Happy Birthday Viking - Celebrating 58 years
by Viking Yachts 2 Apr 2022 22:47 BST
Viking Yachts plant © Viking Yachts
Brothers Bill and Bob Healey established Viking Yachts on the banks of the Bass River in 1964, and the family-owned-and-operated company has gone on to become the largest and most successful manufacturer of sportfishing yachts in the world with more than 5,000 boats delivered. Today we celebrate our 58th consecutive year in business!
Starting with little more than a building in the Pine Barrens with no heat and dirt floors, Bob the lawyer and Bill the ironworker began their amazing journey to build a better boat every day.
Today the Viking plants in New Gretna and Mullica represent the pinnacle of boat manufacturing achievement. Vikings from 38 to 90 feet are built in New Gretna, while the Valhalla Boatworks V-33, V-37, V-41 and V-46 are constructed at Viking Mullica. Viking also owns a group of thriving subsidiaries, including the Viking Yacht Service Center, Palm Beach Towers, Atlantic Marine Electronics and Valhalla Boat Sales.
Three generations strong, the Healey family continues to pursue perfection as the company approaches six decades of boatbuilding excellence. Demand for our Viking sportfishing yachts and our Valhalla Boatworks V Series center consoles stands at an all-time high, as evidenced by our packed Make Ready Dock in New Gretna and the bustling activity on the line at Viking Mullica.
Our commitment to building a better boat every day means we are constantly pushing the envelope with exciting new boats. This year is especially indicative of our drive to innovate as we've begun production of two new flagships - the Viking 90 and Valhalla 55.
Boatbuilders are shown above preparing the mold for the 90's deckhouse, while plant engineering team members make adjustments to the hull mold's turning rig, which will allow it to be rotated during the build process. The Viking 90 makes its world premiere at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2023. The V-55 will debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October of this year.
The lifeblood of our company has always been our people. The Viking family currently consists of 1,470 boatbuilders, which includes a combined 1,280 employees at our New Jersey locations in New Gretna and Mullica and 190 employees at our Florida facilities. Longtime boatbuilders like Gary Kozlowski epitomize the Viking focus and work ethic.
"We just keep plugging away until we get it done - and done 100 percent correctly," says Gary, who began his career at Viking in 1979 and is currently the Senior Foreman in the Exterior Trim Department. "I learned from Bill Healey. He taught perfection, and that's what we all strive for. I have a great deal of admiration for the Healey family and what they stand for, and I'm proud to carry on the tradition of building a better boat every day."