2003 Viking 45 Express

Step aboard and you’ll see why the 45 Express became a go-to platform for serious anglers who also cruise hard. The business end is the cockpit: wide, deep and uncluttered, with room for a full fighting chair or rocket launcher plus a crew that actually moves. High coamings and molded steps keep things safe when it’s snotty out. Forward, the raised bridge deck gives you excellent sightlines to the spread and the bow, with big windshield panels that don’t feel like a cave. Below, the two-stateroom layout lets you bring family or a couple of fishing buddies without feeling stacked on top of each other, and Viking’s solid glass hull gives you the confidence to run when others stay at the dock.

The Viking 45 Express shines in this region’s mixed conditions, from short, steep chop to long runs offshore. Its deep-V hull and robust construction are well suited to the confused seas and fast-changing weather common here, delivering a dry, predictable ride at speed. The express layout is ideal for local fishing styles, keeping the captain just a step away from the cockpit when baits need to be reset or a fish shows unexpectedly. With twin MANs, you have the range and cruising pace to work distant ledges at first light, then comfortably throttle back for a relaxed ride home when the afternoon breeze kicks up.