Viking 70

Six months after the build began, hull No. 1 of the second-generation Viking 70 Convertible has left the production facility. Hundreds of Viking boatbuilders helped bring her to this point. Her world premiere is less than three months away, and hull No. 1 could be yours. Above: A forklift pulls the 70 from Building Two on its production cradle. The cradle rides on two rails embedded in the concrete.

Above left: Hull No. 1 features a faux teak transom and will also receive a faux teak toe rail. Below the waterline, recessed trim tabs, propeller pockets, flow-aligned rudders and struts, and VEEM propellers all contribute to the boat’s efficiency and performance. Above right: Once the 70 is beneath the 150-ton Travelift, the slings are set and the boat is lifted clear. The team pushes the cradle back into Building Two, and the Travelift carries her to the water for launch.

Later that day, the Travelift pulls double duty as the Palm Beach Towers (PBT) team uses its overhead hoist to set her tuna tower.

As a Viking subsidiary, PBT keeps this critical step in-house, supporting Viking’s vertically integrated operations and turnkey delivery.

After the tower installation, the boat will be scheduled for its startup sea trial. The 70 replaces the Viking 68, a model with 62 boats built. Hull No. 1 is powered by twin 2,200 MHP MAN V12X diesels, with an anticipated top speed of 43 knots.

The four-stateroom, five-head Viking 70 will make her world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Oct. 28-Nov. 1. Hull No. 1 is available for purchase and will serve as Viking’s winter demo before delivery to her owner. Contact your authorized Viking dealer for details.