80 Convertible
The Viking 61C is a 61-foot convertible sportfishing yacht with an open flybridge that was produced by New Jersey-based Viking Yachts between 1999 and 2009. This was the most popular large convertible yacht ever built, not just by Viking, but by any yacht-building firm, with over 150 of these models sold across a decade of production. The 61C is just as popular as ever on today’s used and charter markets thanks to its sharp and lean looks, high-caliber fishing prowess, sportscar-like handling and luxury accommodation. This iconic yacht has landed many a prize catch down the years and has proved its worth by winning such competitions as the 2015 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic.
Like other Viking sportfishing models, the 61C can come fitted with a custom tuna tower installed by either Pipewelders or Viking subsidiary Palm Beach Towers for a turnkey-ready vessel with elevated piloting. Should you forego a tower then the next best option is open-air piloting from the flybridge, where you will find a pair of leather-clad helm chairs facing a molded fiberglass helm station to port. The dashboard has been installed by Atlantic Marine Electronics and features equipment such as Furuno monitors and Simrad autopilot, while you will also find bow thrusters and a power-assisted steering wheel fixed to a teak helm pod here. The flybridge also hosts a side-sofa to starboard, an R-shaped forward sofa with views out across the bow, and a full wet-bar set-up with an icemaker.
The 61C’s 170-square foot aft-cockpit was something of a revelation when this boat first launched and is still one of the finest fish-catching spaces you will ever encounter. There is a transom door with a lift gate, a live-well, a pair of Glendinning Cablemasters, flush rod holders, fresh and raw-water hoses and fish boxes out here, as well as a bulkhead bait-prep console with a freezer, a tackle center, a drinks chiller and a sink. The cockpit also hosts a floor plate for the installation of a fighting chair or rocket launcher, for those who have their eyes set on bagging prize-winning marlin.
A Stanley electric door leads from cockpit to salon, where you will find high-gloss or satin-finished teak surrounds, plush carpeting, leather furnishings and panoramic windows providing a sedate and refined atmosphere quite a world away from the salt-water and scales of tournament fishing. To port there is a U-shaped sofa surrounding a coffee table, while to starboard there is curved cabinetry and space for an HD TV. Moving further inside you will find a walk-in galley with Corian counters, Amtico flooring, a three-zone hob, a combination oven and under-counter fridge-freezer units, sitting across from a U-shaped dining sofa and a Hi-Lo table. Below deck there is room for up to 8 overnight guests across an en-suite bunk berth, an en-suite double stateroom to the bow and a further bunk room that is ideal for children. The showstopper down here, however, is the owner’s stateroom to port, where you will find a queen-sized island bed with bedside cabinets, maple-lined hanging closets and a large bathroom with a shower stall.
High-performance is central to the Viking 61C’s decades-long success on the tournament circuit, and lucky owners of this yacht can expect top speeds of up to 38 knots and cruising speeds of 30 knots thanks to twin MTU 16V 2000 diesels or a pair of CAT C32 1675MHP engines. This yacht’s proprietary cored-fiberglass hull with a fine entry and a severely raked bow offers a dry and balanced ride in open water conditions, while a fuel tank holding up to 2000 gallons of diesel will keep you out at sea for days on end in search of the elusive bluefin tuna.
As a new Viking dealer and a leader in used Viking Yachts brokerage sales, SI Yachts is strategically positioned to assist you in the purchase or sale of a boat. From our proximity to the Viking shipyard, to our industry-leading Northeast service team, we offer a level of personal, customer service that others cannot. We can also take your existing boat in on trade towards the purchase of a new or pre-owned Viking. Give us a call today to begin talking about how you can enjoy the water this season on your new boat or yacht.
