Valhalla V-29 Hybrid

Once again, the talented Valhalla Boatworks crew at the Mullica, New Jersey, facility has built a winner—the V-29 Hybrid. Backed by the design, engineering and boatbuilding prowess of the parent company, Viking Yachts, the V-29 Hybrid is supremely suited for its inshore and offshore fishing missions. This model and the new V-28 Bay represent the first of their kind in the growing Valhalla fleet, which now consists of eight models from 28 to 55 feet.

This center-console combines a highly effective angling layout and plentiful seating and storage with a hull that features a ­lower freeboard and modified-V ­running surface. 

Valhalla has made a huge impact in the center-console market in short order. The brand has established itself with crisp fit-and-finish, graceful looks, and big-boat features reflected in the hardware selection, livewell systems and a thorough standard-­equipment list, as well as an ­options list to meet every desire. 

With an overall length of 29 feet, 6 inches and a beam of 9 feet, 8 inches, the V-29 Hybrid possesses an optimal length-to-beam ratio. This results in a stable ride, roomy cockpit and foredeck, and a console with ample walk-around space. Beam is your friend throughout the boat. Never trust a skinny chef or a narrow boat. Don’t let the hybrid name fool you—the V-29 feels large and is equipped with big-boat accoutrements.

We had the ­opportunity to test the boat in Palm Beach, Florida, with Valhalla Boatworks’ Sean Healey on a sunny day with less than 5 knots of breeze out of the east. Our test boat was rigged with standard twin Mercury 300 hp Verado V-8 outboards with Mercury electric steering and Dometic hydraulic jack plates. The boat jumped on plane with little bow rise. It zipped along as we tweaked the jack-plate height and outboard trim, ultimately reaching a top-end speed of 55.4 mph against the current and 56.2 mph with the current, burning 47.5 gph at wide-open throttle with half of the 180-gallon fuel capacity on board and a full 40 gallons of fresh water. 

The V-29’s sweet spot is at 4,200 rpm, making 37.4 mph while burning 24.5 gph. It smoothly handled the never-­ending choppy boat wakes. The beam and 22-degree transom deadrise hull offer a very comfortable and stable platform at speed. Riding on the patented Michael Peters double-stepped hull with ventilated tunnel, the V-29 remained locked in as it carved turns through the chop, never catching its chine or creating low-side spray. The helm’s dual paddle controls allow you to operate trim and jack-plate height without removing your hands from the wheel. 

Our test boat had a 72-inch Minn Kota Riptide Instinct Quest series trolling motor on the bow and a large anchor ­locker with an integral anchor holder. The foredeck is graced with a faux-teak toe rail, offering a classy yachtlike look. It carried the optional forward port and starboard seating modules with storage underneath and Release Marine teak ladder backrests; a recessed low-profile rail wraps around the bow. Along the centerline, we found a deep storage box with a built-in platform for the lithium batteries aft of the hatch opening to keep them out of the way and dry. 

The V-29’s console is well-­appointed, with an integral forward lounge with three rod holders, a rod/cup holder along each side and storage below. You have 6 feet of headroom in the console—an impressive feat executed with precision. The interior includes an electric marine toilet, and there’s a dedicated mounting space forward in the console for a Seakeeper 1. Outside, along the console sides are large in-deck rod lockers. 

The helm is all Valhalla, with a deluxe faux-teak helm pod that’s both ergonomically functional and
aesthetically pleasing. Yet another design trait of the larger Valhalla models is a recessed black acrylic panel holding the flush-mounted electronics displays. Our test boat had a pair of 19-inch touchscreen Garmin multifunction displays, each within easy reach and view. The dash also includes full Mercury instrumentation and a control knob for the Hooker sea-chest livewell system, as well as comfort appointments like drink holders and a glove box. A footrest with storage is molded into the base of the console. 

The modular helm seat houses tackle storage on both sides. The aft side holds a flip-down rigging tray with Plano ­tackle boxes, a pull-out drawer and an in-house-fabricated pull-out cooler with a padded seat. The meticulously crafted optional fiberglass hardtop holds Gemlux outriggers, a five-rod aft ­rocket launcher and an overhead electronics box. A curved glass windshield offers weather protection and a clear view ahead.

The aft deck has port and starboard in-sole insulated (and overboard-draining) fish boxes, with a large dry storage box on centerline. The raised aft deck is expansive and features a flip-up cushioned seat bookended by twin 25-gallon livewells. With hatch lids that open aftward, they double as great drink ­boxes, easily accessed outside the boat at the sandbar. 

Like Vikings, the Valhalla offers superb accessibility to mechanical, plumbing and electrical components. The aft seating module opens 180 degrees, giving unobstructed access to the lazarette, with its meticulous engineering and installations. 

Read Next: Valhalla V-55

Our test boat had a single Power-Pole with a 10-foot-long blade. The hull’s integrated engine setback maximizes deck space and increases buoyancy while optimizing maneuverability and efficiency.

There is no denying that Valhalla’s talented team has put in the research and resources to position the V-29 Hybrid for success. 

This head-turner, along with the V-28 Bay, is a ­thoughtfully designed, thoroughly engineered and finely crafted machine that’s poised to be a major player along any coast. 

Specifications

Valhalla Boatworks – Egg Harbor City, New Jersey; valhallaboatworks.com