Viking buying Ocean

It was doomed to happen. I’m sorry to say Jack’s sons do not the passion for boating building like their dad and uncle. Jack knew how to ride out the tough storms. I personally believe the boys were still a bit too young to understand the full impact. That’s not their fault that all comes with experience and with teaching. Unfortunately Jack’s passion always lied in fishing! I’m very saddened to see the Ocean name gone. I’ve been seeking to purchase a used one. Having surveys one there has been one problem that keeps popping up on Ocean… fiberglass from balsam wood separating. Surveyors tell me to stay away from that issue because all it does is spread. And to repair it correctly is very expensive. I’ve looked at some older Egg Harbors and Pacemakers and that doesn’t seem to be an issue. But according to the most surveyors I was told to stay away from teak cockpit soles. Separation problems there are a big problem and $$$$$ to fix. I’m still looking around and looking for that perfect boat for us. Every boat will have its quirks and we realize that but we don’t want to spend $$$$$$ to get into safe condition because some idiot abused the boat. We know we will need to put some $$$ into her but not make a boat from scratch!
I would have loved to have the Ocean team refit her it that’s what we end up with. Good luck John I wish you the very best!

Nobody said it was bad… I sad it was sad. Sad to see All Of Jack’s Hard Work gone down the tubes for nothing. I gather by your response you did not know the Leek family or Jack personally. We did. We knew Jack and Donald when they owned Egg Harbor and Pacemaker. We knew Jack as he ran pacemaker before Fuqua came into play. We knew Jack when the first Ocean came running down the Mullica River on a trial run. We knew Jack at Cape Hatteras Tournament and etc, etc, etc…,Both Jack and Donald were great men. Very much missed. They both knew the boating industry very well and knew what it took to make it through the tough times. Jack had vision. Vision takes years of knowledge and wisdom. Unfortunately Jack was unable to pass that along. As I am looking for an Ocean to purchase I only look at the years that Jack was alive and building them. I know that Jack knew what he was doing. I saw the boats the boys were putting together… not much my style. Jack and his designer has a vision… The boys made spaghetti O’s.

That’s why Viking made it through the tough times…a vision. You have to think like a customer yet practical and smart! Michael Jordan’s boat has all of that in a Viking if you have ever seen her. Micheal got everything you could imagine. Every bang for the buck with nothing left out. That took vision, imagination, creativity, and passion. Jack and designer had that and did it at that time within a good budget. If Ocean and Jack were around the same boat would be selling in the millions as well and a very good competitor to the Viking company. I believe if Jack was around when Michael Jordan was looking for a boat and Michael had a choice dollar for dollar and value for value he would have picked an Ocean especially knowing the Leek reputation. But knowing that Jack was gone all bets were off and even I would have gone Viking. I would not even touch a Dr Trocki name boat because that’s all he bought is the name and nothing more. I can buy a name and monkeys make the boat. Jack made boats. He and Donald are legends in the industry.

Emotional? No! Miss the company, Jack, and Donald? Oh yes! The old pacemaker plant is burnt down to the ground. Molds still sits in the far back of the yard. It’s sad to see. But life goes on. Just another part of NJ’s history down the tube. My father owned 2 Pacemakers. Solid boats. (1) an old 32’ wooden one. She was super reliable but super expensive to maintain. (2) was 36’ Pacemaker SF. Great boat for everything. We used her for traveling, tournaments and everything in between. Had her from 1976 to 1996. So you know what it is like to see the boats being made? It’s actually pretty cool. From start to finish I saw John Glenn’s 62’ Pacemaker being built, launched, and said goodbye as she left to be delivered. What a beautiful boat. She is still floating today. Just as beautiful as ever! Then my father was getting too old to boat any longer.

Our summer house was on the Mullica River so we saw the Oceans all the time either on test runs or going out for delivery. Jack always asked my father when would my father switch over to an Ocean. To my father owning a pacemaker was the same as an Ocean… Same builder.
Growing up pacemaker/egg harbor/ocean yachts makes one a bit bias. Knowing the owner and designer for so many years also adds to the bias. Every weekend getting off exit 52 on the GSP SB we passed the Viking plant all the time. There was something about the lines, the sleekness, the name behind the boat that made the boat for me.

Big boats yes lm looking for an Ocean. Best little guy I love and own from pacemaker is the WAHOO! Off the NC coast she takes me to the stream and back without any issues. I will never sell her! My Ocean will become my live aboard. Since Ocean is no longer around to do refits I will use Jarrett Bay down here in NC.

I’ve got my plans just need to find the right one. Got her name, know what I want, and her first voyage will be the Great Loop!

Do you find more and more people are getting refits from custom builders? As I have read in yachting, and Marlin magazines starts off with engine overhaul. Then it works way into the latest electronics, then into new rewiring of the boat, then toilets, and before you know it you have a whole new boat.

It’s funny about motors because my father would say why bother rebuilding a motor when a new isn’t all that much more. By the time you core value my father would just get new engines and generator. At that time the ac units would be replaced. My father for the 20 years of boating he maintained our boat as if it was a member of the family. She was the number one hull of the 36’ Pacemaker hull. The very last refit he had done he had the fuel tanks, hoses, and everything from bow to stern taken care of. My father purchased her for $50k and sold her $92 after her refit. I’ve only seen her once since she was sold in Atlantic City. The owner said he does the east coast circuit of fishing tournaments. She didn’t look quite as good compared to when we had her. That was back in 2010. I have no clue if she still floating anymore.

I spoke with my brother last night who also owned a boat and he owned a Viking Express. He told me how much he loved it. He’s 75 now with Parkinson’s. He would still be boating if not for Parkinson’s. He told the Vikings were tanks through the seas. He said it was much like dad’s boat but a bit heavier. He said dad’s boat was nice but he preferred the Vikings. My brother said the only preference for him was a Jersey built boat. He said the Carolina builders were good but they coming and going in business. Buddy Davis as an example made a nice boat but going in and out of bankruptcy then finally selling his name to Dr Trocki is bologna. The Davis made now looks nothing like the original Davis. The Carolina Flare is missing!

You got my brother on your side. Very good… I guess I’m stubborn and loyal to family friends. This is the young lady we’re going to go get a survey on next week. Fingers crossed no soft spots, wiring in good shape, fuel tanks and lines in good shape, we will see… She’s a beauty. Built during Jacks era. We’re going to look at an Egg as well. A Don Leek Golden!We were able to finally able to find a couple.

Are you an appraiser? Or do you just do work that an appraiser finds that needs fixing? I found an 1995 Egg Harbor 42’ up in NJ. They are asking a low price because she needs work. I’m trying to find out exactly what she needs.

This is part of the ad…

PRICED THIS CHEAP FOR A REASON! NEEDS WORK. BEING SOLD AS IS WHERE IS. MAKE YOUR VERY BEST OFFER...THIS MUST GO!! THIS IS A VERY GOOD VALUE FOR THE RIGHT TYPE OF BUYER. this is not turn key and ready to go. please do not ask us that.
Ok she won’t start! Does she need new motors or rebuilds? Is this guy done boating or throwing in the towel? No matter what I would want a survey done to see exactly what I could be getting myself into.

Here’s the rest of the ad…

1995 42 egg harbor that has a very unique 2 stateroom 2 head layout. she is powered by twin detroit 6v92/550hp engines...generator, air and heat, davit on the bow with hard bottom dinghy on cradle with outboard, full electronics/robertson auto pilot/furuno open array 36 mile radar/furuno fcv582 color depth sounder fish finder/garmin color 3010 gps chart plotter/vhf radio, full galley with dish washer, large 100 square foot cockpit, hard top with 3 SIDED enclosures, tuna door, bait freezer, live well and fish hold in deck, bimini top for the aft cockpit with sun shades, bait prep station with fresh water, sea dek flooring, central vacuum, newly reupholstered sofa in salon with storage below, hi lo table, breakfast bar, retractable large flat panel tv, well appointed fly bridge with cushions and canvas covers for the seating and the console, port engine has appx 1000 hours on it.

1995 42 egg harbor that has a very unique 2 stateroom 2 head layout. she is powered by twin detroit 6v92/550hp engines...generator, air and heat, davit on the bow with hard bottom dinghy on cradle with outboard, full electronics/robertson auto pilot/furuno open array 36 mile radar/furuno fcv582 color depth sounder fish finder/garmin color 3010 gps chart plotter/vhf radio, full galley with dish washer, large 100 square foot cockpit, hard top with 3 SIDED enclosures, tuna door, bait freezer, live well and fish hold in deck, bimini top for the aft cockpit with sun shades, bait prep station with fresh water, sea dek flooring, central vacuum, newly reupholstered sofa in salon with storage below, hi lo table, breakfast bar, retractable large flat panel tv, well appointed fly bridge with cushions and canvas covers for the seating and the console, port engine has appx 1000 hours on it.

the electronics look as though they should be replaced. No big deal there. I get a discount on all of Garmin's products. She is still floating so that’s a good sign. She doesn’t appear to be leaning or favoring towards one side. That too is another good sign. If both diesels need a full rebuild that’s about $50k each. Let’s not forget the transmissions. That’s something I’m not sure I’m willing to pay for.

The owner would need to come down at least another $20k because at that time the generator should be done or replaced. The ac units if they are original they would need to be replaced and the fuel tanks and lines replaced while the engines are out. Now I would have a whole new boat. And I’m not sure if I want that sort of project.

I also found a 50th anniversary 1995 42’ Golden Egg Turn Key Ready. She is down in FL. First thing I want is her vin number. I want to find out if she had any hurricane claims or salvage sale. If she is good on all of those areas I would consider moving forward with a full survey. In/out/test run/ all oil samples sent out. My wife isn’t thrilled with diesel because I’m not diesel savvy. That means mechanic costs! Extra parts, extra oil, extra filters, etc… I understand her sentiments there. On gas engines I can do most of the work. Being an Aircraft Mechanic if I can’t work on a boat I better drown myself.

I’ve heard that line before. Then saw the survey. It was a Class D. Just to bring the boat up to a Class B would have cost 3x more than the value of the boat. Lots and lots of issues including soft spots on the flybridge and water damage from the salon port and starboard windows. The front salon windows needed to be reseated. Lots of stuff including engine mounts. She was a mess!

After that Jersey we stopped looking for a spell. It was bad news.
Now I found a 42’ Egg Harbor kept in warm storage for the winter months in Ohio though her place of residence is Treasure Island, FL. She is a 1985 but looks like a 2025. She is simply stunning! My loves her because she is powered by gas engines. Something I can do most of the work myself. I would say 95% of her is still original. Very nice and at a reasonable price.
I’ve searched Ocean and many are either sold or people are stoned thinking that a boat 30 years old is worth $250-$325k. I’ve seen Boston Whalers go up some but not Ocean.

The insurance company doesn’t go by the value of the current survey? Hmm interesting I was told by a friend of mine that his insurance carrier (I think Progressive) makes him get a survey every 3 years for that purpose. I’ve never seen an Ocean go up in value maybe stagnant or a bit down but I have seen Boston Whalers and other exotic brands go up some.
The Wahoo I use solely for fishing. My wife isn’t into fishing. My time away. We would like something a bit larger so we can go together. I could always have the Wahoo put up on a rack indoors if necessary and travel some with my wife. We have talked about winters in FL and summers in NC. Then I would need to come back and get the little man. Kite fishing is a lot of fun!