A fan of Viking Yachts for many years, Dale Curtis Jr. saw his first Valhalla Boatworks center console in the Fort Lauderdale area about two years ago. “It was a 37 or a 41 being used as a tender,” says Dale. “My first thought was – wow that’s one of the best-looking center consoles I’ve ever seen. The lines were beautiful.” And then in the Florida Keys about six months later, he came across a V-37 that blew him away. “It was Buc Blue and just gorgeous. That’s when I knew I was ready to become a Valhalla owner.” Last week, Dale took delivery of his V-33 Digital Transformation – with Buc Blue gelcoat (and matching hardtop underside), of course – in New Gretna, New Jersey. We caught up with him after his first weekend with the boat in the Ocean City area. Here’s what he had to say.
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“Building the boat, I was very impressed with the wide range of options open to me – everything from the different engine packages and color choices to the interior upholstery and the fishing accessories,” says Dale. “I had the ability to build my dream boat – to really personalize and customize the Valhalla to meet our needs – both for my family and for fishing.”
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Some highlights: a faux teak transom, toe rail and helm pod; Release Marine teak helm chairs and forward seating with teak backrests; a ProCurve solid glass helm enclosure; custom upholstery with Diamond/Bentley stitching, Gemlux 18-foot carbon fiber telescoping outriggers; upwards of 20 additional Gemlux rod holders, a Buc Blue live well interior with clear lid and a Seakeeper 2. |
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“When I pulled into our dock in Ocean City for the first time, my wife and kids were waiting for me – and they were just amazed,” says Dale. “People were coming out of their houses to look at the boat; they were applauding the boat. It was just awesome.”
“The ride quality, the handling and the maneuverability are superior,” says Dale, whose V-33 is powered by twin Mercury Verado 400s. The acceleration is very impressive – it just explodes out of the hole – even with a boat-load of guys and full fuel,” says Dale.
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“We’ll use the boat about 60 percent for fishing, and about 40 percent for family fun – tubing and water sports, cruising to restaurants for lunch and dinner and just relaxing as a family on the boat,” says Dale, who has three teen-age children with his wife, Nickie – Sophia, Dale III (DC3), and Cameran. For fishing, Dale will take his V-33 offshore in New Jersey for tuna and chase marlin and sailfish in Florida. During his first fishing trip this past Sunday, a very salty friend with a lot of experience with boats inspected the V-33 from stem to stern, noting its industry-leading build quality and fit and finish. “He said, ‘You know what Dale, I can’t find anything wrong – the boat is perfect.’ ”
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“I love everything about my Valhalla – its beautiful aesthetic design, craftsmanship, quality, performance, customer service and much more,” says Dale, pictured above. The name refers to Dale’s business, which is dedicated to the digital transformation of science-based businesses through the provision of specialized consulting and staffing services. “I make my living through cutting-edge technology, and look at this as a cutting-edge boat – so Digital Transformation is perfect.”
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