William ‘Bill’ Healey, co-founder and former president of the Viking Yacht Company, has died at the age of 97 from long-term complications of a stroke.
Bill founded Viking Yachts, based in New Gretna, N.J., with his late brother Robert Healey Sr. on April 1 1964 and built a boat manufacturing empire in the recreational marine industry.
Over the decades he continuously encouraged and supported legions of shipwrights who designed and manufactured luxury yachts.
One of four brothers, Bill was born into a tightly knit family.
He entered the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during the final years of World War II and after his honorable discharge from the armed forces, he earned a B.S. degree in political science.
Beginning of Viking Yachts
He worked for his father at P.J. Healey Structural Steel in Atco, N.J., before turning his attention to the Jersey Shore.
When Peterson-Viking, a local wooden boatbuilder failed, it marked the beginning of Viking Yachts, leading to a leading luxury fibreglass sportfishing and cruising yacht builder.
Having seen the advantages of fibreglass, Bill shifted from wood to fiberglass and launched a Viking 40 Convertible in 1972.
He set out with plans to innovate and offer clients value for what they would invest in a Viking yacht.
Under his leadership, the Viking Yacht Company grew into an 880,000sqft facility with multiple production lines capable of producing 100 yachts each year.
Now in its 61st year, Viking has manufacturing locations in New Gretna and Egg Harbor City, N.J., and multiple service and sales facilities in Palm Beach County, Fla. Nearly 90% of the yachts are designed and manufactured in-house to focus on quality control and customer satisfaction.
Viking Yachts suffered a serious setback in 1991 after a federal 10% luxury tax on boats priced above $100,000 crushed sales.
With production at a standstill, Viking lost 1,500 workers and was dead in the water.
However, when the tax was repealed in 1993, Viking came back stronger than ever and Bill continued modernising the yacht-building business.
Healey was intense and feisty, but beneath that drive was a soft heart and a deep bond with others.
Viking Yachts
One of his key advancements was designing a trigeneration facility in the plant to provide power for its electrical, air-conditioning and heating needs.
He built and installed a wastewater treatment plant, invested in a $1 million five-axis CNC (computer numerical control) router to design and shape parts and components for the factory and the boats, and added solar panels on the roofs of several buildings for additional clean power.
He was also known for taking care of his Viking family, creating a factory health department that provided employees and their families free on-site medical care in addition to the company’s traditional health benefits.
“Healey was intense and feisty, but beneath that drive was a soft heart and a deep bond with others,” said Viking Yachts in a statement.
Never-ending inspiration
“He valued his team with unbounded enthusiasm and commitment, often reminding them that they did not work for Bill Healey but that they worked with Bill Healey.”
The statement continued: “A source of never-ending inspiration to build a better boat every day, Healey demonstrated his love for his boatbuilders by standing at the door every evening to thank and wish them a good night as they left the factory.
“He not only knew the names of hundreds of Viking’s carpenters, electricians, mechanics, designers, metal craftsmen, fibreglass workers and outfitters, but often of their family members as well.”
NMMA Hall of Fame
Bill received many honours throughout his life including the Ernst & Young N.J. Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1998.
He was inducted into the National Marine Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame in 2003 and the following year earned the Press of Atlantic City’s Bailey Award for community contributions.
In 2024, he was inducted into the Marine Trades Association of N.J. Hall of Fame.
Bill retired in October 2013, turning the helm over to his son Patrick, however he continued a daily presence at the New Gretna facility to the delight of old and new customers he would meet at the factory.
He is survived by his son, Patrick and his daughter Katherine Healey, and several grandchildren.
