The Valhalla V Series Expands with A Home Run
Get a look at the perfect V-46!
Published: Thursday, May 20, 2021
When Viking debuted three center consoles—the V-33, V-37, and V-41 simultaneously in September 2019—the company and its new subsidiary of Valhalla Boatworks shook the boating industry with an impressive display of boatbuilding prowess. The launch of the trio of Valhallas also reinforced Viking’s long-term commitment to the center console market.
Each model was immediately successful, with 90 Valhallas delivered in the first 16 months of production. While the V Series flourished through late 2019 and into 2020, Viking President and CEO Pat Healey and his team were busy innovating for the future.
“We never rest on our laurels,” says Pat. “We’re always staying out in front of our customers’ needs.”
So, when there were calls for a Valhalla with more amenities and creature comforts, such as air conditioning and dining and sleeping accommodations, Valhalla Boatworks had already set in motion a plan to meet and exceed market demand.
“We realized that providing these types of features—and providing them to our standards—was going to call for the development of a larger platform,” says Design Manager David Wilson. “We simply needed more space to execute what our owners were asking for.”
And execute, they did. In July of 2020, less than one year after the trio of V Series boats debuted in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Pat Healey announced from the floor of the Viking R&D Department the next chapter of Valhalla Boatworks: the V-46.
With its 13-foot, 4-inch beam, the boat’s size would allow for a tremendous amount of seating and storage for larger crews as well as a capacious air-conditioned cabin with a galley and dining/sleeping space, an enclosed head with a shower, and even a dedicated machinery room.
“We wanted to stay true to the brand’s DNA while giving our owners more of everything,” adds David.
The boating and fishing world followed the build of hull No. 1 throughout the fall and winter of 2020 in a series of special video reports, culminating in the world premiere of the Flag Blue V-46 at the Viking and Valhalla VIP Boat Show this past January.
Media, dealers, and customers were simply blown away, and orders for the V-46 quickly rose to more than 40. And the V-46’s performance was so phenomenal that the new Valhalla was dubbed “The Beast” due to its rough-water capabilities. A collaboration with Mercury Marine that showcased the engine manufacturer’s ground-breaking V12 600-hp outboards on hull No. 2 of the V-46 pushed the excitement and fervor surrounding the boat to an even higher level.
Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales’ Vice President and brand manager for Viking Yachts and Valhalla Boatworks, Erik Krueger, states simply when asked his expert opinion on the new V-46, “Incredible. Fast. Nimble. Best fit and finish out there. Checks all the boxes. PERFECT!”
JBYS has already sold their first incoming V-46 which will be delivered this spring and will live in the Chicago area on Lake Michigan. Keep your eyes peeled for her as she will be the one-and-only queen of her kind on the Great Lakes for the summer!
For propulsion, the V-46 can be powered with quad Mercury Verado 400s, quad Mercury V8 450Rs, and now with either triple or quad configurations with the new Mercury Verado V12 600-hp outboards. With a nearly 700-gallon fuel capacity and the amenities of a cruiser, the V-46 has legs for long trips and extended traveling.
Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales is your exclusive Valhalla Boatworks dealer for the Great Lakes. Contact them for more information on the V-46 or any of the Valhalla Boatworks series.
(866) 490-5297 | [email protected] | JBYS.com/valhalla-boatworks
A version of this article appeared in the Launch Issue (May/June) 2021 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Dealerships, New Boat Models
