Building a better boat every day
by Viking Yachts 12 Jan 2022 17:49 UTC
After a much-deserved break for the holidays, the best boatbuilders in the world are back at it. Full of vim and vigor, our shipwrights in New Gretna are as focused as ever on building a better boat every day as we head into 2022.
All four production lines are humming right along with construction of our industry-leading yachts. The above image shows lines 1 (right) and 2 (left) where convertibles over 60 feet are built. Lines 3 and 4, shown below, are dedicated to yachts from 38 to 58 feet.
Our manufacturing facility is nearly a quarter-mile long. The build begins in the Fiberglass Department - dubbed Viglass decades ago by Viking Co-Founder Bill Healey. Viglass actually consists of three areas — hulls and decks, small parts and finishing. Fuel tanks, bulkheads and stringers are also installed here. In fact, you can see a fuel tank being positioned for installation into a 72 Convertible. Above right, boatbuilder Josue Blanco buffs the Nardo Grey (a popular new hull color) gelcoat of the same 72, which is the 55th boat in this series.
Like every work area in the plant, the sanding booth in the Mill teems with concentrated energy. "Any interior part with a wood finish comes through here," says Scott Cowling, Supervisor of the Mill. "Each work station is equipped with its own vacuum-and-filter system to keep the area clean and well ventilated for our team members, who take great pride in their work." They're also proud of where they work, as evidenced by Finish Sander Nina Carcache's forearm tattoo. "I just really love my job," says Nina. "I work with great people, and Viking treats you really well."
An aft quartering view of an 80 Convertible on Line 1 shows Berildo Meza installing its starboard trim tab cover - a job this 23-year Viking veteran has performed hundreds of times. The cover is mounted in an integrated recessed area in the transom, contributing to an aesthetically-pleasing installation.
When you build more than 70 yachts annually - the finest sportfishing vessels in the world - you must have excellent teamwork and leadership. Above: Interior Installer Ann Marie Kavanagh and Interior Trim Leadman Guido Monroy carry a stateroom door into the salon of a Viking 68 on Line 2. Guido has been with Viking since 2007 and has enjoyed training Ann Marie, who recently joined the Viking family.