Viking Yacht Company Hosts Great American Expedition, Showcasing American Manufacturing and Access to Public Waters

Viking Yacht Company welcomed leaders from the recreational boating industry and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to its New Gretna, New Jersey, headquarters on August 24 for a Great American Expedition highlighting American manufacturing, conservation and access to public waters.

Hosted by the family-owned American boatbuilder in partnership with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior, the expedition took participants from Viking's headquarters on the Bass River toward the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

The event was part of the Department of the Interior's Great American Expedition, an initiative connected to America's 250th anniversary that celebrates the nation's public lands and waters, outdoor recreation and the people who steward these places for future generations.

Celebrating an American Manufacturing Legacy

The expedition offered a fitting opportunity to showcase Viking's more than six decades of American boatbuilding.

Founded in 1964 by brothers Bill and Bob Healey, Viking has grown from its South Jersey roots into a world leader in semi-custom fiberglass sportfishing yachts while remaining family owned. Viking President and CEO Patrick Healey participated alongside Sean, Justin, and Kaitlyn Healey, underscoring the generations of family leadership behind the company.

Today, Viking has delivered more than 6,000 boats and operates nearly one million square feet of manufacturing space across its New Gretna and Mullica facilities. Following the on-water portion of the expedition, participants toured Viking's manufacturing operations for a firsthand look at the skilled workers and craftsmanship behind its boats.

Viking's story reflects the strength of the broader U.S. recreational boating industry, with ninety-five percent of boats sold in the United States are made in the United States. Viking supports approximately 1,800 employees across its manufacturing, engineering, service, sales, and administrative operations, while also partnering with hundreds of U.S. suppliers, subcontractors, and dealers, many of which are small businesses.

Bringing the Great American Expedition to the Water

Joining Viking and NMMA were U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leaders, including Principal Deputy Director Justin "J" Shirley and Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Manager Robin Donahue.

Participants traveled aboard Viking vessels toward the Forsythe refuge, where South Jersey's coastal marshes and wildlife habitat provided a backdrop for a day focused on the connection between outdoor recreation, conservation and public access.

The refuge protects important coastal habitat along the New Jersey shore while providing opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing and other outdoor recreation. The expedition demonstrated a core message of NMMA's Waterways Access Initiative: conservation and recreation can work together, and access to public waters is essential to helping Americans experience and appreciate these places.

Boating depends on more than the water itself. Ramps, docks, marinas, safe channels and other recreation infrastructure are critical to connecting families and communities to public waters.

Interior Expands Hunting and Fishing Access

The expedition also comes as the Department of the Interior announced the largest expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service history, a significant step toward expanding access to America's public lands and waters.

The final rule adds 1,488 hunting and sport fishing opportunities at 111 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries across 32 states. More than 92 million acres - over 95 percent of National Wildlife Refuge System lands - will now be available for hunting, while the rule also creates new sport fishing opportunities and simplifies regulations for hunters and anglers.

NMMA welcomes Interior's continued focus on expanding responsible access to public lands and waters. Providing more opportunities for Americans to fish, boat and enjoy the outdoors strengthens recreation traditions, supports local economies and helps connect future generations with America's natural resources.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Viking's Great American Expedition brought that story to life: American-made boats, built by generations of skilled workers, connecting people to the public waters and natural places that belong to all Americans.