OnBoard Magazine - Summer 2015

Nancy and Earle into the conference room, he had a drawing of a possible new layout for the 62 already in hand. Vice President of Sales Joe Schwab recounts the lead-up, “Because of the way they use a boat, we started making modifications as we went through their list—it became obvious that the best layout would be to essentially flip the design, swapping sides for some of the elements. That’s where we started.” On paper or in the mind’s eye, the concept of swapping sides may seem like a fairly straightforward process. Both Jerry and Nancy knew well otherwise, as Jerry put it, “you don’t just move the furniture around.” The reality would mean a great deal of re- engineering and mechanical alterations including the shifting of fuel tanks, bilge systems, venting, intakes, generators— the works, down to the smallest detail. “Something as simple as the hinge on a medicine chest door having to be flipped such that it swings out from the bow-side so as to not open in a seaway—everything had to be revisited,” stated Earle. In previous builds, Jerry and Nancy had made some requests for a few custom modifications. But they had never asked for anything of this scope. Having been through the process before, they had a solid understanding of both the merits and limitations of the Viking production line. Jerry revisited his thoughts going in to the first meeting: “We had never asked this much of them before, so we didn’t know what to expect—we even thought they might say, ‘no.’ Instead we got this enthusiastic response from Pat and the designers and the sense that they were already inclined in this direction.” The ultimate plan included the complete removal of the spiral staircase and access moved to the starboard side. A custom designed stairwell with the first three steps cut into a customized credenza would arc gently inward on a central stainless column with teak steps up to the enclosed bridge. To increase the room, interior walls and bulkheads were shifted two inches in three different places for a net shift of 6 inches to maintain proportions. The galley was flipped to the port side, opening up the view from entry to the companionway below. The pop-up flat-screen was moved from the previous version of the credenza to a wall mount over the dinette, angled so that it would be viewable from anywhere in the salon. Additional pullouts were added behind the mirrored galley storage. A spice-rack cabinet was added to the outside galley counter and a storage area opened up behind the dinette TV in the companionway. In addition to all of the alterations done to accommodate the salon changes, Viking agreed to modify the engine room layout to suit the Taylor’s boating style. Room was made to allow for dive tank storage, the installation of an air compressor as well as a Seakeeper g y r o s t a b i l i z e r , watermaker and icemaker. Much like a puzzle, placement of engine room components were adjusted in the most efficient and logical utilization of space across the board, right down to the relocation of the Racor filters. WATCHING IT COME TOGETHER With a finalized design and a plan in place, production was scheduled. “One of the amazing aspects of Viking production is their ability to sit down at the start and create a schedule complete with specific milestones that occur within a day or two of the original,” comments Taylor. “Even with the customizations we incorporated, we could see the entire project from start to finish and know what was happening, and when.” This kind of production planning keeps the entire line humming in tune and on time. Jerry and Nancy along with Earle were able to schedule plant visits with Keith Monahan who would be the project manager on the new Odin . The visits were coordinated with various milestones such that the two could verbalize their vision of the new or modified elements directly with the carpenters. “The carpenters at Viking are pretty terrific. Our input consisted of describing the effect we wanted to get out of a particular element. Then they made it look like art,” Jerry enthused. The couple both describe the custom cabinetry in glowing terms and Nancy specifically refers to the new staircase as sculpture. “Everyone involved in production is extremely talented. The outcome is stunning.” When asked his favorite aspect of the production process Jerry thought briefly and then described witnessing the line action: various “pieces” of the boat would sit alongside like flotsam, awaiting the boat’s arrival; then one could watch the pieces be installed and really start to see the boat come together. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when asked what was Proud owners Nancy Bryant & Jerry Taylor Odin undergoing final prep at Viking’s facility 7 SUMMER 2015