Valhalla Boatworks V-28 Bay

SUMMARY

The Valhalla Boatworks V-28 Bay (often called the “Valhalla 28 Bay”) is a premium, tournament-minded bay boat designed to do two things that don’t always coexist in the bay-boat world: float and fish extremely shallow while still having the speed, stability, and ride quality to run outside the inlet to nearshore structure when conditions allow. Valhalla positions it explicitly as a “tournament competitor” - a purpose-built fishing platform rather than a “sandbar-first” layout with fishing added later.

There is no better dealer for Valhalla Boats and Viking Yachts than the team at SI Yachts. Since 1964 we have been helping our clients into the perfect boat for their needs, plans, and budget. Our proximity to the Valhalla factory makes it easy for us to check up on your new build and meet you there for a visit. Contact us today about the new Valhalla V-28 by emailing Sales@SIYachts.com or calling our main office at (718) 984-7676.

WHY ANGLERS LOVE THE V-28:

It’s built around “fishability,” not seat-count

Many bay boats chase versatility by packing in wraparound lounges and family seating, but the V-28 Bay leans the other way: big, open casting real estate forward and aft, clean walkaround room, and the kind of deck layout that makes it easy to keep multiple anglers fishing without stepping around furniture. Reviewers have highlighted how stable it feels for a bay boat (a common pain point in skinny-water designs) thanks to its 9’3” beam.

Skinny-water access without giving up “run” capability

Valhalla publishes an 18-inch draft with engines up (and about 22 inches engines down), which is right in the wheelhouse for working flats, back bays, and shallow shorelines—while the hull design and power ratings are aimed at making longer runs realistic. The brand also emphasizes a double-stepped hull and 18-degree deadrise, balancing efficiency and speed with a more confident ride when the water gets sporty.

Big-boat engineering and service access in a bay-boat footprint

A recurring theme in both Valhalla’s materials and on-water reviews is the “yacht-level” finish, rigging discipline, and systems access—the kind of behind-the-scenes quality that matters to serious anglers who fish hard and don’t want downtime. The lazarette/bilge access and the way systems are installed and laid out gets called out as a standout detail.

WHAT IS THE V28 PERFORMANCE LIKE?

Underneath, the V-28 Bay uses Michael Peters Yacht Design’s patented Stepped-V Ventilated Tunnel running surface, which Valhalla says is intended to reduce drag while increasing speed, stability, and efficiency.

In real-world testing with twin 300-hp Mercury Verados, one review reported a top end just shy of 60 mph and a 43 mph cruise around 4,000 rpm (burning about 23 gph), along with strong cornering manners for a bay boat. Actual numbers will vary with load, sea state, props, and power choice, but it frames the V-28 Bay as a legitimately fast, capable platform—not just a poling-skiff with a big motor.

WHAT FISHING FEATURES DOES THE VALHALLA V28 HAVE?

Live bait capacity and management

Valhalla designed the V-28 Bay for “maximum livewell and fishbox capacity,” and the core setup reflects that:

• Two 25-gallon in-deck livewells aft (one in each corner of the aft casting platform)
• These aft livewells are described as pressurized and internally lit in the brochure
• An optional 28-gallon livewell forward on centerline (with an integrated clear lid noted in the brochure)

Fishboxes and washdown practicality

The boat is also set up with dual in-deck fishboxes and plumbing intended to keep cleanup simple:

• Valhalla notes fishboxes plumbed to a Whale Gulper pump for easier maintenance
• The brochure calls out fishboxes plumbed for overboard discharge
• A bay-boat review also highlights that having in-deck fishboxes at this draft is notable (since shallow draft can compete with below-deck volume).

Rod storage and “rod management” everywhere

Rod storage is a major part of the V-28 Bay’s fishing identity:

• Valhalla states there’s lockable rod storage including up to four rod lockers under the bow casting deck
• The brand details capacity by locker location (aft lockers sized for multiple rods up to ~7’, forward lockers sized for multiple rods and the ability to configure for a 9’ fly rod)
• The brochure also emphasizes rod holders distributed around the boat—integrated into the helm seating module, flush in the coamings, and in the console seat sides—so a rod always has a “home” when you’re moving spots or re-rigging.

Shallow-water control: jack plates, trolling motors, and anchoring options

A bay boat lives and dies by how well it handles shallow-water positioning, and the V-28 Bay leans into that:

• The V28 has standard hydraulic jack plates for performance and maneuverability
• Steering-wheel/column paddle controls are integrated so the driver can adjust trim and jack plates without taking hands off the wheel.
• Valhalla’s trolling-motor setup has a Minn Kota Riptide Instinct Quest mounted on a custom pad to protect the toe-rail finish.
• Shallow-water anchoring is commonly optioned on builds; one test boat was rigged with dual Power-Poles.

WHAT EQUIPMENT & ELECTRONICS ARE ON THE V-28?

One reason the V-28 Bay stands out in its class is that it brings “big center-console” helm thinking into a bay-boat format.

Helm design and displays

• A recessed black acrylic dash designed for dual Garmin or Simrad displays up to 19 inches, or a single 22-inch Garmin
• A teak helm pod paired with an Edson wheel, with custom paddle shifters for trim and jack plates
• The V28 is equipped with twin 19-inch Garmin 9000-series MFDs and EmpirBus digital switching, which keeps the helm clean and highly configurable.

Premium hardware and systems

Depending on how a specific boat is optioned, commonly mentioned equipment and hardware includes:

• Gemlux hardware/rod holders (and, on one reviewed boat, Gemlux outriggers mounted to the hardtop)
• A Hooker Sea Chest and organized pumps/systems in the lazarette/bilge area (called out in both the brochure and reviews)
• A private head inside the console with service access to batteries and helm wiring
• A designated engine flush setup mentioned in review coverage (useful for high-frequency saltwater anglers)

Seating modules with fishing utility

Valhalla describes multiple helm seating paths:

• Standard-style leaning post options, including a polished aluminum leaning post with Yeti cooler, rod holders, and storage
• An optional fiberglass module that can add tackle storage and a slide-out cooler, with Release Marine and Llebroc upgrades available
• Aft, the casting deck incorporates a flip-up bench seat that stows away to keep the cockpit fishing-clean.

WHAT POWER OPTIONS ARE ON THE V-28 BAY BOAT?

The V-28 Bay is rated for up to 600 hp and is offered with a range of Mercury or Yamaha configurations. Valhalla specifically lists options including (availability can vary by model year and rigging):

• Single Mercury V10 400HP Verado
• Twin Mercury V6 225HP
• Twin Mercury V8 300HP
• Single Yamaha V8 450HP
• Twin Yamaha I4 200HP

If you’re the kind of angler who values a bay boat as a serious fishing tool, but you also want high-end rigging, refined finish, and offshore-leaning performance capability, the Valhalla V-28 Bay is built exactly for that intersection. It’s shallow-water capable (18" draft engines up), stable (9’3” beam), and loaded with fishing infrastructure (livewells, fishboxes, rod storage, shallow-water control systems), while showcasing the brand’s “big boat” approach to engineering and cleanliness of execution.

For more information on pricing and how to purchase a Valhalla V-28 Bay, please contact us at Sales@SIYachts.com or by calling our main office at (718) 984-7676.