Brothers Bill and Bob Healey founded Viking in 1964 with a commitment “to build a better boat every day.” It’s a philosophy that still drives us – and our sister companies such as Valhalla Boatworks – nearly six decades later. In this V Report, we shine the spotlight on our V-33 and the shipwrights at Viking Mullica who build them. Above and below: A team of laminators works on hull No. 65 of the Valhalla 33 in the Fiberglass Department. The hull molds for each V Series model have a dedicated hydraulic turning system, which helps to increase build efficiencies.
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Fiberglass Department Leadman Marcos Santiago sets the port fish box in the hull of another 33 in the “egg crate” area. He drills temporary aluminum flanges to the stringer grid to secure the box. Marcos will then inject foam under and around the box, which holds the structure in place while providing insulation. The large beams running athwartships are also utilized to secure the box during foam injection.
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In the Fiberglass Department’s small parts area, Soliz Maldonado, a 30-year Viking veteran, uses a series of clamps to fabricate the dive door lift gates for several different Valhallas. The clamps hold a special phenolic material – sandwiched between fiberglass laminates – that serves as a backing for mechanical fasteners used to install the rubrail. Other parts built here in small parts include dive doors, live wells, fish boxes and glove boxes.
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Viking Mullica shipwright Arnulfo Guzman Galdamez begins the process of finishing a V-33’s mezzanine bench seat, which has just been pulled from its mold. Since the first three V Series center consoles debuted in September of 2019, the V Series has established itself as having the best fit and finish in the center console industry.
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Our team of experienced supervisors, foremen and leadmen are a vital part of building a better boat every day, providing hands-on instruction, direction and supervision. Above: Foreman Saul Solano (red shirt) speaks with leadman Servando Villanueva as the team builds a V-33’s deck liner.
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