Valhalla Boatworks officially debuted its new 55 Sport Yacht at the Viking and Valhalla Dealer Meeting and Sea Trial Event last week. The builder’s first model of its kind—a luxury day yacht built for high performance—was revealed at the at Farley State Marina in Atlantic City, not far from the company’s production facility in New Gretna, New Jersey.
Soundings was among the attendees who had the opportunity to preview the 55-foot 7-inch-long vessel with a 15-foot 6-inch beam. It was powered by four V12 600-hp Mercury outboards that pushed the boat just over 60 mph during a sea trial. Pat Healey, president and CEO of Viking Yacht Company, the parent company of Valhallan Boatworks, was aboard for the ride and said the boat had topped out near 62 mph the prior day.
The 55 SY is built on the Michael Peters-designed SVVT (Stepped-V Ventilated Tunnel) hull with 22.5 degrees of deadrise. It’s the same running bottom featured on the Valhalla V-55 center console. With a sharp entry and double-step design, it’s engineered to deliver speed, stability and efficiency. The test boat was equipped with joystick controls, a Zipwake trim system and bow thrusters that enhanced handling and made for smooth docking.
Peters collaborated with the Viking and Valhalla design teams on the boat’s superstructure, which is distinguished by exceptionally clean and contemporary lines.
The target audience for the 55 SY is the boat owner who wants speed, comfort and the versatility to cruise, fish, dive and gunkhole, according to Valhalla. The boat blends the brand’s center console DNA with Viking’s proven craftsmanship and yacht-quality accommodations.
“This model has generated incredible enthusiasm,” said Healey. “It’s the ultimate expression of our commitment to design, performance and luxury. It takes the proven performance of our V-55 center console hull and merges it with an exciting, contemporary design that the cruising crowd will love.” During the media event, Healey also said there are plans to expand the sport yacht line in the near future.
The 55 SY features a pilothouse that can be fully enclosed and weathertight, or opened up via powered side doors and bulkhead windows. When open to the cockpit, the boat offers a single-level entertaining space. Cockpit features include a retractable sunshade, summer kitchen with electric grill, and a drop-down TV. At the helm, the glass dash has flush-mounted multifunction displays. Seating includes three helm chairs, plus an upholstered lounge for three or four more passengers. The sound level in the pilothouse with doors and windows shut was incredibly quiet during our run offshore.
Belowdecks, accommodations include two staterooms. The master with private head and stall shower is forward; the guest stateroom is amidships. Owners have the option to personalize this area. For instance, another 55 SY that is currently in build will have a lounge area with TV and settees in place of the amidships stateroom, on the owner’s request. A third berth is also an option.
Mechanical systems are housed in a dedicated equipment room below the cockpit deck. Systems include a Seakeeper 10, watermaker, 15-kW diesel generator, batteries (installed in a separate box, as they are on Viking yachts) and Arid bilge system.
The Valhalla fleet ranges from 28 to 55 feet and is built with the same engineering as Viking’s sportfishing yachts.
This 55 SY at the media event was hull No. 1, a prototype finished in Pamlico Blue gelcoat with a gloss black pilothouse top and slate-gray interior. Healey, shown above at the helm of the 55, said the company will continue to fine-tune the design. “Our motto has always been to build a better boat every day. What you see here is the benchmark; we’ll only improve from here.”
The 55 SY will make its international debut at the 2025 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Look for a full report on the boat in a future issue of Soundings.
