Mathematics is an exact science: One plus one equals two. When Viking Yachts created its new line of motor yachts, it followed its sea-tested formula, added in 51 years of boatbuilding experience and created this 75-footer.
THE BRIDGE SETS HER APART
The 75 Motor Yacht’s exact size — 78 feet 6 inches length overall with a 20-foot-1-inch beam — gave the builder’s design team plenty of space to work with for the enclosed bridge. The area offers lots of seating and stowage while surrounding guests in finely finished woodwork, available in gloss, satin or matte and a variety of woods.
Views are unobstructed thanks to the large windows forward and to each side, as well as the glass door aft. During my ride, I flipped a switch and almost half of the hardtop opened up to the clear sky. And the three-paneled aft door easily slid back in its stainless-steel frame to create an almost completely outdoor environment.
The deck area is ultra-quiet with everything closed; even with the space open, though, I was able to converse without raising my voice. There are other reasons why this will be a favorite spot on the yacht — namely, a hi-low table, refrigerator/freezer and LED TV. Aft, and outside, are deck chairs, a portside grill and a teak sole. It was not hard to imagine the luxury of indulging in casual, outdoor dining.
This upper deck also offers space for a centerline helm — outfitted by one of Viking’s in-house teams, Atlantic Marine Electronics — so you can drive without leaving the action.
POWER UNDER CONTROL
A savvy couple can easily manage the 75 Motor Yacht, even in close quarters. That’s largely because of the CAT Three60 Precision Control feature. This system combines the hydraulic thruster, a pair of Twin Disc QuickShift transmissions coupled to 1,925 hp Caterpillar C32 Acert diesels, and a computer-linked joystick.
I used the system in wind and some current, and my learning curve was short. I had directional maneuvering and smooth forward and reverse shifting. The system can be used in lever or joystick mode, providing seamless, confidence-inspiring operation.
She’s speedy too. Featuring a Michael Peters-designed hull form, the 75 Motor Yacht made 33-plus knots when sprinting across the calm waters off New Gretna, New Jersey. Further enhancing the experience was the VIPER power-steering system, which eliminates the tie bar and provides individual power to each rudder — showing me just how responsive this big boat can be. She had Ferrari-like performance and the ability to bank and turn like an F-15.
BUILT FOR THE SEA
This yacht has four main components: a resin-infused hull and deck with a hand-laid house and enclosed bridge. The hull and deck have a flange joint secured with 1,300 bolts and then tabbed on the inside. Her house is bolted and tabbed to the deck. The enclosed bridge is installed with IPS methacrylate adhesive, then secured with bolts and tabbed. The result is a strong, sturdy unit that is quiet and tight.
ENGINE ROOM NIRVANA
The 75 Motor Yacht’s engine room is a tribute to solid planning.
Redundancy is key on any cruising yacht; on the 75, it starts with the pair of 29 kW Onan QD gensets. Other systems include the 1,400 gpd watermaker, backup fuel-transfer pump, clean-out bilge pump, centralized seawater system, three battery chargers, two crash pumps, oil-transfer system and the ultimate must-have option: a Seakeeper 26 gyrostabilizer. With the yacht’s Cat C32 diesels mounted at waist level and plenty of headroom for standing near them, a hands-on skipper has complete access to all the important maintenance spots and can access the outboard sides when necessary. She might be called a motoryacht, but from her aggressive lines to her bluewater-ready build, this vessel benefits from Viking’s sport-fisherman expertise.*
ELEMENTS OF STYLE
Access to the main deck from the enclosed bridge is via a stylish and well-positioned internal floating stairway, an eye-catching and elegant architectural statement in finely finished wood and gleaming stainless steel. (There is also an external stairway from the cockpit.) A sliding glass door leads to the cockpit’s alfresco dining area with teak deck, custom-designed table and C-shaped seating area.
Oh, and by the way, that seating area is air-conditioned. Vents in the backrests allow chilled air to be pumped up into the seats. I had the opportunity to experience this feature firsthand. It works.
Stairs to either side afford entree to the hydraulic swim platform, easily big enough to handle a PWC or tender.
The salon offers plentiful seating for evening cocktail cruises, with a U-shaped area to port and two chairs across. A 63-inch HDTV is hidden in a cabinet, past the portside formal dining area for six. A day-head is to starboard. Forward, the dinette’s two seating areas offer panoramic views underway, with the galley just abaft and down a few steps.
Equally impressive are the accommodations for the growing cruising family: a quartet of en suite staterooms, including a full-beam master with settee. The other staterooms are a forepeak VIP, twin-berth space to port and a side-by-side berth setup to starboard. Crew quarters are abaft the engine room.
Viking Yacht’s first edition in its new motoryacht series evolved from a smart equation: Take one boatbuilding company with 51-plus years of experience and add any given number of interested yachtsmen in this market segment. The result is a 75 Motor Yacht likely to find a lot of happy owners. It’s the sort of principle that works every time.
