According to Viking Yacht Company the tremendous success of Valhalla Boatworks (VBW) has prompted the need for more space at its dedicated manufacturing facility – Viking Mullica.
Viking’s sister company is celebrating sales exceeding 300 boats since the first three V Series models (V-33, V-37 and V-41) were announced at the Viking VIP Preview in February 2019. With the addition of the Valhalla 46 to the fleet last summer, production of Vikings from 38 to 46 feet was moved to New Gretna and a two-phase expansion at Viking Mullica was set into motion.
The two projects will add a combined 16,000 square feet to Viking Mullica’s 88,000 manufacturing footprint, increasing boatbuilding efficiency, capacity and output. According to Viking, Phase I is moving along right on schedule with the completion this month of a 6,000-square-foot structure that physically connects Buildings 2 and 3, creating one contiguous manufacturing area.
“This first phase, which we refer to as an ‘Infill,’ is an expansion of our hull, stringer and egg crate area,” says Viking Mullica General Manager John Leek IV. “The additional square footage will allow us to better organize the manufacturing space for increased efficiency.” In addition to providing more production capacity for the resin-infused stringer grids for each of the four Valhalla models, the area will also be used for transom bustles and fishboxes.
Viking Mullica is located on 6 acres in the New Jersey pinelands just 11 miles from the mothership in New Gretna. More space and better organization will improve workflow, which in turn helps Viking Mullica’s 200-plus-strong team of shipwrights build a better boat every day. A portion of the extra real estate increases the size of the egg crate area to prep and install fuel tanks, internal bulkheads and other components after each hull is pulled from its mold. The existing overhead crane system was extended into the new area, further facilitating the space’s flexibility and utility.
Phase II will soon commence with utility and site preparation. It will extend the backside of Building 1, adding 10,000 square feet of space consisting of 6,000 square feet on the ground level and a mezzanine of 4,000 square feet. “This addition will give us the space we need to produce certain fiberglass parts (hatch lids and doors) that are built in New Gretna utilizing Light Resin Transfer Molding,” Leek said. Phase II is scheduled to be completed next summer.
An evolution of Viking excellence, Valhalla Boatworks pushes center console quality, luxury, performance and fishability to unprecedented levels. Learn more at vikingyachts.com and valhallaboatworks.com.
