BackViking built a new 50-foot series, and rather than a single boat, it is a family of four models on a shared platform. The 50 Convertible leads, with the 50 Billfish, the Sport Coupe and Sport Tower, and the Open Express following. For an owner shopping the 50-foot class, this is the most flexibility Viking has offered in the size range, and the right choice depends entirely on how you run.
The 50 Convertible
The Convertible is the anchor of the series and carries the design traits of the larger Vikings: a flush foredeck, an aggressive bottom for spray deflection and a dry ride, and the flybridge layout that defines the convertible experience. The 50 carries on a lineage where Viking delivered close to 200 boats across two previous generations of 50s, which tells you the size class works for this builder.
For an owner who wants the traditional convertible, the flybridge sightlines, and a real cabin below, the 50 Convertible is the default. It is the boat for the owner who fishes the canyons and brings family, and it sits in the Viking lineup as the entry point into the convertible range with a current hull.
The 50 Billfish
The Billfish is the largest in Viking’s Billfish series, a line introduced in 2017 and built for fishing-focused owners who want a sporty, easily maintained boat. The Billfish strips back some of the convertible’s accommodations in favor of fishability and simpler ownership. For the owner whose priority is fishing and who does not need the full convertible interior, the Billfish is the focused choice.
This is the boat for the serious angler who wants the 50-foot hull and the canyon capability without paying for or maintaining interior volume they will not use. It fishes hard and keeps the ownership simpler.
The Sport Coupe and Sport Tower
The Sport Coupe and Sport Tower bring a command deck with a three-sided glass enclosure, designed for owners who want to cruise and fish with the helm protected and the sightlines clean. The Sport Tower adds a Palm Beach Towers tuna tower to the Sport Coupe design, which gives the elevation that serious offshore fishing wants.
This pair fits the owner who wants a lower, sleeker profile than the convertible but still wants enclosed helm comfort and, in the Sport Tower’s case, real fishing capability from the tower. It is the crossover within the series, sitting between the pure convertible and the open express.
The 50 Open Express
The Open features a command deck immediately accessible to the cockpit, built with a one-piece wraparound windshield and a hardtop. The express layout keeps the helm on one level with the cockpit, which means the captain and crew communicate naturally and the boat runs well shorthanded. For the owner who fishes with a small crew and wants the simplest, most direct fishing platform in the series, the Open Express is the answer.
The express also tends to be the lighter, faster, more economical option in a model family, which appeals to owners who prioritize getting on plane quickly and running efficiently.
Why One Platform, Four Boats
Building four models on a shared platform is smart for Viking and good for buyers. The engineering, the hull, and the core systems are proven across all four, which means the quality is consistent. What changes is the layout and the job the boat is built to do. An owner picks the configuration that fits their use rather than compromising into a one-size boat.
For resale, this matters too. A 50-foot Viking on a current, proven platform has a deep buyer pool regardless of which configuration it is, because the underlying boat is a known quantity. The specific layout narrows the audience somewhat, but the platform carries the value.
Which One Fits
The question we ask every owner shopping the 50 series is the same one we ask about any boat: how do you actually run it. A canyon-focused angler with a small crew leans toward the Open Express or the Billfish. An owner who brings family and wants the traditional experience leans toward the Convertible. An owner who wants enclosed comfort with fishing capability looks at the Sport Tower. Our team walks through these tradeoffs with owners specing a new build, and the answer is rarely the same twice.
For owners who want to see how the series fits against their fishing calendar, the in-stock and on-order page shows what is currently available and committed.
For the full build details on each model in the series, Viking Yachts publishes the documentation. Four boats, one platform, and a configuration for nearly every way an owner runs a 50-foot boat.
The 50 series gives the size class the range of choice it was missing. The right one is the one that matches how you fish and who you bring.