Viking Marin 28 pilot

stuartwineberg

stuartwineberg

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 Oct 2007
Messages
1,814
Location
Romsey, Hants
Visit site
Interesting looking Botnia clone. Anyone had any experience of them and particularly performance and quality vs the Botnia benchmark?

All I know is they are Turkish and shafts not outdrives.

BTW the brochure assures me that it has a "Manuel sea toilet". Not many small motor boats come with their own Spanish waiter :)
 
stuartwineberg said:
Interesting looking Botnia clone. Anyone had any experience of them and particularly performance and quality vs the Botnia benchmark?

All I know is they are Turkish and shafts not outdrives.

BTW the brochure assures me that it has a "Manuel sea toilet". Not many small motor boats come with their own Spanish waiter :)
Click to expand...

Suspect you may not get a reply from an owner, as I don't think many have been sold over here yet.
Other similarly shaped marques include SB, Nord Star and Paragon. All of which have been tested by MBM, IIRC

Our spanish waiter lives outside!!
 
We are impressed here at Transworld Yachts / Parkstone Bay Yachts.
(long story, Transworld and Parkstone have merged for lots of very exciting reasons, not least both companies deal in some great brands)

So impressed we are considering taking on Viking Marin as a brand as the boats are all beautifully built using real wood interiors by proper craftsmen.

They will be tough to break into the UK market with (several have tried, but not really broken the back of it), but given perseverance they should gain a loyal following as the (albeit small) range is beautifully put together (I love the 34 Sedan) and 100% do not follow the "Me too" styling of every mass produced boat out there today.

Sure, the 285 Pilothouse has a Botnia Targa air to it at first glance, but look a bit deeper and you see a beautifully and practically finished boat inside with proper cabin space a real saloon and great helm... all with an inside loo to boot.

I'll do you a deal.
Come out with me to Istanbul to get a better feel for them (I need to too!) and if you choose to go ahead I will refund your travel expenses. :-)
 
Nautibusiness said:
So impressed we are considering taking on Viking Marin as a brand as the boats are all beautifully built using real wood interiors by proper craftsmen.
Click to expand...

To be fair, Botnia's structures and interiors can also be described in the same way.
Smaller ones not as spacious internally as the Viking though and "inside privvy" not available until you get to Targa 30.

Good luck with the agency if you decide to take it on.
 
whisper said:
To be fair, Botnia's structures and interiors can also be described in the same way.
Smaller ones not as spacious internally as the Viking though and "inside privvy" not available until you get to Targa 30.

Good luck with the agency if you decide to take it on.
Click to expand...

I agree
Just read back what I said and it has come across wrongly. I am a huge fan of Botnia Targa. I think David at Wessex Marine does a fabulous job with them
Brilliantly built and yes, lots of real wood. What I actually was steering towards was that the layout of the Viking uses similar levels of real wood and great bright work, but with a somewhat more conventional layout.

I haven't yet driven a 285, but can't wait to do so. Perhaps not quite the same blistering peformance you get in a Botnia as the Viking is on shafts, but I suspect that if the hull is any good, John Moxon design, then it will be even more planted than the the Skandiavian vessel. We shall see if the reality lives up to my imagination...
 
I know i'm biased but ...

I had a Nordstar - it was a decent boat as probably is the Viking but it just wasn't a Targa.

I also looked at the SB and the Paragon - although in some respects they were definitely more appealing to the wife inside they were generally lighterweight craft.

I would guess that's why people pay more for Targas - their seakeeping is second to none, build quality is immense and they are also built much bigger for their length (our 35 is 37) plus the resale values are excellent.

We are reluctantly selling our 35 as we are going sailing next year but if I go back to Motorboats there is only one I would buy.

Alan

(And I agree with Nautibusness, David & his team at Wessex are excellent)
 
Last edited:
Eastbrae said:
build quality is immense and they are also built much bigger for their length (our 35 is 37) /QUOTE]

Alan

It is this that impressed me about the Viking.

The 285 Pilothouse basic spec:

LOA 9.2m
Hull Length: 8.53
Displacement (admittedly at full load) is 7.1 tonnes. This is vastly built for a boat of 28.5' in the hull. Even if you take a very pessimistic two tonnes off for engines, fuel, water etc you still have a shell of 5 tonnes. I am sure this is very similarly constructed to the Botnia Targa 31 despite being a fair bit smaller?
Click to expand...
 
It will certainly be interesting to hear how your run goes.

I guess much of it will come down to how well the boat is balanced which is IMHO where Targa have got it spot on.
 
Eastbrae said:
It will certainly be interesting to hear how your run goes.

I guess much of it will come down to how well the boat is balanced which is IMHO where Targa have got it spot on.
Click to expand...

I agree, the Targa is a lovely boat.
I am possibly nipping out to the Turkey boat show (yes there is one and it isn't far off the size of Southampton by all accounts...) so will report back.

What is grabbing me is that the boat is on shafts... I like that.
And the boat has a conventional layout... I really like that, if it is as good as the pictures suggest.

Viking have kindly provided me with their UK sales list and it appears that only two 285s were sold into the UK. Their UK market has never been particlarly big. Boat Showrooms had a little push a few years ago and currently Viking have an agent based in Pembrokeshire. Reviews and reports from various horses mouths have been very encouraging and sales figures in their main market, Italy, are also fairly good considering the economy.
So far, I only have third party info and brochures to go buy so I need to go and have a proper look over them and hang upside down in a few bilges to see how they are glued together.
 
Shafts

Nautibusiness said:
I agree, the Targa is a lovely boat.
I am possibly nipping out to the Turkey boat show (yes there is one and it isn't far off the size of Southampton by all accounts...) so will report back.

What is grabbing me is that the boat is on shafts... I like that.
And the boat has a conventional layout... I really like that, if it is as good as the pictures suggest.

Viking have kindly provided me with their UK sales list and it appears that only two 285s were sold into the UK. Their UK market has never been particlarly big. Boat Showrooms had a little push a few years ago and currently Viking have an agent based in Pembrokeshire. Reviews and reports from various horses mouths have been very encouraging and sales figures in their main market, Italy, are also fairly good considering the economy.
So far, I only have third party info and brochures to go buy so I need to go and have a proper look over them and hang upside down in a few bilges to see how they are glued together.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer of a free holiday in Turkey in return for about £150000 :) Seriously the "on paper" aspect that attracts me about these boats is the same as you mention here namely shaft drive. I am paranoid about outdrives - they seem unutterably complex and the D6 horror stories on here make my eyes water. I would give up a few knots of speed for simplicity (remember my current boat cruises at about 11 knots). Good luck at the Turkish boat show and I would appreciate a continuing discussion when you get back
 
stuartwineberg said:
Thanks for the offer of a free holiday in Turkey in return for about £150000 :) Seriously the "on paper" aspect that attracts me about these boats is the same as you mention here namely shaft drive. I am paranoid about outdrives - they seem unutterably complex and the D6 horror stories on here make my eyes water. I would give up a few knots of speed for simplicity (remember my current boat cruises at about 11 knots). Good luck at the Turkish boat show and I would appreciate a continuing discussion when you get back
Click to expand...

The holiday offer was slightly tongue in cheek... only slightly!

If I can persuade the boss it is the right thing to do and nip over there for a couple of days I shall try and take lots of real photos, rather than brochurised ones. May take a bit of video too if I can remember how to use the technology!

Lets catch up when I get back, but in essence I know no more than you about them yet, but have a little glow of excitement for them.
 
I echo your comments Nautibusiness about the build quality of what they produce, but I guess thats why we purchased one of their products. Not main stream but very under rated.

I found the after sales to be very good even when Boat Showrooms stopped selling them, Alpaslan was always very helpful although I have not needed to be in touch with him for a year or so.

 
pks1702 said:
I echo your comments Nautibusiness about the build quality of what they produce, but I guess thats why we purchased one of their products. Not main stream but very under rated.

I found the after sales to be very good even when Boat Showrooms stopped selling them, Alpaslan was always very helpful although I have not needed to be in touch with him for a year or so.

Click to expand...

Hey Perry(?)

Yours is the 32 isn't it? Fabulous lines. It was actually the 34 Sedan which got me rather excited to start with and then I found out about the small but developing range that Viking already has.
Alp has been great to deal with in the few weeks we have been chatting and I am enthused by his passion for his boats.

As you know, the 34 is simply your 32 very slightly stretched.
Is she as good as I hope she will be?

NB
 
"I would guess that's why people pay more for Targas - their seakeeping is second to none,"


While not wishing to pick an argument ...ses who and compared to what ?
Have never ever seen one of these boats out any where down here on Thames estuary or east coast.
You see all sorts of other stuff out in crummy weather but never ever a Targa being used for anything proper such as all weather pilot boats,rig/offshore windmill tenders or for rescue etc .Heavy duty cats and Nelson derivitives,yes,ancient Mitchells and all sorts of ancient tubs for the local charter boys,but a Targa not a sign.
Sure our local "sunny days only" services Police/EA etc have em,but never seen one out in a blow as they all seem to be securely tied up someone well out of it.
Just purely to hype of an over active advertising dept...and just a Chelsea Tractor Surely not. :) ?
 
Last edited:
oldgit said:
While not wishing to pick an argument ...ses who and compared to what ?
Click to expand...

I have nothing to do with Botnia Targa apart from being a distant admirer however I can vouch that they are bloody good out at sea. They can be skittish around the marina, but what relatively tall, outdrive driven boat isn't (is this where the Viking will win?)

That said, I would rather be on a large power cat for the sort of turbine transfers or standby work you were mentioning than any of the typical monohulls we see and discuss for leisure use. Totally different boats and won't appeal to many retial buyers, but fabulous for the job they are purchased to do.
 
Nautibusiness said:
Yours is the 32 isn't it? Fabulous lines. It was actually the 34 Sedan which got me rather excited to start with and then I found out about the small but developing range that Viking already has.
Alp has been great to deal with in the few weeks we have been chatting and I am enthused by his passion for his boats.

As you know, the 34 is simply your 32 very slightly stretched.
Is she as good as I hope she will be?

NB
Click to expand...

Yes ours is the 32 it was a demo model and pound for pound ticked all the boxes we were looking for. SD hull, Shafts, Single engine (at the time) and good build quality. The standard fit items we got on her in comparison to other marques we were looking at when we were buying were a clincher for us.

She is no ocean greyhound in part due to the solid build quality but then that was not part of our 'must haves' when we bought her, she cruises at mid teens and comes into her own when the East Coast chop cuts up. She is quite a dry boat due to her hull free board.

I never get tired of the wood I know not every ones taste.



As you say Alp has a real passion I wish you all the best with your potential venture.
 
Eastbrae said:
Ses me who has one and compared it to similar planing twin engined monohulls before he bought it I suppose ?

But dont take my word for it ...

http://www.mby.com/news/404673/botnia-targa-skipper-tells-of-land-s-end-rounding
Click to expand...



Cripes thats.......err two owners of those boats who reckon there the bees knees :):):)


Always fancied one of these

DSCN4339-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
I seem to recall MBM doing a review on the Viking 28, test conditions were not very pleasant but the report came out very favourably.

Some one will recall I am sure
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top