Valhalla 55 Review, the Viking-Built Super Console in Detail

Why Viking built the Valhalla 55

The Valhalla 55 exists because Viking customers asked for it. Viking Yacht Company launched Valhalla Boatworks in 2019 with the V-33, V-37 and V-41 center consoles, followed by the V-46 about 18 months later. Demand from both Valhalla owners and Viking's loyal convertible base pushed the company to build something larger, and the V-55 debuted at the 2023 Miami show as the V Series flagship.

The reaction was immediate. Valhalla reported more than 50 orders by the time of the show, only a couple of months after hull number one first touched the water. Viking CEO Pat Healey called it a statement boat, and Power and Motoryacht used it as the example of what a super console is.

The pitch is simple: the speed, maneuverability, 360-degree deck access and outboard convenience of a big center console, combined with the engineering, accommodations and finish of a Viking convertible.

The Michael Peters stepped tunnel hull

Like every V Series boat, the V-55 runs on the patented Stepped-V Ventilated Tunnel bottom from Michael Peters Yacht Design, a double-stepped deep-V with 22.5 degrees of deadrise. The ventilated tunnel and steps reduce drag, and Viking says the V-55 is the largest center console on the market to use the design.

Testers describe a ride so smooth and dry that speed becomes deceptive. Viking's demo captain, after more than 30 sea trials, said guests think they are doing 35 mph when the GPS shows well over 50. The 15-foot 6-inch beam adds stability at rest and makes room for more fuel, more cockpit and a real interior.

Weights are substantial: 38,904 pounds dry, 44,539 at half load and 49,873 fully loaded. That mass helps the ride offshore but is also why fuel burn is high.

Quad or quint V12s, speed and fuel

Valhalla engineered the V-55 specifically for Mercury's Verado V12 600. Standard power is four, 2,400 hp, with joystick control. A fifth engine raises that to 3,000 hp.

According to Valhalla figures reported by Marlin, quads push a tower-equipped boat to 64 mph (about 56 knots) and a hardtop boat without tower to 68 mph. With quints and a hardtop the boat reaches 73 to 74 mph. Power and Motoryacht quoted roughly 52 knots on quads and about 60 knots on quints, and Salt Water Sportsman's quad-engine test boat hit 62.8 mph while carrying a tuna tower, a second control station and a hardtop. Valhalla has not published a full fuel curve and we have not seen an instrumented cruise figure, but four V12s pushing a boat of this weight at a 40-knot-plus cruise will burn well into triple digits in gallons per hour.

With 1,211 gallons of gasoline aboard, 200 to 300 gallons more than competing models according to Marlin, plus a separate 49-gallon diesel tank for the generator, the V-55 has one of the longest ranges in the super console class. An electrically operated fuel management system lets each engine draw from designated tanks.

• Quad V12 600 with gap tower: 64 mph top speed
• Quad V12 600, hardtop only: 68 mph
• Quint V12 600, hardtop only: 73 to 74 mph
• Salt Water Sportsman test, quads with tuna tower and second station: 62.8 mph

A cockpit that came from the convertible world

The cockpit is where the Viking heritage shows most. Two 65-gallon livewells are built into the transom, large enough that one tester joked children could swim in them. Twin insulated 110-gallon fish boxes, refrigeration optional, flank a centerline Seakeeper hatch and the lazarette. A Hooker electric sea chest, Electrosea strainer system, Reverso automatic outboard flushing and neatly labeled pumps live under the deck, all accessible through hatches.

Port and starboard dive doors, under-gunwale rod storage, Gemlux hardware and mezzanine seating with a teak rocket launcher complete the fishing deck. A huge aft-facing display lets the crew watch the sounder or a ball game. Through Viking's own subsidiaries, owners can order a Palm Beach Towers gap tower and custom electronics from Atlantic Marine Electronics, while the hardtop package adds a teaser reel box, a six-rod rocket launcher and pods for radar and spreader lights.

Helm seating for nine or a family U-lounge

The first boat debuted with nine forward-facing bolster seats in two rows, a layout aimed at tournament crews. Owners who mostly cruise can swap the second row for a U-shaped conversation area. The front row is elevated so the skipper sees the bow and over the heads of the crew behind.

A ProCurve glass enclosure protects the helm, which carries multifunction displays, Bocatech switching, an Edson wheel and Zipwake trim control. Sightlines and protection were among the strongest points in early reviews.

Two staterooms and a machinery room below

Below decks, the V-55 offers an air-conditioned interior that Power and Motoryacht said cannot honestly be called a cabin. A dinette and lounge seating sit to port, a galley to starboard, and a forward stateroom with a queen berth. The head is split so one person can shower while another uses the toilet, and there is nearly seven feet of headroom.

Aft, a second stateroom with twin berths gives a fishing crew or children their own space. Through that cabin lies the machinery room, a Valhalla innovation first seen on the V-46, housing the 15 kW diesel generator, batteries and chargers, fire and ventilation systems, water heater, fuel management and optional watermaker. Boatyard technicians love it, and owners will appreciate the lower labor bills.

Valhalla 55 price and ownership costs

Salt Water Sportsman listed a base price of $2,917,000 in late 2023, and realistic 2026 sail-away prices with a tower, Seakeeper, electronics and popular options fall between roughly $3 million and $3.9 million. Used boats from 2023 to 2025 have been priced around $2.5 million to $3.4 million.

Expect annual costs of $180,000 to $340,000 including a captain or mate if used, insurance, a 60-foot slip, service on four or five V12s, generator and Seakeeper maintenance, and fuel. Viking-level build and dealer support through HMY and others should help resale, but the segment is young and values have not been tested through a full market cycle.

V-55 or the 55 Sport Yacht

Valhalla also offers the 55 Sport Yacht on the same platform, aimed at owners who want more comfort and entertaining space than a tournament deck. Buyers searching for a Valhalla 55 sport yacht should compare deck plans carefully, as the center console V-55 keeps the open fishing cockpit and the walkaround deck that make it a true super console.