The Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (MTA/NJ) recently announced that Viking Yachts cofounder Bill Healey is its newest Hall of Fame inductee. The MTA’s Hall of Fame honors an individual or group that works to promote and protect the recreational marine industry.
Viking Yachts was co-founded by brothers Bill and Bob Healey in 1964 and became one of the most well-known brands in the fishing boat industry. Over 49 years Healey served as president and CEO, and he directly oversaw the engineering, designing and manufacturing of more than 5,000 Vikings models. Healey is also known for leading the fight to repeal the 1991 luxury tax that applied to boats over $100,000 and nearly destroyed the American luxury yacht market.
Healey’s son Pat—current CEO and president of Viking—accepted the award on his father’s behalf. “New Jersey is truly a great state, and the Healey family is proud to have founded and successfully run our boatbuilding business here for more than 60 years,” said Pat. “Through good times and bad, we’ve stayed the course by building a better boat every day. That is my father’s mantra—and it still guides us today.”
