panels, USB docking stations, Wi-Fi, spaces for scooters and bicycles, as well as chairs and desks for working on the go. The boats will be available all year round, according to ‘Mosgortrans’, the regional transport agency. 

Passengers will be able to pay with their ‘Troika’ public transport card, credit cards or bank cards. 

The main clientele targeted are people living in Moscow’s river districts - the upcoming trams will shorten their travel time in comparison to buses and other transportation by five times, Mosgortrans stated. 

As the river trams are being rolled out, Moscow docks will also see mini-stations, some of which will also be outfitted with charging docks for speed-charging the boats.  

Moscow is set to announce the start of the tender for construction and supply in September 2021. The first trams are scheduled to launch in June 2022 on two routes - from Kievskaya Station, through Moscow City, into Fili; and from ZIL to Pechatniki. 

“Two full-scale routes will be created in 2022-2023, serviced by 20 river trams and a number of river stations. We’ll continue to develop them further if they prove to be popular with the citizens,” the Moscow mayor said .

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