The highly anticipated 37 Billfish from Viking Yachts made its debut to the public at this year’s Miami Boat Show. Viking had Hull No. 1 at Yachts Miami Beach over on Collins Avenue, but we hopped aboard Hull No. 2 at the show on Virginia Key to see some of the improvements Viking made to this sport-fisher with a rich heritage from its original days of being built by Ocean Yachts. The 37 Billfish is absolutely perfect for an owner/operator situation and is very manageable without a professional crew — a rare thing with 90-footers becoming the new standard. So if you’re in the market for a inboard boat in the age of large outboards, you need to give some serious consideration to the new 37 Billfish.
A view of the cockpit, mezzanine and bridge of the 37 Billfish. The cockpit has tons of space for an entire team to work the area with ease.
The windshield on the 37 Billfish is a single piece of glass and allows for an unobstructed view — a large improvement from the original design. There is also a lower driving station that allows the captain to drive the boat from the comfort of the climate-controlled area.
The outriggers beautifully complement the lines of the 37 Billfish and make this small battlewagon a true competitor on the fishing grounds.
No matter whether you are cruising on a Sunday afternoon or fishing a high-stakes tournament, the mezzanine seating is ideal and a must-have on a modern sport-fishing boat. There is a freezer below the mezzanine on the port side and tackle storage on the starboard-side. The open bulkhead makes the 37 Billfish a perfect day boat, especially for a place like South Florida or Costa Rica.
There are two different seating areas inside of the 37 Billfish: a settee on the port side and a bench seat on the starboard-side. The settee can also be lowered to create an additional bunk when traveling.
The 37-footer is powered by a pair of Cummins QSB 6.7 engines located beneath the settee and the seating on the starboard-side. The first two hulls feature Cummins’ Joystick Control System for increased maneuverability. The owner of Hull No. 1 opted for a Seakeeper but Hull No 2. did not have it. However, it can easily be added with a dedicated access hatch should an owner want to add one after delivery.
One of the unique features of the 37 Billfish is the lower driving station. This setup is ideal for an owner/operator who wants to spend time with guests on the way to the fishing grounds; it’s also nice to head offshore in comfort if its blistering hot or freezing cold.
The 37 Billfish provides roomy accommodations below and is perfect for overnight trips for a couple or small family. The stateroom sits forward on the centerline, a full head and shower is on the port side and the galley is on the starboard-side.
The L-shaped galley features all the creature comforts you would expect from a Viking: a two-burner stove top, microwave and a refrigerator/freezer combo.
The forward stateroom on the Billfish 37 provides plenty of space to live comfortably while getting away for a quick trip the Bahamas.
The helm of the 37 Billfish is beautifully designed to optimize space as well as efficiency for the captain. The captain can easily activate the bow thruster from his controls, but this boat is also outfitted with Cummins’ Joystick Control system to make close-quarter maneuvering easier.
The sightlines from the helm allow the captain to easily see the bow when docking.
The helm seating from Release Marine provides a comfortable space for the captain to sit while running out to the fishing grounds. The bridge also has seating on either side as well as in front of the helm pod for guests to enjoy the views.
