Formerly the Skilsø 39, the rebranded Viknes S40 debuts as a 40ft Panorama cruiser blending clever Scandinavian design with 31-knot grit
The Viknes 10 we tested in the summer of 2025 is a spectacular 35ft cruiser. So spectacular that it roared to victory in the 2026 MBY Awards as the best Family Cruiser up to 45ft. So what are we to make of a 39-footer from the closely affiliated Skilsø brand?
Owned by Viknes and built at the very same factory in Norway, the Skilsø range features just two models – the 35 and the 39, both available as either “Panorama” coupé models or as flybridge cruisers. That in itself differentiates it from the Viknes brand, which has previously lacked a flybridge option. But since we tested the Skilsø 39 in Oslo things have changed.
This boat has just been relaunched at the Düsseldorf Boat Show as the Viknes S40. It’s part of a fresh direction, enabling Viknes to bring together all of its models under the Viknes name, including the smaller Skilsø 35, which will now be known as the Viknes S35. So what might originally have seemed like an interesting cross-brand comparison is actually now quite a lot more than that.
The Skilso 39 is being relaunched as the Viknes S40, with a couple of minor upgrades
Indoor brightness
In the absence of a flybridge, it’s clear that this Panorama version of the new Viknes flagship needs to really foreground the benefits of big views and natural light from the main deck saloon and it absolutely does that. You get massive overhead sunroofs, a wide aft bulkhead opening and narrow mullions all-round, creating not just big views on the beam but uncommonly good views of the sky and brightness on a par with anything in the sector.
In fact, that all-important non-fly roof structure feels like it comprises more glass than fibreglass. The sunroofs are each split into two sections and happily, they also come as standard with insulated aluminium-lined blinds so you can shut out the sun when it’s too hot or preserve the warmth in the saloon when the temperatures drop.
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As for the layout in here, that works hard to maximise those views and to make very best use of the big internal volume generated by those narrow side decks. On the port side, a hinged co-pilot backrest enables the dinette to encompass the full length of the saloon.
A grab rail along the inboard edge of the table helps guide you fore and aft, and there’s also a pair of swing-out stools so you can make use of the walkway space for larger parties. The fact that the seats are so elevated does good things for the views underway and it also generates the volume inside the seating units for a large fridge aft, plus the option of a second equally large fridge in the forward part of the dinette.
On the other side of the saloon, the galley is no less impressive, and there are some really clever little touches that add practicality to the sheer scale of this unit. The sink lid, for instance, has a dedicated slot to tuck it away out of sight when it’s not needed.
The saloon’s roof structure comes with huge sunroofs and insulated blinds
The corner cupboards also use clever slide-out drawers to give you full access to the gear in the most remote recesses of the space. And while the long, shallow C shaped cut-out is not perfectly partnered with the space occupied by the swing-out stools, it does enable you to move that bit more freely when the dinette is being used for a large gathering.
Outdoor flexibility
The fact that the S40 adopts a similar approach to the aft cockpit as the Viknes 10 is very welcome indeed. It comes as standard with an L-shaped dinette wrapping around the aft end and port side. The test boat adds to that with the optional forward bench, turning the L-shape into a more sociable U-shaped unit. That does partially block access to the cockpit from the port side deck but it also creates the space for another optional fridge, freeing up the aft seat bases for extra storage.
As you would expect from Viknes, you also get a huge overhead sliding sunroof, double-lined for extra protection in Europe’s far north, plus reverse hinges for easy access to the storage spaces beneath the various bench seats.
The sheer scale of the dinette and galley is very impressive for a boat of this length
Interestingly, though, instead of the standard provision of a second helm, as on the Viknes 10, the S40 gets the option of a simple joystick on the starboard side. That’s not quite as good for keeping the skipper involved in the party during good weather but it’s perfectly practical for parking manoeuvres and it frees up extra space on the superstructure’s aft bulkhead for an even wider aperture to help unite the external cockpit and internal saloon across the single-level threshold. And if you want to upgrade this station, you can also add an autopilot in the moulding above the folding aft doors.
The foredeck adds a fairly commonplace island sunbed to the day boating options but what we really like is the design of the starboard side gate. Positioned directly next to the big skipper’s side door, it uses an unusual hinge-over moulding that drops outboard, simultaneously creating a gap in the bulwark and a boarding step.
Not only is that very practical in its own right but it also keeps those relatively narrow side decks completely clear, enabling the designers to maximise the saloon volume without any discernible compromise.
The galley cut-out is very handy when you have lots of people in the saloon
Sleeping for six
While most 40-footers tend to come with a pair of cabins and a bathroom or two, the S40 is much more versatile than that. On the test boat, that big 12ft 6in beam is divided between two double cabins amidships, with split facilities ahead of that (a shower room to port and a toilet to starboard) and an owner’s cabin in the bow. However, it’s also offered as a two-cabin version with the shower room shifted over to starboard between the forward heads and an aft utility zone, which provides plenty of space for your washing machine.
That also creates extra storage space in the vacated port shower cubicle and frees up additional room for a larger midships guest cabin and a little extra space in the forward cabin. But you can also use this port space as a second bathroom if you like. And while it remains true that 90% of people in Norway tend to want three cabins – for the owner, for kids and for guests – the differing appetites of the international market make this two-cabin alternative very worthwhile indeed.
There’s plenty of poke here and a nicely balanced feel to the weight distribution
More agile than you think
The helm station is, for the most part, pretty pleasing. There’s a lovely pair of helm seats with pronounced lumber and great lateral support. There’s also a foot box that slides out from beneath, enabling you to stand and helm with your head out
of the sunroof with a full view of the bow.
That said, it could do with some extra adjustability at seat and wheel to fine-tune the position and it’s also worth noting that, when you brace yourself up against the bolster in the semi-standing position, the mouldings above the screen do get in the eyeline of a six-footer. But fully seated or fully raised up on the sliding box, the position is strong – and once you get yourself comfortable, the drive is actually far more agile and dextrous than you might imagine.
Regardless of your favoured arrangement, the owner gets a large raised double with plenty of light and storage
There’s no shortage of engine choice here but around 90% of Skilso customers opt for the V-drives rather than sterndrives for reduced maintenance, and our test boat follows suit. With the V-drives placing our twin Yanmar 8LV 370 diesels a little further forward, there’s plenty of poke here and a nicely balanced feel to the weight distribution.
That’s not to say that we don’t see a bit of bow lift as we ascend our hump but you can easily dial most of that out with the Humphree tabs and enjoy a relatively flat low-speed plane. And as anticipated, the nature of the window design and raised seating keeps those views open and unobstructed.
The test boat’s three-cabin layout divides the midships beam between a double and a twin
The top end of 31 knots is nothing special but it’s only three knots shy of a Fairline Targa 40 and you can increase that if you opt for a pair of 6LY 400s or 440s or a pair of D6s instead. In fact, you could achieve around 36 or 37 knots if you went for the sterndrive option.
Even if you don’t, there’s a pleasant blend of agility and refinement in the way this boat reaches its 31-knot top end. We’re seeing sound readings of 65-72dB(A) at sensible cruising speeds, alongside a fuel flow of 4 to 4.5L per mile, which is about par for the course on a 40ft cruiser. But in spite of the fact that this boat majors on volume and versatility, it treats the skipper to a surprisingly engaging drive.
The test boat’s starboard heads compartment is also used by the day guests
The heel in the turn is extravagant but settled with good grip and excellent pace retention. It’s quick-witted too, responding to small inputs at wheel and throttle like a much smaller boat. And while there’s no real windage on a gentle day from this non-fly version, what tweaks we do make to the trim feel satisfyingly proactive.
Viknes S40 specifications
LOA: 39ft 0in (11.90m)
BEAM: 12ft 6in (3.80m)
DRAFT: 3ft 7in (1.10m)
DISPLACEMENT: 8,650kg (light)
FUEL CAPACITY: 900L
WATER CAPACITY: 400L
ENGINES: Twin Yanmar 8LV 370 – 6LY 400s
CONTACT: www.viknes.no
Viknes S40 costs & options
Price: From €438,486 ex VAT. Test boat includes the following options…
V-Drives: €8,828
Proportional bow thruster: €3,026
Stern thruster: €5,316
Shore power: €4,828
Starboard side gate: €3,679
Anchor winch: €4,249
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Verdict
Even in its previous guise as the Skilsø 39, this was a very big, accommodating, comfy and practical four-season family cruiser. But under its new name as a part of the Viknes brand, the new S40 is likely to become even better, thanks to 35cm of extra length, as well as a more stylish superstructure and a subtly optimised deck layout. That rebranding does of course bring it into direct line with the established boats of the Viknes fleet, and you could argue that in that context, the fact that the Viknes 10 does pretty much everything this boat does but on a smaller platform with a single engine for less money makes the extra €128,000 feel like an unnecessary indulgence. But the S40 is substantially larger than the V10 and it does have better heads facilities, extra space in the third cabin and more flexibility in the lower deck layout so you can tailor it to your cruising expectations. Factor in a larger galley, two helm seats, improved inside-outside integration, that extra bit of space all-round, the option of an affordable flybridge and much bigger, brighter hull windows and the S40 slots neatly in as the new flagship of the Viknes fleet without the slightest need for deference to the award-winning cruisers lower down the range.
