Valhalla Boatworks V-55 Puts The Mega Center Console Industry On Notice

In the picturesque setting and seasonably warm temperatures of South Florida, the all-new Viking 90C (splashed in the Sky Bridge version) joined the debut of the Valhalla V-55 at the company’s annual VIP event. Dealers and vendors were treated to an opening day presser by Viking Yachts President and CEO Pat Healey ahead of the very first opportunity to tour these newest flagships. Healey boasts, “The Viking 90 and V-55 will not only become the leaders in their class, but they’re also going to dominate for years to come. They’re that good.”

This show-stopping duo went on to wow the public at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show. Hull 1 of the V-55 is not just a showpiece though, it went straight into demonstration mode, fishing the Viking Key West Challenge and Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Tournament in the Spring. Captain Ryan Higgins along with a crew of anglers made up of designers, engineers, and shipwrights from Viking Yachts enjoyed showing off not only the V-55’s features, but its fishability too.

All in the Details

Much like parent company Viking, the engineers and managers at Valhalla are well-accustomed to saying yes to customer requests. However, the options list for the all-new V-55 is so exhaustive a customer may find it hard to think of something that Valhalla has not already thought of. Optional equipment includes a fabricated gap tower from Palm Beach Towers, as seen on hull #1. The V-55 is also available in a staggering number of combinations for color schemes including the hull, top sides, hardtop with frame, engine cowlings, and upholstery, plus the addition of faux or real teak to various surfaces and trim.

The generous beam provides a platform for many of the great features available on a V-55, including nine Release Marine teak helm chairs in two rows. Wide passageways along the gunnel from the cockpit to the forward seating and bow area offer unhindered movement while fighting a fish. The generous cabin, easily accessed from the starboard side of the helm station, includes a private stateroom, head, galley, dinette and additional sleeping quarters.

“You obviously get more comfort out of a large vessel, but with that you usually must sacrifice speed and fishability, but the V-55 encompasses it all,” says Bluewater Sales Professional Clark Sneed. “The cockpit is huge for a center console, the seating is incredible for you and all your fishing friends and family, and you still get great visibility from the helm station,” says Sneed after a thorough tour and sea trial.

Serious Size & Power

When looking to propel such a massive center console, you go straight for the most powerful outboard engines currently available. Mercury’s unveiling of the 7.6-liter V12 Verado, rated at 600 horsepower each, helped make Valhalla’s pursuit of this mega console more viable. In a quad configuration, wide open throttle sends the V-55 beyond 60 MPH (52+ knots)! Viking’s engineering team estimates adding a fifth engine for a grand sum of 3,000 horsepower will allow this boat to break the 70 MPH (60 knot) mark. Healey says, “This is a statement boat—and there is nothing like it on the market.”

While speed is an important factor customers look for when considering a new boat, there is so much more to learn about Mercury’s latest innovations. An industry-first two-speed transmission allows the new V12 to get on plane in a hurry while offering lower noise levels and remarkable efficiency at cruising speed and the top end. Anyone who has enjoyed a ride in a new Verado V12-equipped boat will tell you that the shift between the two forward gears is imperceivable.

Another innovation by Mercury Marine for their new high-output V12s is an independent, steerable gearcase. Eliminating steering rams saves weight, space and complexity and the electro-hydraulic controls provide instant movement of the steerable gearcase in response to driver commands. A generous 150-amp alternator ensures ample power for onboard systems and battery charging while the service interval has been expanded to 200 hours, which is backed by a 3-year standard warranty.

Many, Many V’s

It was 2019 when Viking launched Valhalla Boatworks and the first three models in the lineup—each riding on a stepped-V ventilated tunnel hull developed by Michael Peters Yacht Design. From the V-33 to the new flagship V-55, every Valhalla benefits from this special hull design in terms of performance, speed, maneuverability and handling.

Fast forward four years, and Valhalla’s model line-up now includes five distinct models that continue to push the boundaries of design, features and fishability. In Viking’s pursuit to ‘build a better boat every day’ they also seek out the latest technology and innovation from electronics and systems to the outboard engines.

Mercury’s impressive, industry-leading V12 Verado has been followed-up by the first ever naturally aspirated V10 outboard. The V10 Verado offers 350 and 400 horsepower output ratings, and is quieter, faster and lighter than competing outboards of similar output. These all-new engines are being offered on Valhalla’s line-up from 33-feet to 46-feet. Seeing so much interest in these top-of-the-line power packages, Bluewater Yacht Sales equipped our 2023 in stock V-37 with a triple configuration of the new V10 engines.

An Enduring Partnership

The Bluewater Yacht Sales team has been partnered with Viking for nearly 40 years, witnessing tremendous growth in product offerings and innovation while observing the tireless pursuit for quality and perfection in every boat Viking builds. With the unmatched pace of new models and game-changing rollouts, there is no question that Viking Yachts’ DNA is a part of Valhalla Boatworks and every boat they build.

Bluewater’s Sales Professionals and management team continue to work in close partnership with Viking and Valhalla, including annual factory tours and training sessions to experience those technological advances and innovations first-hand from production to completion. Sneed concludes, “The Valhalla V-55 is a piece of art. Viking continues to deliver on its promise of ‘building a better boat every day’, and the V-55 is no exception. Everything about this boat raises the bar to a higher level while still maximizing performance, comfort, and fishability.”

Bluewater Yacht Sales has the relationship, history, and scale to maintain stock inventory of Valhalla and Viking new models. However, due to continued demand for these premium sportfishing boats, we encourage you to follow us on social media channels and subscribe to our email list to ensure you know when and where the next Viking and Valhalla demonstration will occur. Our tenured partnership with Viking also means you get the best after-sales service for maintenance, repairs and warranty work at our affiliates, Safe Harbor Bluewater in Hampton, Virginia and Safe Harbor Jarrett Bay in Beaufort, North Carolina.