viking yacht history

Viking Yacht Company Celebrates 60 Years of Boatbuilding

• By Peter Frederiksen
• October 31, 2023

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On April 1, 2024, the Viking Yacht Company will celebrate its 60th year in boatbuilding. From humble beginnings on the banks of the Bass River in New Gretna, New Jersey, Viking has become the largest manufacturer of luxury fiberglass sport-fishing yachts in the world, with more than 5,500 boats delivered. Armed with a constant influx of new models that define the company mantra of building a better boat every day, Viking shows no signs of slowing down heading into its seventh decade. But the story of this family-owned and -operated company actually began well before its opening on April 1, 1964.

The Early Days

In 1961, the Healey brothers—Bill, an ironworker at his father’s steel company, and Bob, an attorney with real estate expertise—built a marina on the Bass River. The Healeys soon realized that for the marina to be profitable, it would need to sell boats, marine supplies and equipment, as well as provide repairs and winter storage. The pair struck a deal with Carl Peterson, a cottage-size local builder whose brand was flagged Peterson-Viking. Peterson produced a dozen or so boats per year, and the Healeys were able to sell half or more of the builder’s yearly inventory.

The well-built mahogany-planked Peterson-Viking boats were handsome, seaworthy and compared favorably with the South Jersey competition. Although Carl Peterson was a good builder, his company soon developed financial problems. A bank approached the Healey brothers about buying Peterson-Viking, an idea they liked. The Healeys decided to sell their marina and set up shop constructing boats in a large but unheated building in an undeveloped area behind the marina, where the Viking Yacht Company is today.

The brothers dropped the Peterson name, and the Viking Yacht Company began with Bill the boatbuilder and Bob the money man. Bill may have started out with his father, Patrick, in the steel-erection business, but his genius was soon apparent. He was born to be a boatbuilder, and together with his brother’s financial and legal acumen, the Healeys began their unstoppable quest. Bob knew that his brother would never compromise the quality of the boats, and his philosophy and commitment were obvious to every employee. His service in the United States Marine Corps also helped employees to understand from their first day that it was Bill’s way or the highway.

The first wooden Vikings sported lots of varnish, teak cockpits, and artfully hand-painted hulls. Popular styles in those days featured sedan layouts with flybridges, but Viking’s first real milestone came in 1971 when the first all-fiberglass 33-footer was launched. In fall 1972, the company made its industry mark with the 40 Sedan Convertible, which remained in ­production for 16 years. More than 600 were sold both as the original 40 and an updated 41-foot version. By 1979, the fleet had expanded to include a 35 Convertible and a 43 Double Cabin. A 46 Convertible was added in 1981.

As Viking was gaining attention from its major ­competitors, Bertram and Hatteras, a growing number of customers began to recognize that the well-built and smartly styled Vikings were formidable industry players. The lineup expanded further in 1987 when Viking bought Gulfstar, a St. Petersburg, Florida, yachtbuilder, and its factory. Viking now had established a stable of desirable tournament-ready sport-fishing yachts and a luxurious lineup of motoryachts from 50 to 63 feet.

Rolling With the Punches

A recession reared its ugly head in summer 1990, but it was the federal luxury tax that passed in November of that year that crushed the boating industry. The tax added a 10 percent upcharge to boats and other luxury items that sold above $100,000. On January 1, 1991, the tax went into effect, and the result was the equivalent of running aground at 35 knots. The brain-dead government felt that wealthy folks could afford the added expense, but they figuratively missed the boat in not realizing that the tax also affected the tens of thousands of workers throughout the marine industry. In 1990, Viking sold 90 boats. When the tax went into effect, sales dwindled to 32. A year later, it sold 12 boats, three of which were heading overseas. Both the dealers and Viking were stuck with inventory, so Viking closed the St. Petersburg plant and shipped the molds and other equipment back to New Gretna. Between Florida and New Jersey, Viking had more than 1,500 employees before the luxury tax; just 64 remained by 1993.

Using their personal resources, including their retirement plans, the Healey brothers sold their real estate holdings to keep the doors open and fought with the banks to arrange a workable loan-payment schedule. Bob Healey also took the fight to Washington with busloads of unemployed craftsmen and raised national attention by burning a boat on a barge in Narragansett Bay. The government did not understand that the issue was about the working people and their families who were losing their jobs and homes, not just the wealthy.

On August 10, 1993, President Bill Clinton finally repealed the luxury tax. When Bob Healey told the story about the IRS telling him that the luxury tax cost the government more in unemployment benefits than it took in with the tax, it was further proof that the tax was foolish and ill-conceived. Soundings , a popular boating publication, wrote, “On a national level, no one battled the luxury tax harder than Robert Healey.” When the Healeys were inducted into the National Marine Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame in 2003, many in attendance remembered the grit and dedication that the Healeys provided through those horrible years.

Silver Linings

During those troubled times, an interesting benefit and asset emerged. Bill’s son, Pat Healey , who is now president and CEO, became a full-time employee in 1976 and was working his way up in the sales department. Every week, he’d hit the road to visit Viking dealers. He was after input; he wanted to hear what the customers were saying, and then he would take those ideas back to the team in New Gretna. It was time to shake out the “if you build it, they will come” theory, and building what the customers wanted would revive sales and grow the company in a post-luxury-tax world. Pat sought out dealers who shared his company’s mission. He insisted on total commitment to work through the remaining inventory and to be ready when customers returned to the market.

Viking survived the luxury tax—barely keeping its doors open—but the company continued to innovate and tool up new models. So when the tax was lifted, Viking was well-positioned to leapfrog the competition.

Once the inventory and dealer supply were under control, it was time to start bringing back Viking’s workforce—but not without another glitch: Nearby Atlantic City was eating up all the electrical, mechanical and carpentry labor. So, Bob Healey enhanced the pay program, including profit sharing, and instilled a four-day workweek. New models were coming, and the existing lineup, especially the 50 and 53 Convertibles, were branded with new interiors and other upgrades. There was a powerful energy among the employees, and when Bill stood at the door every night wishing them—each one by their first name—a good evening, smiles were everywhere.

By 1995, the company was about to launch its ­largest convertible: a 72-footer. A 54 Sports Yacht enhanced its motoryacht line, followed by a 58 enclosed-bridge model and a 60-foot Cockpit Sports Yacht that was Boating magazine’s Boat of the Year.

As Bob Healey recognized the importance of healthy fish stocks to keep customers interested in new offshore-­fishing boats, he founded the Recreational Fishing Alliance in 1996. That same year, Viking formed a strategic alliance with Marine Projects, a British ­yachtbuilder of highly regarded motoryachts from 40 to 72 feet. The British-built yachts were ­manufactured to Viking’s specifications for the American market and named Viking Sport Cruisers. It was an ­immediate hit that every Viking dealer embraced to expand the ­company’s footprint.

Meanwhile, Pat had been drilling his father with ideas for a better convertible. With Bill’s go-ahead, what followed was the Viking 55, a convertible loaded with custom features built on a production schedule. It set the standard as the ultimate sport-fishing yacht of the era and established Viking as a worldwide industry leader. Before it debuted at the Fort Lauderdale show in 1997, Viking had already sold 20 boats. The company eventually sold 115 during its five-year run in the tournament spotlight. It was so popular that when the next Viking, the 65 Convertible, was announced in 1998, it also sold 20 boats before the first one launched. The same year, Viking gained more acclaim from Ernst & Young as the New Jersey Manufacturer Entrepreneur of the Year. And in 1999, the beloved 61 appeared on the scene.

Expansion, Renovation and Innovation

In 2000, Bill orchestrated a $10 million plant expansion to improve factory efficiencies because the company was constantly introducing new models. The Healeys were obsessed with offering their owners value, and in February 2002, they opened the Viking Yacht Service Center in Riviera Beach, Florida. In December, they bought back the Bass River Marina and reflagged it as the Viking Yachting Center. Pat saw another opportunity to provide Viking owners with more value when Atlantic Marine Electronics and Palm Beach Towers were created. The subsidiaries enabled Viking to offer turnkey delivery with every new Viking. Since their establishment two decades ago, both have become ­leaders in their respective industries.

In 2004, Viking launched its 74 Convertible, the ­largest boat in its 40-year history. Bill upgraded the plant again by purchasing a $1 million five-axis CNC machine, which carved foam plugs used to produce new molds for hulls, decks, cockpits and other large parts. It shortened the time it would take to build new models, becoming so useful that Viking bought a second five-axis machine to build myriad smaller fiberglass parts. Viking was on a roll, introducing one to three new models every year. At the 2005 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, a 68 Convertible and a 74 Enclosed Bridge Convertible were showcased, along with announcements of a 52 Open and a 64 Convertible under construction.

Now in the zone, the ideas kept coming: Viking ­sponsored the Riviera Beach Maritime School in 2006 and displayed the first 68-foot enclosed-bridge model. Bill designed and built a wastewater-treatment plant for the New Gretna facility, triggering an effort to explore alternative-energy options, including the installation of 798 solar panels on the roof of Building 5A to provide power for it and Building 5. In January 2012, Bill’s most ambitious project got underway: a tri-generation power plant using natural gas to power six microturbines. The power plant reduced heat, electrical and cooling costs.

Despite the Great Recession, which began in December 2007, Viking continued to introduce fresh new models, with its largest-ever yacht debuting in 2009: the Viking 82. Several other boats were also introduced, such as the Viking 76. Other milestone yachts would follow, including the 70 Convertible in 2010 and the 66 the following year.

The innovation was nonstop, and Viking’s industry-­leading boat-show displays—with upwards of 16 boats in the water—were dominating. At the 2014 Fort Lauderdale show, the world was wowed again as Viking celebrated its 50th anniversary with the premiere of its game-changing 92 Enclosed Bridge Convertible and the 75 Motor Yacht.

The success of the Florida Service Center had made it so popular that Viking built another yard a few blocks north—Viking International Yacht Center—which also became home to Atlantic Marine Electronics and Palm Beach Towers. Also in celebration of its 50th anniversary, the company held its first Viking Key West Challenge—a family fishing tournament that became a fixture in the Conch Republic.

The following year, the company launched the 80 Convertible. In 2016, Pat Healey announced that Viking had purchased the Ocean Yachts property on the nearby Mullica River to build its smaller models and provide more space for the larger Vikings in New Gretna. The groundbreaking 93 Motor Yacht began construction that summer.

Three new models arrived in 2018, including a 68 and a 44 Convertible in Miami, with a September sneak peek of the new 58 Convertible. No other company has built as many new boats as Viking, but this is a company that simply does not rest on its laurels. For proof, Pat made an announcement at the 2019 VIP event in February that stunned all 800 people in attendance: Viking would introduce three outboard-powered Valhalla Boatworks center-consoles—the V-33, V-37 and V-41—in September, and the Valhallas would be built at the Mullica plant. These 2020 models were joined by two new boats—the 38 Billfish Open and the 46 Billfish—which set a record of sorts at the Fort Lauderdale show with five new-boat introductions.

The momentum continued in 2021 with a new Valhalla 46 and Viking 54 Convertible; followed in 2022 by the Viking 64 Convertible and 54 Open; and at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show, two new flagships—the Viking 90 and Valhalla V-55—made their world premiere.

Bill Healey still visits his company and has always been fond of the Fleetwood Mac song “Don’t Stop,” with the familiar, recurring line: “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.” No words better describe the harmony and heartbeat that drives Viking to build a better boat every day. Sixty years later, it never gets old. Viking Yachts is privately owned, vertically integrated, and comprised of three generations, producing 90 percent of ­everything that goes into the vessels in order to ­control and ­maintain quality.

Bob Healey passed away in 2021, with Viking, the boating and fishing community, and the media recognizing his tremendous impact on the marine industry. His son, Bob Healey Jr., has taken the reins from his father as chairman, working with his cousin Pat as Viking charges into the future. The company now includes the third generation of the Healey family. Pat’s children—Sean, Justin and Kaitlyn—are now fully involved with the company in sales and marketing roles, while also representing Viking at boat shows, ­tournaments, and other events.

Read Next: Get to know Viking president and CEO (and passionate billfisherman) Pat Healey in our exclusive interview .

The hundreds of components that make a Viking are derived from the sweat equity of the company’s proud boatbuilders. Pat Healey smiles when he says, “We’re not smarter than our competition; we just work harder,” which is proved by the overwhelming feeling visitors get when touring the company’s 880,000-square-foot factory in New Gretna, where some 1,500 shipwrights produce the Viking product. And no matter where you turn in the Viking dimension, the people you see never stop ­thinking about the boat they will build tomorrow.

• More: Boat Building , Boats , Nov-Dec 2023 , Viking Yacht Company

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Building a Legacy with Viking Yachts

• By Lenny Rudow
• Updated: July 2, 2021

When brothers Bob and Bill Healey bought Peterson-Viking Builders in April 1964, there was no way they could have foreseen a future including two New Jersey manufacturing facilities totaling over 910,000 square feet; about 1,500 employees; close to 5,000 hulls delivered; ownership of companies that handle aluminum tower fabrication, marine electronics and marine service; and dominance of the production sport-fishing yacht market. Yet, that’s where five-plus decades of boatbuilding has brought them.

Today, Viking Yachts produces 90 percent of every boat in-house, leaving only components such as engines to other companies. The builder offers six different lines of boats ranging from 38 to 93 feet length overall. And the brand is constantly upgrading, re-engineering and refining its designs and construction methods. Even the most successful models have been regularly retired through the years, to make way for new and improved versions.

“Take our 55 for example,” says president and CEO Pat Healey. “That boat was a total icon. It had new styling, a new bottom, a new layout and used new materials. And it started an entire family of yachts leading to the 61, the 65, the 74—all were insane successes.”

Whether it’s utilizing resin-infusion construction, tweaking engine-room vents, or developing a unique electrohydraulic rudder-steering system, the company has maintained a forward-looking attitude, harnessing the latest tech to build better yachts.

“We can do almost everything by computer today. We even tank-test boats virtually now,” Healey says, “and we can do it over a dozen times in a couple of days. We can move strakes, change the center of gravity and tweak just about anything. As a result, our latest models don’t just meet our projections—they beat them.”

Also recently, Viking entered the center-console market with the Valhalla Boatworks brand. Valhallas range from 33 to 46 feet length overall and are powered by twin to quadruple outboards. Running on a Michael Peters stepped-V ventilated-tunnel, twin-step hull design, these boats can hit hat-stripping speeds of 60-plus knots. While on board the V-41, I found that it comfortably cruised in the mid-40-knot range through 2- to 3-foot seas.

Why did a builder so successful with yachts decide to enter the center-console market?

“The project was actually in the works on and off for nearly two decades,” says Viking’s director of communications, Chris Landry. “It didn’t get off the ground until now due to the market, business strategies or other reasons, but it’s something we always wanted to do.”

Innovation is in Viking’s DNA. The fact that the company builds everything it can in-house is part of the innovative philosophy, and Healey says the technique is vital to success.

“We found 30 years ago that building our own parts in our own facility gave us timeliness, quality, and the ability to trace what works best and what can go wrong,” he says. “And it’s part of why we’ve turned into what’s really a marine group, with our subsidiaries Palm Beach Towers and Atlantic Marine Electronics. The vendors were good, but we wanted better. We wanted the best of the best. So, we took control and did it ourselves.”

In-house construction means quality control, whether it’s finely finished cabinetry, ramrod-straight and labeled wiring harnesses, or baffled fuel tanks. That quality also lets Viking service all aspects of the yacht post-purchase. When something does go wrong—we are talking about boats, after all—Viking knows how to remedy the situation. Being able to do so quickly and with minimal effort is one reason Viking purchased a South Florida service center in Riviera Beach and staffed it with Viking-trained personnel.

“It’s part of the commitment we have to our owners,” Healey says. “We pick up the phone. We take care of our customers. You can talk to a Healey. That’s the kind of boatbuilding team my father wanted us to be.”

Viking’s latest projects include a $1.4 million dredging and dock replacement at its New Gretna shipyard in New Jersey. At Viking’s Mullica facility, also in New Jersey, the builder is developing an additional 12,000 square feet of space where the four Valhalla production lines are located. Despite the line’s fledgling nature, Viking expects to build 90 Valhalla hulls in the next fiscal year.

Research and development into new tech also continues on the inboard side. To say that Healey gets animated when asked about the future of Vikings would be an understatement.

“I 100 percent believe that diesel-hybrid technology is close and will be a game-changer for marine,” he says in a rapid-fire staccato. “I can envision running to the fishing grounds on your mains, then shutting them down and ramping up a variable-speed diesel-electric generator. You could then troll all day on electric before running back home on the mains. That could cut engine hours by 70 percent, which alone is huge. But there’s also the potential to use the electric with the mains to get extra horsepower. We’ve been working on this for five years, and it’ll be a few years more, but it’s coming.”

Note Healey’s use of the word “we” when he talks about developing these systems. Viking isn’t waiting for other companies to announce new diesel-electric tech. Viking is hands-on in the development.

Because after nearly 60 years, that’s exactly what everyone has come to expect of Viking Yachts.

Take the next step: vikingyachts.com

• More: April 2021 , Viking Yachts , Yachts
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The Ages of Exploration

Viking ships.

Quick Facts:

The Viking ship was a strong durable ship that allowed the Norsemen of Scandinavia sail long distances and raid far away kingdoms.

Date : 700-1100AD

Floki Vilgerdarsson

Floki Vilgerdarsson Viking ship {{PD-Art}}

• Additional Resources

Viking ships were very versatile. Both of their two main styles of ships fared well against the dangers of open sea travel as well as on the narrow rivers of the foreign lands they were raiding. This versatility allowed the Vikings to explore lands as far west as Canada, as far east as Russia, and as far south as Africa!

Legends about the Viking Age present Vikings as ruthless invaders, but their culture and history were far more complex. In the 6 th Century BCE the Vikings did begin to raid the monasteries on the coasts of England and, after finding their campaigns to be successful fundraisers, they continued their pillaging in France and Russia. In the 9 th century, the Vikings began to sail farther west, eventually coming to the land they named Vinland, which is now known as Newfoundland in Canada. There is even archaeological evidence of trade between the Vikings in Scandinavia and the inhabitants of Africa and Asia! The Vikings’ marine success was due, in large part, to the seaworthiness of their ships. These ships were very versatile, allowing the Vikings to sail on the open sea as well as the narrow rivers of the European mainland. The Vikings were the best ship designers of their time, and much like the Phoenicians they were master navigators and sailors.

The Vikings used two main types of ships for these expeditions. The first was known as a drakkar , or “longship,” designed for carrying raiding parties. The longship had a single sail and mast, which were removable for storage, and carried oars that the crew used to propel the ship forward. The hull also assisted in the smooth sailing of a drakkar . It was designed to be flexible, so that it would move with the waves instead of against them. The head of a dragon, horse, or swan was usually sculpted onto the bow. The Vikings also mounted their shields along the side of the vessel to have them ready in the event of an attack. These ships were likely the ones used in the raids in England and France.

The second kind of ship was known as the knörr , meaning “halfship”. The halfship was a merchant ship used for carrying cargo such as cattle, wool, timber and wheat. It was a bulkier vessel, with a wider and deeper hull than the longship, holding between 70 and 100 people. Ornate decorations signifying different aspects of Viking culture and the Norse religion and mythology were typically carved into the sides of these ships. Unlike the longship, the knörr carried fewer oars, and these were used for docking only. The mast on a knörr was a permanent part of the ship and could not be removed. These types of Viking ships were probably close to the ship on which Leif Eriksson traveled to North America.

Vikings used their ships with care. They followed the seasons, venturing out to sea in the spring and returning to the safety of home at the end of autumn. They put a lot into creating strong durable ships and became the masters of the Northern Atlantic.

Waldman, Carl, and Alan Wexler. Encyclopedia of Exploration, Vol. 1-2. New York: Facts On File, 2004.

Weaver, Stewart A. Exploration: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Sawyer, P.H. Kings and Vikings: Scandinavia and Europe AD 700-1100. London: Routledge, 1984.

Villiers, Capt. Alan. “Vikings and Longships, Scourge of Northern Seas,” in Men, SHips and the Sea. Washington DC: National Geographic Society, 1962.

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Viking Ships: More than Fearsome Weapons of the Open Seas

• Read Later  

Few things struck fear into the hearts of medieval people more than the sight of a fleet of Viking ships sailing up the coast of their homelands. The Viking ship is iconic for its unique style, allowing it to both sail across the treacherous seas of Northern Europe , and row up the narrow rivers and tributaries in the lands of their victims. But Viking ships were not all the same. In fact, they varied quite a lot in style, design, and function. So let’s take a look at the different styles of longships.

What were Viking Longships?

The first thing to note about Viking ships is that they had many different forms and functions: there were warships , merchant ships, and everyday ships. Some ships were multi-purpose, such as being used for both raiding and trading.

The longship first appeared around somewhere between the 9th and 13th centuries, the period when the Vikings were actively raiding Europe. They were both light and strong because the planks and frames were cleaved, meaning they followed the fibers of the tree. This meant the planks were very strong, as well as allowing for a reduction in their size to make the boat lighter.

Due to this, cleaved planks were an essential part of the Viking longship. The Vikings did not use saws to make planks in the Viking age, instead cutting down trees and dividing the trunk into smaller parts by repeatedly chopping it in half lengthways until left with separate planks. For this reason, the trees used needed to be tall, straight, and knot-free. As mentioned, this meant the planks were stronger and could be made smaller, resulting in a lighter boat.

A 1979 excavation of a longship in Hedeby revealed some remarkable wood. The local oak was cut from 300-year-old trees in lengths of over 10 meters without so much as a mark or a blemish.

This method of Viking shipbuilding was derived from the earlier Nordic clinker-boats, built using the same technique. These boats were developed several hundred years before Viking ships. On the clinker-boats, the overlap between two boards acted as a strengthening element in the hull, allowing for a greater distance between the frames. There were a few important improvements, however, that made Viking longships even more effective.

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Viking ship, deliberately sunk ca. 1070; Roskilde Viking Ship Museum, Denmark (Richard Mortel / CC BY 2.0 )

The difference between Viking longships and Nordic clinker-boats

Firstly, they added support for the mast of the ship that began immediately above the keel (the backbone of the ship that runs longitudinally along the center of its bottom). This was done using a big block of timber known as a ‘kjerringa’ or keelson. This keelson might span up to four ribs, and was fixed with treenails (hard wooden pins used for fastening timber). The primary function of this was to evenly spread the weight of the mast and the strain caused when under sail. The keelson also had a vertical arm attached to it that supported the mast until it reached deck level, where the mast was supported by yet another block of timber that was slotted into it like a fork. This development allowed the Vikings to build ships that could not only be used on rivers but also on stormy seas.

Another crucial element to the Viking longship was the stem. This was the upright timber at the front of the vessel. It is probably also the most iconic part of the ship. The streamlined hull tapered off into the narrow, elegant fore and aft stems. Stepped stems are also where we see the clearest impact of the Viking age on Scandinavian shipbuilding. These stems were made from a single piece of timber, and they were carved in a way that created the illusion that the strakes (planks) all ran seamlessly into the stem top, creating a sleek look. This made for a streamlined hull that seems to be a major reason for the speed and sailing capabilities of these ships.

Meanwhile, the sail of the Viking longship allowed it to cover great distances over the open sea. Varied sails on different styles of Viking ships called for different materials, with flax and wool being the main two materials used. Flax , a plant fiber, makes for a light but strong sail. On the other hand, flax is very hard to work with and it also rots easily. Wool, meanwhile, is heavier and more elastic, but it doesn’t rot. It is, however, harder to treat and seal.

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Viking Longboat 'Hugin', Ramsgate (Peter Lelliott / ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )

What types of ships have been found?

In terms of the different types of ships found, there have been small levy vessels of up to 20 rowing benches that were maintained by local communities for royal service when the king called upon them. There were also standard warships with up to 30 rowing benches, most likely the possessions of earls and kings, with incredible craftsmanship and intricate detailing. These ships have only really been dated to the late Viking age and were referred to as ‘drekar’ or dragons, probably due to the intricately carved beasts on their prowls.

The earliest and most simple designs were known as ‘karvi’, and used between 6 and 16 rowing benches. They were excellent for both raiding and trading and were frequently used for both. The earliest Viking raids were likely conducted using these. The biggest longships used in warfare were known as ‘snekkja’, which means ‘thin and projecting’. These had a minimum of 20 rowing benches.

The design of all these ships is quite extreme, with a length-breadth ratio of over 6:1 and a shallow draft. The ships were incredibly unique for their time, but this made them perfect for raiding. The ships could easily land on any beach as well as navigate up almost any river or tributary, something no other sea-faring ships could do. If it weren’t for the development of the longship, it is likely the Viking age would never have even happened.

Top image: Viking Longboat 'Hugin', Ramsgate  Source: Peter Lelliott / ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )

By Mark Brophy

All about the Viking Ship . Vikingeskibs Museet. Available at: https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/professions/education/all-about-the-viking-ship

Durham, K. 2002. Viking Longship .7/11/2016. Viking Longships. Danish Net. Available at: https://www.danishnet.com/vikings/viking-longships/

Mark has a history degree from the National University of Ireland in Maynooth. He grew up surrounded by medieval ruins of the Irish midlands where he developed a passion for history, folklore and mythology. He has a particular interest in... Read More

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11 Famous Viking Ships [History, Pics & Facts]

List of famous viking ships & their excavations .

The Vikings were seafaring people who traveled extensively for purposes of war, trade, and settlement. Because of their connection to the sea, the Vikings crafted unique styles of boats and ships that were perfectly suited for sailing in the Baltic Sea and other bodies of water. 

Viking ships are characterized by their tar waterproofing and light construction. Viking sailors could pull their ships to shore with ease. 

Ships were constructed for sailing and rowing. Oarmen could row in shallow waters or set sail across major oceans. 

During the Viking Age (793-1066), craftsmen built hundreds of ships . In the earliest part of this period, ships lacked specialization. Ships for transport, trade, and warfare looked relatively similar. 

Starting in the 9th century, Viking ships gained specialization in their design. Warships called longships developed to maneuver through water with ease and speed. These ships were long and slim and capable of carrying large groups of warriors. 

By the 10th century, the Viking longship evolved to include a few variations. Longships were called skeidar. Smaller ships, or snekke, could be used for various purposes. Some ships were decorated with elaborate dragon or snake heads. This category was referred to as drakkar. 

Cargo ships were also specialized during this time. 

These categories of Viking ships became apparent as archaeologists began excavating vessels in the 19th century. Fully preserved Viking ships are extremely rare, but even fragments of ships can tell us much about how the vessels were built and why they sailed. 

The following are some of the most famous excavated Viking ships in history. They are excellent representations of the seafaring culture of the Vikings and their achievements as explorers. 

The famous ships listed below are roughly organized by year of excavation. 

1) Tune Ship 

The Tune ship is a Viking karve, which is a type of small longship. This specific vessel features a broad hull. 

It was found at the Haugen Farm Norway in a ship burial mound in 1867. Olaf Rygh led the excavation and named the ship “Tune” because of its burial in the Tune Parish. 

The karve measures approximately 61 by 14 feet and is made up of fragments. Archaeologists date the Tune ship to around 900 AD. 

The Tune ship is of clinker build, like most other Viking vessels. Clinker construction means that the planks of the hull overlap. 

The Tune ship is currently displayed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway. 

2) Gokstad Ship

The Gokstad ship is the most famous Viking ship ever excavated and is one of the best preserved in the world. The ship dates to the 9th century and features signature Viking clinker construction. 

The overlapping oak planks can be seen in the photo below. 

The Gokstad ship was found 1880 in a Gokstad, Norway burial mound. 

The ship’s construction made it suitable for war, trade, and transport. The ship measures 78 feet long and 16.7 feet wide. This large ship required up to 32 oarsmen. 

The Gokstad ship is currently displayed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway. 

3) Oseberg Ship

The Oseberg Ship was excavated in Oseberg, Norway between 1904 and 1905. It dates to the 800s AD. 

This ship is categorized as a karve, which is a small longship. The oak vessel measures 71 feet long and 16 feet wide. 

The Oseberg is famous for its detailed construction. The above photo shows the intricate wood carving found on the ship’s fragments. 

The Oseberg’s fame is partly due to a number of reconstructions of the ship. Reconstructions help the public understand the original design and purpose of the ship. 

4) Ladby Ship

The Ladby ship was excavated in 1934-36 from a burial mound. Although poorly preserved, the ship’s many rivets allowed archaeologists to reconstruct the vessel. 

Interestingly, the Ladby ship was discovered with its anchor. It also featured unique metal spiral decorations. 

Experts date the Ladby ship to the 900s. It is smaller than other discoveries and would have required an estimated 15 to 16 oarsmen. 

5) Haithabu Ship

The Haithabu ship was found in Denmark in 1953. The underwater excavation uncovered a long and narrow ship measuring 31 meters by 2.7 meters. These measurements make the Haithabu ship the narrowest Viking ship ever found. 

The Haithabu vessel required around 30 oarsmen. It dates to approximately 985 AD. 

6) Skuldelev 1 

The Skuldelev 1 ship is one of several vessels uncovered at Skuldelev on the Roskilde Fjord in Denmark. Skuldelev 1 was a cargo ship built around 1030. 

Because of its design as a cargo ship, this vessel measures 15.8 by 4.8 meters. Skuldelev 1 is made of primarily pine planks with oak repairs. The vessel could hold a small crew of 6 to 8 men. 

About 60% of the Skuldelev 1 ship is preserved. Visitors can view the ship at the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark. 

7) Skuldelev 2 

Skuldelev 2 was also found on Roskilde Fjord. This war ship is thought to have been constructed in Ireland in around 1042. It could hold 65-70 warriors and required 60 oarsmen. 

The ship measures 30 meters long and about 4 meters wide. 

Archaeologists uncovered Skuldelev 2 in 1957. Since then, many people have learned about the ship thanks to reconstruction efforts. The above pictures show the Skuldelev 2 reconstruction sailing in waters around Dublin. 

8) Skuldelev 3

Skuldelev 3 is a small trading ship found at Roskilde Fjord in Denmark. The ship was constructed from Danish oak in 1040. 

The ship measures 14 meters by 3 meters. 

9) Skuldelev 5

Skuldelev 5 dates to 1030 and is a small longship designed for sailing in the Baltic Sea. 

The ship is uniquely crafted from both new and used wood. This is a rare characteristic and has puzzled archaeologists. 

The vessel measures 17 meters long and  2.5 meters wide. 50% of the ship has been persevered and is on display in the Viking Ship Museum of Denmark. 

10) Skuldelev 6

Skuldelev 6 is a small fishing boat that is 70% preserved. It was likely built in western Norway in 1030 from a mix of pine, birch and oak wood. 

The vessel measures 11 meters long and 2.5 meters wide. 

11) Gjellestad Ship

The Gjellestad ship excavation is the first of its kind in about a century. Lars Gustavsen and Erich Nau discovered this longship using ground-penetrating radar. 

The ship was buried just below the topsoil at the Gjellestad Farm in Halden, Norway. The discovery was made in 2018 and the site has been undergoing excavation since. 

The ship dates to 733 AD at the earliest. Efforts to preserve the ship started in 2020. 

Besides the longship, the Gjellestad excavation site also includes burial mounds and longhouses. The area is thought to have been a sacred site since the Bronze Age. 

Archaeologists have uncovered large sections of the Gjellestad ship and its rivets. Other items found at the site include a large amber bead, a bracelet, large axes, and the bones of humans, horses, and cattle. 

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History Hit Story of England: Making of a Nation

10 Facts About Viking Longships

Harry Atkins

02 apr 2023.

The Vikings are best remembered as fearsome warriors, but their longlasting legacy owes just as much to their seafaring aptitude. Both the Vikings’ ships and the skill with which they utilised them were key to the success of many of their exploits, from fishing and exploring the oceans to raiding.

Though Viking boats came in many shapes and sizes, the most iconic and effective Viking vessel was undoubtedly the longship. Long, narrow and flat, longships were fast, durable and capable of navigating both choppy seas and shallow rivers. They were also light enough to be carried over land.

It’s easy to characterise the Vikings as bloodthirsty reprobates rampaging across Europe , but the craft and innovation of the shipbuilding that enabled their conquests deserves recognition.

The fact that Leif Erikson led a Viking crew to North America in around 1,000 — 500 years before Christopher Columbus set foot on the New World — makes clear the Vikings’ remarkable maritime prowess and showcases the robustness of their boats.  

Here are 10 things you may not have known about the impressive longships.

1. Their design evolved over many years

Reenactment of the Viking landing at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada, 2000

Image Credit: Joyce Hill, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The design principles that led to the Viking longship can be traced back to the beginning of the Stone Age and the umiak, a large open skin boat used by Yupik and Inuit people as long as 2,500 years ago.  

2. Viking ships were clinker built

The so-called “clinker” method of ship construction is based on planks of timber, usually oak, being overlapped and nailed together. Spaces between planks were then filled with tarred wool and animal hair, ensuring a watertight ship.  

3. Longships were able to navigate in shallow waters

A shallow draft allowed navigation in waters as shallow as one metre and made beach landings possible.  

4. Their top speed was around 17 knots

Speed was variable from ship to ship but it’s thought that the quickest longships could achieve speeds of up to 17 knots in favourable conditions.

5. The boats were typically embellished with decorative head pieces

Skilfully carved animal heads often featured as figureheads at the front of longships. These heads – those of dragons and snakes were popular – were designed to provoke fear in the spirits of whichever land the Vikings were raiding.

6. Longships combined rowing power with wind propulsion

Typically equipped with rowing positions along their entire length, longships also utilised one big square sail, woven from wool. Steering came courtesy of a single steering oar at the back of the ship.

7. They were double-ended

Their symmetrical bow and stern design allowed longships to swiftly reverse without having to turn around. This was particularly handy when navigating icy conditions.  

8. Longship classifications were linked to rowing capacity

Skibladner ship on Unst

Image Credit: Unstphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The Karvi had 13 rowing benches while the Busse had up to 34 rowing positions.

9. The vessels were instrumental in enabling the Vikings to explore the globe

The breadth of the Vikings’ explorations was remarkable. From North America in the west to Central Asia in the east, the Viking Age is defined by geographically expansive exploration that wouldn’t have been possible without such advanced shipbuilding.

10. The longship design was hugely influential

The Vikings’ shipbuilding skills accompanied their extensive travels. Many of the longship’s characteristics were adopted by other cultures and continued to influence shipbuilding for centuries.

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