The 65 is one of four Viking express-style Sport Cruisers models, distinguished from the Sport Cruisers Fly Bridge Yacht and Motor Yacht lines by their indoor/outdoor main deck arrangements. The 65's cockpit has U-shaped seating that faces a beautifully designed folding cherry table that is supported by a cleverly crafted stainless steel pedestal that is ideal for cocktails or dining alfresco. An adjacent sunpad area has storage within for dock lines and fenders. A wet bar is fitted with a refrigerator, an icemaker and a grill. Centerline steps lead aft to the swim platform and a transom garage suitable for a small tender. An articulated passerelle retracts to hide under the steps. Both passerelle and garage door are controlled by a keypad cleverly hidden in the stainless steel rail-very James Bond. While the standard teak cockpit sole seems a must, I would pass on the optional teak side decks as too much trouble to maintain.

A sliding stainless steel and glass door joins the cockpit area to the saloon/helm area. As seems the rage for this style boat, a section of the overhead retracts opening the bulk of the area to the sky. I'll admit that it was rather nice speeding along off of Miami Beach on a brilliant sunny day with the sky above. I could imagine that it would be just as pleasant dockside on a starlit night. Credit is due the 65's engineers, for this retractable roof system is by far the most refined I have encountered to date. Its motion is smooth and even as the roof integrates seamlessly with the overhead when closing.

A U-shaped seating area to starboard has a large glass table suited for formal dining. There is also a U-shaped dinette area adjacent to the helm. This seems a bit redundant and those less interested in entertaining might want to opt for a smaller cocktail table instead of the dining table. A 32-inch flat-panel TV rises on a lift and is hidden in the joinery behind a settee port.

A stair leads below to a small well-organized galley area with a refrigerator/freezer, a cooktop, a dishwasher and a microwave convection oven. A passageway leads forward to a VIP stateroom with a queen island berth and a private head. A second guest stateroom has upper and lower berths and private access to the day head. The passageway leads aft of the galley to a full-beam master stateroom with a queen-size berth and a private head. The hull-side windows add light and ventilation. Interior fit and finish is excellent and seems well above typical production standards. This effect is in part due to the British obsession with detail and efficiency-my guess is that every little thing was fully explored on paper prior to production. The thoughtful result of this approach is complemented by brilliant stainless steel work and high-end hardware, fixtures and accessories. High-gloss cherry joinerwork and the hardwood soles in the saloon and galley area are standard. A Euro-style (i.e., very small) crew cabin is accessible from the cockpit and has a single berth and a head. It might be useful for stashing cruising supplies or kids.

The 65's machinery space is accessible from the crew compartment. While there is room to move about on centerline, wing tanks make access outboard engines rather tight. Service points appear accessible and the generous headroom makes it possible to reach over the engines. Viking's Sport Cruisers are designed specifically for the American market so 60-cycle electrical service is standard and most mechanical components and appliances are familiar brands. The 65's hull bottom is a solid fiberglass laminate supported by a network of fiberglass stringers and web frames. Closed-cell foam is used to stiffen the hull sides, decks and superstructure. While many European builders rely on subcontractors, virtually everything on the 65, including metal work, wiring and joinerwork, is done in-house. In my experience this typically yields a more consistent, higher quality result.