VIKING YACHTS 68 CONVERTIBLE Defining the evolution of excellence. The Viking Yacht Company wrote a new chapter in the evolution of excellence when its blue-water masterpiece, the 68 Convert- ible was introduced at the 2005 Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show. The boat's premiere appearance was particularly notable. First and foremost, the show's opening was postponed one week because South Florida had been pummeled by Hurricane Wilma. Additionally, the Viking 68 broke new ground in yacht design and construction as the first Viking yacht in our 43-year history to make use of the company's five-axis profiler. This $1 million computer programmed router, the largest in the marine industry, was employed by Viking engineers and designers to create sev- eral of the mold plugs for the new model, including the flying bridge, helm console and main fuel tank. Running on Viking's proven fairbody hull shape with 15-degree transom deadrise and propeller pockets for a modest 5 ft. 5 in. draft, the 68 Convertible's eye pleasing profile is apparent from every angle. And now the yacht is being offered with a sleek, black metallic mask across the house windshield creating a breathtaking, dramatic look is pure sizzle. The luxurious interior is an elegant ensemble of hand-finished teak joiner work and richly textured designer fabrics, which cre- ate a plush, palatial ambience. The four-stateroom, four-head ar- rangement is sure to please the most fastidious yachtsman and the hard-core tournament fishermen. The salon is a blueprint of intelligent form and function, uti- lizing the wide beam to its maximum potential. Flowing with luxury features from the electrically operated salon door to a 42- inch plasma television, which raises from lush teak cabinetry via remote control, to tasteful granite countertops in the galley, the 68 Convertible is everything you have come to expect from Vi- king and more. Frameless windows fill the spacious salon with an abundance of natural lighting. Air conditioning flows from hidden registers behind valances to better distribute cooling air and reduce noise. The main electrical panel is directly inside the salon door and at eye level for maximum convenience. Pro- portions throughout the salon are generous, and like its larger sibling the 74 Convertible, the salon, galley and dinette are on the same level for better traffic flow and ease of moving about. Bulk stowage is especially abundant forward of the galley and dinette, which will make long range cruising to exotic fishing locals enjoyable and practical. In the U-shape galley, Sub-Zero under counter refrigeration maxi- mizes food storage capacity and keeps the area open to the salon

HAND-FINISHED TEAK JOINER WORKAND RICHLY TEXTURED DESIGNER FABRICS, WHICH CREATE and dinette. Pull-out drawers on aircraft-type slide mechanisms lock in place for safe keeping and sport more than enough room to empty several displays at a Williams Sonoma store. Major brand appliances are standard and a garbage disposal and trash compactor are among the many features. Opposite the galley, a large dinette easily accommodates four adults for dinner and additional bar-stool seating is available at The portside master suite is amidships and has a king-size walk around bed with a spring mattress and...

throughout the day, a walk-through transom door with lift gate, a molded nonslip fiberglass sole with aluminum plate reinforcement for fighting chair placement, flush rod holders, tackle and gaff stow- age, in-deck fish box with a macerator pump discharge and stowage compartments for gear and an available circulating live well. For dockside versatility, port and starboard Glendinning Cablemaster shore power cords are provided. The flying bridge sports a center console helm providing superb vis- ibility to all quarters. Power-assisted hydraulic steering is standard and matched to custom stainless-steel...

EXPERIENCED FISHERMEN KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-CRAFTED COCKPIT AND HOW ITS LAYOUT CAN AFFECT TOURNAMENT SUCCESS. shaped lounge, an adjustable Stidd helm seat, plus port and starboard companion seating. The main helm features a destroyer type stain- less-steel wheel and a second station on the bridge aft deck affords excellent visibility when docking or fishing. Powder-coated aft rail- ing and flying bridge ladder, quartz lighting and a molded fiberglass seat also are included. The stand-up engineroom features Viking's leading edge powder- coated web-frame structural-steel engine beds, which...