The Viking Yacht Company is known for its consistent production of fresh designs throughout its entire size range, from our smallest fishing boat to our largest motor yacht. The legendary company’s 38 Billfish fills a vast void in the sportfishing market with a winning combination of versatility, comfort and performance.
The 38 Billfish was designed and built with the same genetic makeup as her predecessor, the 37 Billfish. As an owner/operator vessel, the 38 Billfish offers simplicity and ease of maintenance, serving as a ready-to-go fishing machine equipped for inshore and offshore missions as well as a cruising boat with reliable inboard diesel power.
“The 37 Billfish was an instant success and has done so well we decided to make a commitment toward taking the Billfish concept to the next level,” says John Leek IV, General Manager of Viking Mullica where the Billfish is being manufactured. “The 38 Billfish was a natural progression of the 37 BF, and now the 38 Open Billfish and 46 Billfish are evolutions of the 38 BF.”
Battle Ready
The 38 Billfish’s cockpit, which measure 109 square feet, is equipped with a laminated in-deck mounting plate for fighting chair, rocket launcher or table installations. Other big-boat features include in-deck insulated fish boxes port and starboard, a walk-through transom door and lift gate, a bait freezer with upper tray, a transom fish box and live well, rod holders, tackle storage and fresh and raw-water wash downs. Two-person, mezzanine-style seats flank the centerline walkthrough, and there’s refrigerated drink storage, as well as ample general storage throughout.
The 38 Billfish’s command deck holds a salon-like living area that includes a port-side U-shaped dinette and a fiberglass hi-lo table. A comfortable lounge to starboard also serves as rod storage. You have the option of equipping your 38 Billfish with a second lower helm station on the starboard side, which provides immediate access to the cockpit.
Like her convertible brethren, the 38 Billfish’s flybridge is designed with a tournament-style center console walk-around helm. The 38 Billfish has Palm Beach-style controls and power-assist hydraulic steering. Seating includes a single Release Marine teak chair (a second helm chair is optional) and lounges to port and starboard and a forward console seat. A three-sided Costa Clear enclosure provides weather protection and gin-clear visibility. Our subsidiary Atlantic Marine Electronics can build and install an A-to-Z package of navigation and communication equipment to deliver the boat turnkey ready.
Day and Night Livability
Below deck, the 38 Billfish makes full use of its 14-foot beam to maximize comfort and utility. Hand-finished, high-gloss teak joinery and Amtico flooring complement an elegant climate-controlled living environment. The private head, which is conveniently located immediately to port of the companionway stairs, has a large walk-in shower with satin nickel fixtures, an attractive Corian-topped vanity with sink and storage and an upper medicine cabinet. The starboard-side L-shaped galley is fully appointed with a Corian countertop, a two-burner electric stove, a microwave/convection oven, cabinet storage and under-counter drawer-style refrigeration with a built-in ice maker.
Rest up in the private forward stateroom, which is offered with island queen or crossover berth arrangements. There’s plenty of storage, with a pair of hanging lockers with drawers underneath as well as a port-side rod locker. The island queen layout also features a starboard-side upper storage cabinet.
Efficient and Durable
As Viking continues to develop the Billfish series, our building methods and materials have gained efficiency, which adds even more value to these boats. A modified vinylester resin is used in the entire hull skin. End-grain balsa and closed-cell foam are used as coring materials in selected areas for optimized strength and stiffness while minimizing weight. The single integral fiberglass fuel tank, sealed to the hull with resin foam, is resin infused with balsa coring on all sides for stiffness. The hull-to-deck joint is mechanically fastened every three inches and fiberglassed inside.
Viking Engineering
For ease of maintenance, each engine and other critical machinery is located beneath electrically-actuated hatches in the command deck area. The Billfish is designed and built with many of the same mechanical systems, components and technologies found on larger Vikings. Examples include the Delta-T engineroom ventilation system and a fire suppression system that’s automatically or manually operated and tied into the main engine and generator ignitions.
Running gear includes Class “S” pitch tolerance propellers with dynamic balancing and bronze struts, seacocks and rudders. The engineroom, lazarette and forward bilges are painted with Snow White Awlgrip for increased visibility and ease of maintenance. A large centerline hatch gives you quick access to the engines, optional Seakeeper SK 6 gyro and water maker, and fuel tank fittings. Powered with twin Cummins QSB6.7 diesels with 550 MHP, estimated top speed is 35-plus knots with a cruise of 31 knots.
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