CASE STUDY Yacht

A 92-foot sportfishing yacht launches with the new mtu Series 2000 M96

Posted on November 24, 2016

Sportfishing yachts are getting bigger and bigger. For most boats, this trend comes with a price: the bigger a vessel, the more sluggishly it accelerates and the more unwieldy it is to maneuver. However, boat performance is critical for fishing maneuvers in the heat of battle. The new Viking 92 yacht provides the best of both worlds: it is indeed bigger than its predecessor, but thanks to mtu’s new Series 2000 M96 engine, it is just as nimble, and as swift as the big game fish its designed to chase.
Details

Who

Viking Yacht Company

What

mtu Series 2000 M96

Why

Faster acceleration, outstanding maneuverability, fuel efficiency and EPA Tier 3 recreational-compliant

Where

New Gretna, New Jersey, USA

When you step on the boat, it feels like a 100-plus-foot boat. But when you‘re running it, it feels smaller since it has such good maneuverability. It accelerates like a boat in the 70-foot range.

Ryan Higgins - sales manager, Viking Yacht Company
In May 2004, the Viking Yacht Company proved that nimble sportfishing yachts over 70 feet were possible, when they launched the Viking 74 Convertible. Tournament skippers and anglers were pleased with its power and performance. Four years later, Viking innovation took another giant leap forward with the Viking 82. At 82 feet, Viking’s flagship boat hit the sweet spot between luxury and exceptional fishing ability.
In 2014, Viking raised the bar again with the new Viking 92, the largest Viking afloat today. The product of three years of intensive research, design and development, the vessel not only meets Viking’s high standards (and their customers’), it actually shares similar acceleration and maneuverability of smaller-sized sportfishing boats. To provide the necessary power and performance, the Viking 92 is equipped with the newest, most cutting-edge engine in the industry—the mtu Series 2000 M96.
With a price tag of $10 million, the Viking 92 is an unprecedented combination of impeccable style and thunderous performance. “We focused on the features a megayacht would have, while keeping all the tournament fishing features of our midrange convertible boats,” says Ryan Higgins, sales manager at Viking Yacht Company. “The Viking 92 is unlike anything out there. It’s a competitive 92-foot fishing boat that’s as luxurious as a 100-foot-plus yacht.”

Top of the food chain


A Viking 92 is the ultimate big-game fishing machine, built to accelerate, change directions and perform complex fishing maneuvers. Ryan Higgins served as the yacht’s captain on its 36- hour maiden voyage from Viking headquarters in New Jersey to Florida. He says, “When you step on the boat, it feels like a 100-plus-foot boat. But when you‘re running it, it feels smaller since it has such good maneuverability. It accelerates like a boat in the 70-foot range. It’s really incredible that you can make a 92-footer spin 360 degrees on a fish, or go in reverse at 10 knots, doing the things you need to chase down marlin.”
Most of the time, marlin, tuna, swordfish and sailfish can be found far offshore, in rough waters off the continental shelves of North and South America. A Viking 92’s speed and range enables the vessel to get to these hotspots fast—with a smooth ride so anglers are comfortable when their fishing lines hit the water. After all, with the busy lives Viking owners lead, time is of the essence. The more time they spend at fishing grounds enjoying their passion, the better.

Newly redesigned powerhouses


In the gleaming white engine room, you’ll also find the major source of the Viking 92’s power and performance—twin mtu Series 2000 M96 engines. Continuing its long tradition of reliable and efficient high-performance yacht engines, the mtu Series 2000 M96 next generation engine offers enhanced acceleration and low fuel consumption in 12-cylinder ratings from 1700 bhp to 1920 bhp and 16-cylinder ratings from 2185 bhp to 2600 bhp of power, making it particularly suitable for luxury and sportfishing yachts. It is also backed by mtu’s Premium Yacht Service, providing unparalleled support for the engine over its entire lifespan.
Producing 2600 horsepower, the engine meets current EPA Tier 3 recreational emissions requirements. In addition to enhanced performance, the engine’s new design reduces noise and smoke.
As senior project engineer at Viking Yacht Company, Bill Gibbons put the engines to the test during several sea trials aboard the Viking 92 Enclosed Bridge Convertible. Each trial report details sea conditions and tabulates comprehensive engine data. During one voyage, Bill says, a number of mtu mechanical and electrical engineers from Germany were on board, analyzing engine data on their laptop computers. Preliminary numbers from the sea trials are impressive. The Viking 92 cruises at 31.5 knots (36 mph) at 2200 rpm, burning approximately 200 gallons per hour. At full load, the vessel can hit a speed of 35.7 knots (41 mph), burning 257 gallons per hour.
“The Series 2000 M96 engine was the perfect choice for this application. There are other engines that can produce the same or more horsepower, but they are twice the weight,” says Bill. “The result of the engine’s redesign is faster acceleration. That translates into more responsiveness and better maneuverability.”

The complete package


“The new 16V 2000 M96L engines paired with the Viking 92 Enclosed Bridge Convertible is a powerful combination and one that will surely make waves at sea,” said Andrew Boyer, senior sales manager, mtu America. “Because our customers demand high levels of performance and reliability, it was essential for the next generation of mtu yacht engines to create excitement and set a new standard for the pleasure craft industry.”
A full system provider, mtu has also outfitted the Viking 92 with its latest control and monitoring system, BlueVision New Generation (BVNG), which features standard color displays, integrated start-stop control and standard shipyard interface. The system is complete with simple harnessing to enabling ease of installation. Through Remote Services, the captain can monitor mtu engine data and systems activity via smartphone, before he steps on board. This helps save valuable service time in the future and keeps routine maintenance checks on schedule.
Another innovation in the Viking 92’s bridge is a new Joystick System that is fully integrated to BVNG as an option. Designed for the pleasure craft market, this new Joystick System will be available in early 2015 and will offer intuitive maneuverability, thruster compatibility and GPS-based station keeping.

Luxury at sea


While the Viking 92’s bridge is decked out with all the latest technology and the engine room purrs with twin powerhouses at the ready, the Viking 92’s main salon and staterooms resemble a floating luxury penthouse, with all the features buyers have come to expect in their own homes. Curved doorways, exquisite custom woodwork and other designer touches are in abundance at every turn. The yacht is equipped with eight TVs, many of which rise from teak cabinetry at the touch of a button. All countertops feature custom selected granite. Eight guests can dine in pure style in an air-conditioned dining area. And the galley is appointed with top-of-the-line appliances and a pair of walk-in pantries.
Below deck, there are six spacious staterooms, each with its own private head and shower. The master suite features a king-size bed, walk-in closet, dressing table, his and her bathrooms, and a 65-inch TV. The master suite was designed to share similar dimensions and features with those commonly found in 130-plus-foot megayachts. Just like larger motor yachts, the Viking 92 accommodates a separate area for the crew quarters and galley. With the yacht’s spaciousness, comfort and 4,000-gallons of fuel capacity, the vessel is perfect for long-range travelling.
The Viking Yacht Company has met the challenge of designing a bigger, better, more luxurious and more cutting-edge sportfishing yacht—without sacrificing performance, thanks to the Series 2000 M96 engine. It’s no wonder that buyers have taken the bait.

The Series 2000 M96 engine was the perfect choice for this application. There are other engines that can produce the same or more horsepower, but they are twice the weight.

Bill Gibbons - senior project engineer, Viking Yacht Company