Most people think of Valhalla Boatworks as a builder of high-performance center consoles for anglers with a serious competitive streak. The 55 Sport Yacht is an evolution for this brand. It’s suited for skippers who are less driven to win tournaments, and more interested in laid-back pursuits like entertaining, cruising and gunkholing. It’s also a striking build with lines that are entirely its own.
Pat Healey, president and CEO of Viking Yacht Company, the parent company of Valhalla Boatworks, was on board for a preview of the boat in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last summer. “The Sport Yacht has generated incredible enthusiasm. It’s off the charts,” he said. “It takes the proven performance of our V-55 center console and merges it with a contemporary design that the cruising crowd will love.”
The 55 Sport Yacht is built on the same hull as Valhalla’s V-55, which premiered in 2023. It’s a Michael Peters double-stepped design with 22.5 degrees of deadrise aft and a sharp entry that’s engineered to be stable, efficient and fast.
Speed is not this boat’s problem. For the sea trial, the boat—Hull No. 1—was powered by four 600-hp Mercury Verado motors. With throttles open, acceleration was swift as the outboards generated 52 knots in a whoosh moment. Optimal cruising speed was about 40 knots, where the boat had a range of 395 miles. However, Valhalla’s team says the 55 has good range throughout its cruising band, from about 26 to 43 knots.
The helm has seats for three people and a glass dash with three multifunction displays, a flush-mounted compass and illuminated switching. For easier handling, there’s also electric power-assist steering, a Zipwake system, joystick control and bow thruster. The most eye-catching feature here is the curved, one-piece windshield. It offers good sightlines and accentuates the Valhalla’s lean, performance-driven contours.
The bridgedeck was buttoned up for the early part of the ride. That is, the powered sunroof, sliding doors to port and starboard and the aft bulkhead window were closed. (As a result, operation was luxuriously quiet.) Later, though, Healey demonstrated how easy it is to bring the sea breeze and sunshine in, at the touch of a few buttons. He was especially enthusiastic about the electric side doors. They’re from J.R. Beers Marine Service and have locking mechanisms that hold them open or closed in all sea conditions. These same doors are installed on Viking’s convertible boats, and that says something about this Valhalla.
“The 55 SY delivers the same level of engineering found in Vikings,” said Chris Landry, director of communications at Viking Yacht Company. “It brings the same build quality, reliability, comfort and systems.”
Valhalla’s 55 SY also has an ElectroSea raw-water system combined with a Hooker Sea Chest for reliable seawater flow to key components. Electrical design includes color-coded wiring. There are Bocatech backlit switches, a Glendinning Cablemaster shore-power reel, and integrated battery-charging and monitoring systems. Safety features include automatic fire suppression, high-water alarms and bonded electrical grounding.
On the single-level deck, the cockpit has a retractable sunshade, a drop-down TV and a choice of layouts. Standard features include oversized balcony doors that measure 25 square feet each. The portside balcony has a built-in boarding door, which is convenient to have at the dock. Below the cockpit deck is a dedicated equipment room for a Seakeeper 10, a watermaker, a diesel generator, batteries (in a separate box, as on Viking yachts) and a bilge system.
This Valhalla is semi-custom, so it can be configured in numerous ways—including for serious anglers. The owner of Hull No. 2 skipped the lounges and dining table in the cockpit and instead installed an aft-facing mezzanine seat with a slew of built-in rodholders. He also added outriggers to the hardtop and live wells at the transom.
The 55 SY is a cruiser too, with two well-appointed staterooms belowdecks. The ensuite master is forward, where headroom is 7 feet. The guest stateroom, with access to a full head, is amidships with a queen berth, although owners can substitute a double and single. Healey said owners can personalize this area, too. A 55 SY on order will have a lounge with a TV and settees in place of the amidships stateroom.
A full galley is belowdecks to starboard, opposite a dinette. On Hull No. 1, the belowdecks space was finished with Amtico soles and Majilite headliners. The slate gray cabinetry had the same level of finish as woodwork on a Viking yacht. Hull No. 1’s exterior was finished in a Pamlico blue gelcoat with a gloss black pilothouse top. All in, she was as polished in appearance as she was in performance.
As the sea trial came to a close, we learned there was early enthusiasm for the design, with multiple orders already placed. Even so, the builder was committed to continually fine-tuning the 55 Sport Yacht. “Our motto has always been to build a better boat every day,” said Healey. “What you see now is the benchmark. We’ll only improve from here.”
LOA: 55’7”
Beam: 15’6”
Draft (engines up): 3’1”
Weight (full load): 51,750 lbs.
Deadrise: 22.5 degrees
Fuel: 1,100 gal.
Water: 150 gal.
Power: (4) 600-hp Mercury Verados
