Used Viking 80 Convertible Yacht For Sale
"The new Viking 50 Open is a Northeast-bred express sportfish ready to run deep," said Rich Lucas, Viking Brand Manager for SI Yachts. "If you're looking for serious offshore capabilities with all of the premium equipment, features, and cruising comforts that Viking is known for, the 50 Open is a perfect choice for that owner/operator that loves to fish."
At four o’clock on a New York canyon morning, the priorities aboard a sportfishing boat become remarkably clear. The captain wants unobstructed visibility, the crew wants a protected place to ride, and everyone wants the cockpit close enough that the first knockdown does not turn into a fire drill. There is no room for wasted motion when a long run separates the inlet from the fishing grounds.
That is precisely where the new Viking 50 Open finds its purpose. This is not simply a convertible with the bridge removed, nor is it a cruising yacht dressed in outriggers. It is a purpose-built open express designed around the owner-operator who wants to run the boat, remain connected to the cockpit and fish hard without surrendering the accommodations expected from a modern Viking.
The 50 Open is one of four models developed from Viking’s new-generation 50-foot platform, joining the 50 Convertible, 50 Billfish and 50 Sport Coupe/Sport Tower. Viking describes the Open as a combination of high-performance capability, luxury and serious sportfishing functionality, and its overall arrangement supports that mission from the command deck to the lazarette.
The defining feature is the raised command deck, positioned immediately forward of the cockpit. A one-piece wraparound windshield and integrated hardtop provide protection without separating the captain from the fishing action. The operator can look aft, communicate with the mate and respond quickly when a fish appears in the spread.
That connection matters during many common Northeast fishing techniques. Whether the crew is trolling the edge, chunking for tuna, drifting baits or maneuvering around a fish close to the transom, the captain does not have to rely entirely on shouted instructions from a bridge several feet above the action. One step aft puts the operator at cockpit level.
The command deck is more than a helm station. Viking has designed it as a salon-like social area with two dinettes, generous seating and excellent sightlines. A custom Costa Clear enclosure can be configured to partially or fully surround the space, giving owners the ability to adjust protection as conditions change. That versatility is particularly valuable in the Northeast, where a chilly predawn departure can give way to a warm afternoon offshore.
At the helm, flush-mounted multifunction displays, a helm pod with Palm Beach-style controls and the broad windshield create a clean, purposeful operating environment. An optional Palm Beach Towers tuna tower adds an elevated station for spotting birds, bait, temperature breaks and surface activity while also transforming the 50 Open into an even more specialized offshore platform. Atlantic Marine Electronics and Palm Beach Towers can outfit the yacht at the factory, allowing the navigation, fish-finding and tower installations to be integrated into the build.
A sportfishing yacht ultimately earns its reputation in the cockpit, and the 50 Open provides 131 square feet of working space. That is enough room for a serious trolling spread, multiple anglers and the choreography required when a large tuna decides to circle beneath the boat.
Viking equips the cockpit with insulated in-deck fish boxes, a raised transom livewell and refrigerated storage beneath the mezzanine. Cooler space and tackle storage are positioned where the crew can reach them without leaving the action. The arrangement is tournament-capable, but it is equally practical for a family or group of friends spending a full day offshore.
The optional tower is an especially logical addition for a New York boat. Tuna fishing frequently rewards the captain who can find life before the rest of the fleet—working birds, whales, bait showers, slicks or subtle changes along a temperature edge. The higher station also provides a commanding view when maneuvering around lobster-pot fields, floating debris or other vessels.
Yet the Open arrangement retains an important advantage over a traditional tower boat: the main helm remains protected and close to the cockpit. The captain can use the tower when conditions and fishing tactics call for it, then return to the command deck for the run home.
The latest Viking 50 Open measures 51 feet, 8 inches overall and carries a substantial 17-foot, 1-inch beam. Viking’s current brochure lists a draft of 4 feet, 9 inches and a displacement of 63,283 pounds with a standard fuel load. Standard fuel capacity is 1,000 gallons, with an optional increase to 1,200 gallons if the owner selects that option, while freshwater capacity is 180 gallons.
Those numbers place the boat in an appealing middle ground. It has the beam, fuel capacity and displacement of a legitimate offshore sportfisher, but it remains manageable for an experienced owner-operator. It is large enough to carry the equipment, provisions and crew required for an overnight canyon trip without moving into the operational footprint of a much larger convertible.
Viking used Computational Fluid Dynamics to refine the 50’s running surface. The hull’s strakes and chines are designed to control water flow, knock down spray and promote clean separation from the hull. The goal is a fast and efficient running surface that delivers a dry, composed ride—the qualities that become increasingly important as the miles accumulate between Long Island and the offshore grounds.
Construction begins with a resin-infused fiberglass hull. Viking also resin-infuses the structural bulkheads and custom fiberglass fuel tanks, reducing unnecessary weight while maintaining structural integrity. Light Resin Transfer Molding is used for components such as hatches and doors to promote consistent construction, fit and finish.
Power comes from twin MAN V8 1200CRM diesels producing 1,200 metric horsepower each, according to Viking’s current model specifications. Viking has not published one universal performance figure because speed and range will vary with loading, equipment, sea conditions and other factors, but the power package is intended to provide the acceleration and cruise capability expected from a modern Viking sportfishing yacht.
For a Northeast captain, raw speed is only part of the equation. The real advantage is the ability to cover water efficiently when the forecast provides a narrow offshore window. The 1,000-gallon standard fuel capacity - and especially the optional 1,200-gallon arrangement - also gives owners flexibility when planning longer canyon trips, although each captain will need to calculate safe range using the boat’s actual load and measured fuel burn.
The geography of New York sportfishing demands a boat that can do more than make a quick morning run. Hudson Canyon begins approximately 100 miles southeast of New York City, and NOAA describes it as the largest submarine canyon along the United States Atlantic coast. Its scale and productive marine environment help support commercial and recreational fisheries, but reaching offshore water of that kind requires range, preparation and a boat capable of keeping its crew comfortable for extended periods.
The 50 Open’s layout is well suited to departures from Long Island’s South Shore and East End. The protected command deck gives the crew a place to ride out of the wind and spray during the early run, while the immediate cockpit access keeps the captain involved once the lines go in. When the boat is trolling, there is no physical or social separation between the bridge and cockpit crews. Everyone remains part of the same operation.
New York’s recreational offshore fishery includes tuna and sharks, and NOAA manages Atlantic bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin, albacore, skipjack, billfish, swordfish and sharks as highly migratory species. New York anglers pursuing tuna or sharks must also comply with applicable state registration and federal Highly Migratory Species permitting requirements. Regulations and retention limits can change during the season, so owners should always confirm current rules before a trip.
From a fishing standpoint, the 50 Open is adaptable. The cockpit can support a conventional canyon trolling program during the summer, a heavy-tackle bluefin setup, or a more relaxed day of inshore and nearshore fishing. The livewell, fish boxes, refrigerated storage and tower option allow the owner to configure the boat around the preferred style of fishing rather than accept a one-size-fits-all arrangement.
Its size should also appeal to captains who want true Viking capability without committing to a full-time professional crew. The boat is substantial, but the express layout consolidates the helm, social area and cockpit into one connected working zone. An owner can run the boat with family and friends, bring in a professional captain for tournaments or overnight trips, or use a combination of both approaches.
The 50 Open is not limited to day fishing. Below deck, Viking provides a two-stateroom layout built around extended stays. The forward master can be configured with a queen berth or crossover berths, while the guest stateroom has upper and lower bunks. The master head includes a separate shower and can also be accessed from the salon.
A port-side day head can alternatively be configured as a dedicated rod-and-tackle locker, giving serious anglers the opportunity to prioritize equipment storage. The lower salon includes an L-shaped galley, a port-side dinette and an optional Pullman berth or additional rod-storage area. It is a flexible arrangement that can be tailored toward family cruising, hardcore fishing or a mixture of both.
For a New York program, those accommodations add significant utility. An owner can leave the dock the evening before a trip, sleep aboard and depart before dawn. The boat can remain offshore overnight when conditions and the fishing justify it, or be used for a weekend cruise when the rods stay at home. The command deck handles much of the daytime living, allowing the lower accommodations to remain quieter and more private.
The most compelling aspect of the Viking 50 Open is that it does not try to imitate the 50 Convertible. Both boats share the engineering depth and offshore intent expected from Viking, but they serve different owners.
The convertible remains the choice for captains who prefer the elevation, separation and traditional profile of an open flybridge. The 50 Open speaks to the owner who wants to be closer to the cockpit, closer to the crew and more directly involved in every stage of the trip. It eliminates the climb to a bridge while retaining substantial weather protection, serious fishing space and comfortable overnight accommodations.
That combination may be particularly attractive in New York, where a boat is often asked to perform several roles during a relatively concentrated season. It might chase bluefin one week, make a canyon trip the next and carry the family to a waterfront destination the following weekend. The 50 Open has the fishing systems to be taken seriously and the comfort to prevent every trip from feeling like a tournament.
The Viking 50 Open is a modern interpretation of the classic express sportfisher: clean, fast, purposeful and centered on the owner-operator. Its open command deck keeps the captain connected to the cockpit, its enclosure provides valuable Northeast weather protection, and its 131-square-foot cockpit is equipped for legitimate offshore work. The two-stateroom interior and substantial fuel capacity extend its usefulness well beyond a simple dayboat.
For New York anglers, the formula makes sense. The boat has the capacity for long runs toward the canyon, the protection required for cold predawn departures, the visibility and maneuverability needed around feeding fish, and the accommodations to turn an offshore mission into an overnight trip. Most importantly, it keeps the person behind the wheel close to the reason everyone left the dock in the first place.
The result is not merely another model in Viking’s expanding lineup. It is a Northeast-built sportfishing yacht with a clear identity - one designed for captains who want to run deep, fish seriously and remain at the center of the action.
Since 1964, SI Yachts has been helping anglers into the right vessel for their fishing plans, tournament aspirations, and downtime cruising vacations. SI Yachts is the authorized Viking Yachts dealer for the Northeast U.S. and makes it easy to purchase a new or pre-owned Viking. We can take your existing boat in on trade or list it for sale as part of our Diamond Listing Brokerage Program.
Our Viking specialists will walk through all of the decisions you'll need to make, from engine packages, to on board equipment, and interior decor, if you choose to build your own. SI Yachts also has access to inventory either in-stock or available at the factory. Thanks to our close proximity to the New Jersey-based Viking shipyard, our sales specialists can offer a more personal build experience by communicating with you from the factory during the construction milestones. Contact us today to learn more about pricing and availability of the new Viking 50 Open at Sales@SIYachts.com.
