From the classifieds: 1965 Halvorsen 32 Viking
This boat was built in the same year that its makers won a third Sydney Hobart yacht raceFew boat brands stir the emotions like Halvorsen. It’s a brand founded in Europe, but for almost a century it has had a deep cultural tie with Australia.
How deep a tie? Gretel, the first Australian challenger to enter the America’s Cup, was a Halvorsen. The boatbuilder also owned and operated one of Australia’s largest boat hire businesses, with up to 200 of them on the books.
Buy a Halvorsen, and you’re buying a slice of Australian history.
That’s why this classified ad for a well-loved NSW-based Halvorsen 53 Viking caught our eye. Dubbed Sandy III, it was built in 1965, the same year the Halvorsen brothers, Trygve and Magnus, won their third Sydney Hobart yacht race on another historic Australian boat named Freya.
That alone makes it a perfect choice for anyone giving up sailboat-based cruising for the easier life of throwing off the lines and starting the engines of a stink boat.
There’s a lot to like about this boat if you’re an owner who will appreciate the history of it. Key is a pair of 450hp Chrysler inboard engines that, according to the listing, are “original build” but newly overhauled.
Stepping back in time
Looking inside, there’s a comfortable cockpit sheltered from the weather via an extended wheelhouse roofline, and a large, open wheelhouse that features a cocktail cabinet and some pretty up-to-date electronics including a Navman Tracker 950 chartplotter and a Sony audio system.
Below decks, the Halvorsen 32 Viking features a forward berth built into the bow that also highlights the boat’s timber build, a galley with icebox, and a wet head that includes a shower.
Despite its age, the Halvorsen 32 Viking will cruise along at 10-12 knots, with a top speed of around 25 knots – impressive if you need to make a quick sprint for home.
The price for this iconic slice of Australiana? It’s listed online at $110,000.
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