Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 boat specs
Viking Yachts
Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023
2023
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Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 boat specs
Viking Yachts
Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024
2024
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Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 vs Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 vs Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 measures 54,6 feet overall (2024), giving it roughly 15,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 at 38,8 feet (2023). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 tips the scales at 70 230 lbs — 39 777 lbs less than the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 at 30 453 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 400 hp, the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 has a 850-hp advantage over the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023's 550-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 carries 198 gallons versus 46 gallons in the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 54,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail38.80 ft
Length overall - Detail54.60 ft
Length - Feet38.8
Length - Feet54.6
Length overall - Meters11.83
Length overall - Meters16.64
Length overall - Inches466
Length overall - Inches655
Beam14.00 ft
Beam17.80 ft
Beam - Meters4.27
Beam - Meters5.43
Beam - Inches168
Beam - Inches214
Draft [max] - Detail3.40 ft
Draft [max] - Detail4.10 ft
Draft [max] - Meters1.04
Draft [max] - Meters1.25
Draft [max] - Inches41
Draft [max] - Inches49
Displacement30453.00 lbs
Displacement70230.00 lbs
Body / Hull
Rudder1
Rudder2
Helm3
Helm6
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal46
Fuel tank capacity - Gal198
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1741.29
Fuel tank capacity - Liters749.51
Engine makeCummins
Engine makeMAN
Engine modelQSB6.7
Engine modelV12
Horsepower550 hp
Horsepower1400 hp
Drive typeinboard
Drive typeinboard
Operational Info
Water capacity69
Water capacity154
Boat typePower
Boat typePower

Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 vs Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 or the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024?
The Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 is the longer of the two at 54,6 feet overall. The Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 comes in at 38,8 feet, making it roughly 15,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 or the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024?
For trailering, the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 has the edge at 30 453 lbs dry weight versus 70 230 lbs for the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 is rated to a maximum of 1 400 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 tops out at 550 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 is certified for 16. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 measures 214" wide, compared to 168" for the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 or the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024?
The Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 has the bigger tank at 198 gallons, versus 46 gallons on the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023. That 152-gallon difference translates to roughly 456–760 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 and Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Viking Yachts 38 Open Billifish 1 2023 and the Viking Yachts 54 Sport Tower 3 2024 are built by Viking Yachts. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.