Viking 46C

 
It looks the part of an elegant and traditional sport-fisherman, but Viking's new 46C is a serious cruising boat too.

By Jeanne Craig

The new Viking 46 Convertible is an ideal boat for the alpha male of tournament anglers. That's a given, seeing as this model is the latest in a line of world-class sport-fishermen from a builder located near the storied canyons off the New Jersey coast. But there's more to this sharply styled boat than its excellent rod stowage, big cockpit and slick maneuverability in trolling mode. This Viking is also a fully found cruiser; it's a fast and comfortable luxury design with amenities that can go head-to-head with a conventional motoryacht.

The 46C I tested was at Viking's service facility in Riviera Beach, Florida, one of two the builder manages for the exclusive use of its owners. Before we cast off lines, Tom and Jeannine Clarke of Marion, Massachusetts, boarded the boat to have a look around. They own a 56 Convertible that was in the yard to have a mezzanine seat put in the cockpit. The Clarks don't fish. They use their boat for cruising, which explains their desire for the new lounge. The Clarks are like a number of Viking owners — as many as 50 percent, in fact. They don't drag baits, but they love the dramatic look of their traditional sport-fisherman and the ride. " We enjoy the speed and that safe feeling we have when cruising in open water," says Tom.

"This convertible is laid out like a motoryacht on the inside, but the performance is better," says Peter Frederiksen, Viking's director of marketing, who joined me for the sea trial. "The 46 will cruise at 30 knots, so you can get somewhere if you have limited time." To turn the boat into a true cruiser, Viking owners will forego features like outriggers and livewells, and they'll install a dining table on the pedestal where the fighting chair would go to make the cockpit more social. Some may add an outdoor grill. When the party is over, they just spray down the fiberglass sole and call it a night. Early-morning departures are simple too. Owners quickly stow gear in the big lazarettes rather than waste cruising time moving cushions around to access lockers.

This 46C replaces the builder's 45C, and it's now the smallest convertible in a line that ranges up to 82 feet. Viking's focus has been on the über-luxury side for years, and the engineering and quality that distinguish its larger yachts are in this model too. Features that have trickled down from the big convertibles include the emergency de-watering system that's plumbed via a bypass from the engine's raw-water intakes and the linear exhaust/mufflers that are fitted to optimize space beneath the cockpit. In the engine room — where the surfaces are so clean and smooth you want to put a leg up on an awl-gripped stringer and hang out for a while — everything is labeled, including each wire at 8-inch intervals. "We make the boat as user-friendly as possible, which helps a new owner with the learning curve," says Frederiksen.

The 46C is based on a new hull form with prop pockets to reduce draft and a sharp entry. The boat's speed, its maneuverability and the precision of its power-assisted steering were impressive both inshore and in the choppy seas we encountered offshore. When you're at the helm of the 46C, you're reminded that this boat was built to literally run circles around fast and crafty game fish. Tracking was good all around — in head seas, quartering seas, you name it — and the bow came off each wave gently. Landings were so pleasant, Viking's Capt. Ryan Higgins steered with his pinkie.

The test boat was equipped with 1,100 hp MAN diesels, which provide the power you'll need to get over to the Bahamas, even if that means bucking a strong current the whole way. The 46C has the muscle to do it, along with the range: Viking predicts 350 nautical miles at 30 knots.

Visibility from the bridge is excellent, and the bridge itself is comfortable, with two settees and a pair of helm chairs from Murray Products. A full enclosure and air conditioning are available. The bridge is also the place from which you can admire the lines of the expansive foredeck, made traditionally elegant with a sculpted toe rail. The test boat didn't come with the standard bow pulpit. In tournament fashion, ground tackle was stored beneath a flush foredeck hatch; it makes for clean lines, but cruisers may want the more practical arrangement.

The design, fit and finish of the interior resembles that of the larger Vikings. This cabin also showcases the builder's skillful work with teak veneer, which looks very uptown here. Other nice details include the Corian counters and Amtico sole. As for accommodations, the 46C has two staterooms and two heads, plus a big salon that incorporates the galley — it's a very social space and it's made more so with an island countertop and bar stools.

You may not instantly think of cocktail conversation and canapés when you see the Viking 46C. The half-tower and rod holders may get your attention first. But if you look between the fishing lines, you'll see there's a lot more to this 46 than meets the eye.