Viking's Latest and Largest

Viking Yachts has launched its largest sportfisherman to date, an 82-footer destined to prowl the deep.

This battlewagon sports more than 21 feet of beam and 235 square feet of cockpit space, which includes mezzanine seating. Her girth enables the builder to provide a wide-open saloon with teak joinery throughout the interior. There's an L-shape here with stowage below as well as a 52-inch plasma TV, which rises from cabinetry on the starboard side. In addition, galley countertops are all done in granite. The 82 features four staterooms, plus a private crew quarters.

Other features include cockpit misters, built-in under-mount freezers, tackle and gear stowage, insulated fiberglass livewells, fish wells, and stowage, all of which are equipped with stainless steel gas strut supports.

The flying bridge has a center helm console, which is outfitted with three Murray Products ladderback helm chairs. Steering is power-assisted hydraulic with electronic engine controls and trolling valves.

The Viking 82 Convertible is powered with MTU Series 2000 diesels and should cruise around 30 knots (34.5 mph) and a top end around the mid-30-knot range (40 mph).

Big Blue

A pending North Carolina Atlantic Blue Marlin record was caught by angler Trey Irvine onboard the Mimi last week. Capt. Paul Spencer ( Spencer Yachts) was the helm.

The massive 1,228.50-pound Atlantic Blue Marlin was weighed in at Pirate's Cove Marina during its annual billfish tournament.

When certified, this catch will eclipse the 1,142 pounder caught by Jack Herrington in 1974. The world record Atlantic Blue Marlin weighing 1,402.20-pounder was caught in Brazil in 1992.

Behemoth Battlewagon!

This massive 86-foot fish chaser, which was designed by Applied Concepts Unleashed and built in Stuart, Florida, has been three years in the making.

PMY has done a little investigating, and here's some of the juicy info about this vessel, which is called Double Down:

More than a dozen companies were used to construct sections of this jig-built boat.

She has triple 2,400-hp MTU diesels. There are two outside engines, which are V-drive fixed shaft with wheels. The center motor is linked to a massive water jet.

Double Down is reported to top out at 47 knots (54 mph)with full load and cruise at 37 knots (42.5 mph). Her displacement is 185,000 pounds.

Futuristic dash (Company Called Voyager Systems did the technology for the
boat). The pilot’s Italian leather helm chair has a lot of the electronics integrated in the arms.

There are five flat screens make up the dash across the bridge.

The radar array swings inside the mono tower wings you see here. The antennas are in 20-foot-long tubes that follow the contours of the tower, with little lightning caps on top. You can actually pop off the caps and pull antennas. Everything was laid inside the composite of the boat

Monolithic tower (mast-like structure) with buggy top. The owner has kids and he wanted kids to go up tower safely, so he had the team build a retracting ladder into the tower. Press a button, ladder lowers out of headliner and you can climb up.

There are six staterooms (talk about room for the family).

Stay tuned as we try and get you a full feature on this very-different boat in an upcoming issue of PMY.

Launched: Paul Mann 76

One of North Carolina's most well-respected custom boatbuilders, Paul Mann, launched his largest vessel to date, a 76-footer, dubbed Ann Warrick. The green-hulled and teak-accented sportfisherman (she even has a matching custom tender that sits on the massive foredeck) is in the water and ready for her new owners. Be sure to keep an eye out for this behemoth battlewagon, she just might make an appearance at a tournament near you soon. And here at PMY, we'll be sure to do our best to see if we can give you a first-hand account of how she runs in the near future. Stand by.

The Mighty Viking

Here she is. Viking Yachts' latest and largest convertible sportfisherman to date, an 82-footer, is well on her way to being a completed boat. This vessel is sure to do some adventure angling to all the around-the-world hotspots in short order. The boat is slated to be powered with MTU Series 2000 diesels and should see a mid-30-knot top end speed with a comfortable 30-knot cruise. She also sports 235 square feet of fish-fighting cockpit space and should be available for viewing at the fall boat shows. Stay tuned for a PMY test of this behemoth battlewagon.

Take A Soldier Fishing

My brother Chip and I were honored to host two of our finest veterans from the 10th Mountain Division out on our 31 Ocean Master, Expeditor, this weekend as part of the Take A Soldier Fishing Program.

Sgt. Aaron, Specialist Dan, and the Sgt's sons Cody and Chance must've been good luck. We tried to put on a full-on effort for these guys, who do so much for all of us. The boys managed 10 bass, one keeper at 30 inches, and several bluefish (shark bait). The Sgt and Dan, who are both heading out for their second tour in October, were given the bass for dinner.

On day two, the group caught a whopping about 20 fluke and the kids had a ball.

We're already talking about a fall tuna trip when the boys get back from their next deployment in October 2009. Stay safe guys, and thank you for all you do. You'll always have a place to fish on Expeditor.

Here's a few pics that show what made the trip so special for us: Sgt. Aaron and his sons Chance and Cody.

Born to Fish

Regulator announced recently that it's working on a new 34-foot center console sportfisherman (to date the builder's largest center console came in at 32 feet). According to the builder, this Lou-Codega-designed bluewater speedster came out of response from dealers and owners for a larger version of the builder's successful line of sportfisherman. The 34 should launch in October, just in time for the fall boat-show season.

This Bud's For You

Say hello to Budman, 68 feet of eye-catching, fish-chasing battlewagon from North Carolina's Bayliss Boatworks. This three-stateroom beauty is constructed using cold molding, is comprised of Okume plywood with Corecell coring and is finished off with West System epoxy. She's a jig-built boat and computer-controlled CNC routers are used to cut the jigs that make her hull shape to exacting tolerances.

This vessel, which is just Hull No. 9 for the builder, is powered with twin 1,800-Caterpillar C32 Acert diesels and should easily make a mid- to high-30-knot cruise speed, and top out around 40 knots. The 68's 1,800-gallon fuel capacity means that the fish are always within reach.

If you like to fish, chances are you'll see Budman on the circuit this summer. Of course, it'll most likely be a view of her transom streaking for the horizon.

115-Foot Sportfish

This is no April Fool's joke; you're looking at a 115-foot sportfisherman. The vessel comes courtesy of Turkish builder LOGOS Marine. She was designed by Ed Fry. The yacht is powered by triple Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines with ZF gears and trolling valves. The boat is expected to hit speeds in excess of 30 knots.

And no one can complain about fish-fighting space, as the cockpit measures 23 feet wide. Large refrigerated fish boxes double for cold stowage on long voyages. To port is a cleaning station, on center a tackle locker and entry to a shower and six-person sauna. (What's a sportfish boat without the sauna, really?)

Luhrs' IPS 35 Convertible

For the convertible enthusiast, the ease of driving an inboard propulsion system (IPS) boat is here. The Luhrs Marine Group is launching its 35 Convertible with Volvo Penta's ever-popular IPS drive system at the Miami International Boat Show February 14-18. The builder initially put the IPS system, which utilizes a joystick system married to forward-facing, azipod-type prop sets that offer on-a-dime maneuverability, in its 31-foot Express last fall. The success of that launch has prompted the builder to expand its use of IPS to its popular convertible line.

Over the last few years, IPS has been proven to enhance the driving and docking experience for boaters as well as offer up significant fuel savings in the process. If you'll be around the Miami show on VIP day (February 14), the builder will provide the marine-industry with its first look of the new boat.

Murders At Sea Solved?

The Associated Press reported today that a suspect held in the slaying of four crewmembers aboard the South Florida fishing boat Joe Cool was party to the crime but insists he wasn't the triggerman.

The inmate, identified only as CS1 in court papers, said Guillermo Zarabozo told him in a jailhouse conversation that co-defendant Kirby Logan Archer fatally shot the captain of the 47-foot Joe Cool along with the captain's wife and two crew members in September.

The four people were killed because they refused to take the men to Cuba instead of the originally agreed-upon destination of Bimini, Bahamas, the informant said Zarabozo told him. Zarabozo also supposedly said he threw the bodies into the ocean and cleaned up the boat.

Haul-Out Fallout

All we can about this poor sportfisherman is ouch! It appears that either the crane or dock may have given way during this haul out. Hope everyone has good insurance. If you know who owns this boat, please send him our condolences and hope she's back on the water soon.

Davis 70

Davis Yachts debuted its Flagship 70-footer recently. And it's quite a sizeable machine. As you can see here, her mezzanine is made for spotting fish on the teasers in the shade, saving you from the heat and glaring sun. And as fish boats go, this one is on the glam side of that equation. The proof: Take for instance, her high-gloss interior, internal stairway to the flying bridge, or the full-beam amidships master with NBA-player headroom. And she can be yours for about $4.7 million. Stay tuned as PMY will put this behemoth battlewagon to the test in an upcoming issue of Power & Motoryacht.

Two Rescued, Four Crew Still Missing

The captain and crew of the charter boat Be Cool went missing last week shortly after leaving with a charter, CNN reported earlier today. The vessel, a 47-foot sportfishermen, "made several erratic movements before heading south" about halfway into her voyage, according to the vessel's global positioning system (GPS). The boat was found floating 160-miles south of Bimini. The captain, Jake Branam, his wife Kelly Branam, and two crew members, Scott Campbell and Sammy Cary, are among the missing.

The Coast Guard reports it has rescued two of the six missing boaters. The names of the rescued are Guillermo Zarabozo and Kirby Archer. Archer is being investigated, as he has the same name as a man who stole over $90,000 from an Arkansas Wal-Mart back in January. Foul play has not been ruled out.

According to Coast Guard reports, family members reported Joe Cool overdue at approximately 5:45 p.m. Sunday after the vessel failed to return to Miami Beach Marina. The crew of the 110-foot cutter Pea Island found the vessel late Sunday. The cutter's crew said the abandoned vessel was in disarray with the life-raft missing.

Zarabozo and Archer were found by an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter approximately 12 miles north of that location and taken to the cutter Confidence. The Coast Guard immediately began searching with a HC-130 aircraft from Elizabeth City, N.C., the Cutter Confidence, the Cutter Pea Island and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Miami deployed to the Confidence.

Viking 60 Convertible Debuts at Lauderdale

Hold on to your hats because this 60-footer from fishing-focused boatbuilder Viking Yachts is expected to hit 40-knots-plus (46 mph) with optional twin 1,825-hp Caterpillar C32 ACERTS (2/1,550-hp MANs are standard). The vessel's performance and her striking profile should be a favorite among hardcore tournament anglers. That, and perhaps 170 square feet of fish-fighting space, a stylish cockpit mezzanine, a massive bait freezer, which will keep a season's worth of 'hoo on at the ready, a 40-gallon livewell, 53-gallon in-transom fishbox, and much more. An enclosed-bridge version of the 60 will also be available. You can check her out at the Viking display at Bahia Mar during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which starts on Thursday, October 25.

Big Weather + Big Seas = Beat Up Boat

Me and the crew onboard the 43 Viking, Blinky III, had just finished fishing the White Marlin Open. We thought it would be good to head home from Ocean City, Maryland, to Long Island, New York, one day early in order to beat some bad weather heading south. The trip home would run 155 miles, and with east winds not predicted to go over 15 knots, our 45-degree heading (once we passed Manasquan, NJ) at 24 knots would have us home in about six or so hours.

Well, the crew was in good spirits as the first 136 miles passed uneventfully with the iPod cranking and memories of the weeklong fishing trip already growing into tall 'tails'. Then the radar lit up the deepest red I've ever seen. It expanded out 24 ugly miles from its center. This was a big thunderstorm moving from the west, which was about to collide with an increasing wind from the east. Our problem: The only place we could go was through the thinnest band in the middle. The storm was moving too slow to wait it out and the east wind was picking up to 25-plus (not predicted). We decided to proceed slow and steady.

The second we crossed into the red zone, we were smacked with a qualified gale on the beam. For the next three hours we slugged our way through 30-35-knot-plus winds, rain, and eight- to 10-foot vertical walls of water smashing down on Blinky. The waves were hitting hard enough to actually push water through the ziplock-tight zippers in the isinglass. It was getting a bit hairy. The vessel literally slid down a couple of larger waves as our speed slowed to four and five knots. The 36,000-pound boat was being tossed like a salad.

We managed to get a call to land to confirm our float plan with a family member, and kept on a 30-minute call schedule to confirm our position. Life jackets were brought out and a secondary life raft was made ready just in case.

Luckily, with four experienced crew onboard and a sturdy boat beneath, we crawled through the storm with little more than some bruised bodies and one more war story to tell.The power of the wind and storm was evidenced in what remained of our brand-new ensign. Old glory had gone from a wonderfully double-stitched expression of freedom to straggly and sad-looking strands of thread in less than 20 miles of heavy wind and big seas.

Luhrs 41 Convertible Recall

The Luhrs Coropration has put out a voluntary recall on the first 38 of the 41 Convertible Hulls built due to a port-side heel problem as well as a potential bow-steering issue. If you own Hull No. 101-139 you should contact the builder soon:

LUHRS 41 CONVERTIBLE VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE
Dear Luhrs 41 Convertible Owner,

The Luhrs Corporation has received reports from a few owners that, under certain conditions, early versions of its 41 Convertible may heel to port while underway. It has also been reported that this condition can sometimes lead to slight to moderate bow steer.

To date, Luhrs has received no reports of accidents or injuries that have resulted from this condition. Because of these reports, the Luhrs Design and Engineering staff has conducted sea trials on several of the vessels and, thus far, have been unable to reproduce the condition.

The testing was conducted while using information supplied to us by current 41 Convertible owners. Despite these inconclusive test results and in the interest of safety, Luhrs Corporation has made the decision to conduct a voluntary recall of hull numbers 101 through 139 inclusive in order to perform a hull modification. The procedure consists of extending the existing hull tunnels by 5 inches and creating a rocker along the hull bottom at the transom. This will provide added assurance against the possibility of an occurrence of the reported instability. To date, the hull modification was performed on seven of the subject vessels.
HULL NUMBERS INVOLVED - USCG CAMPAIGN # 070017T
LHRPC101F304 through LHRPC139A505

Luhrs Marine Corporation will perform the hull upgrade to all of the above vessels at its expense including, if necessary, transportation to the location where the modifications will be performed. As an added measure, Luhrs Corporation is in the process of contacting all owners of the subject vessels by telephone to help with arrangements for making the upgrade while answering any questions that may arise. Failure to comply with the voluntary recall and free upgrade may result in abnormal heeling and the possibility of slight to moderate bow steer.

If you have any questions regarding this recall, please contact Luhrs Corporation Customer Service Department at 800-248-2980 or send an e-mail to 41recall@luhrs.com and we will assist you in making arrangements for this free upgrade.

Big MANN on Campus!

This 65-foot Paul Mann custom boat dubbed D.A. Sea was launched last week and made quite an impression with local Outer Banks commuters. While the admittedly oversized load may have indeed slowed traffic a bit, many drivers were reportedly overheard commenting on her sharp entry and head-sea-slicing bow flare.

Quite the sight, isn't she?