Believe it or not, I started this post two years ago when I first visited the boat, that looks amazing for the price and for what it offers. It looked too good to be true and I wanted to be more sure about the boat quality of this Polish-made boat.
No, don't take me wrong, this boat has the size of a 6.50 mini racer but if you dream of crossing oceans that's not a boat for you. It has neither the seaworthiness, nor the structural built quality, not to mention the speed of a series mini racer, that can be certified as a Class A sailboat.
But for doing some coastal sailing in fair weather and enjoy some weekend cruising or longer camping cruising with a girlfriend or a young small family and are short of money and need a trailerable boat, then the Viko 21s will probably interest you.
If sailing performance is your main objective, forget about it, something like an Elan E1 will be the right boat, but the Viko 21s offers much more space, much better cruising amenities, at a lesser price.
The interior space is amazing due to a very high freeboard that is well disguised on the shape of the boat, based on the Viko S22, designed by Sergio Lupoli.
This is not a high-quality boat and there are limitations to what is to be expected but the interior is good for the price and can feature a closed compartment that can take a chemical or even a proper marine toilet.
Regarding GRP solidity I have seen some complaints but even if there are dissatisfied clients most enjoy their little Viko and find the building quality acceptable.
The Viko S21 boat has better performance with the lifting keel version but it seems that it creaks and makes small noises that can be unpleasant at night. The keel weights 300 kg, most of it on a torpedo, and it has a variable draft from 0.5m to 1.4m. That gives to the Viko a 30% B/D that allows it to be certified as Class B.
That means, for the version with a lifting keel a final stability that should be enough to raise the boat from a knock-down and the 30% B/D seems to substantiate that assumption, even if it has nothing to do with the one of a 6.50 mini racer.
The one with a centerboard and even less ballast is only certifiable in Class C and I would not recommend its use for anything than lake sailing or protected waters. Besides it sails not as well as the one with the lifting keel.
From what test sailors and owners said the boat sails well in light winds, can be fast downwind but upwind is a bit handicapped by the big windage of the high freeboard hull and with medium winds it can be a bit nervous needing to reef early.
That is due to the large sail area needed to the good performance in light winds and to the limited stability that a hull limited to a 2.5m beam can offer (to be trailerable).
The small draft (1.4m) and the 30% ballast does not help either. It is a pity because with 100kg more ballast the sail performance upwind and beam reaching would be greatly improved.
As it is, it offers a decent sail performance that will allow those that are start sailing or have not the means to buy a bigger or better boat to enjoy themselves and the family on a boat that is not expensive and it is trailerable.
However, I would not recommend taking seriously what they say about this sailboat on the Viko site: "Suitable ..for sailing.. on the open waters the V21 ..handles the most challenging conditions gamely."
The boat was tested by Yacht.de and Voile et Moteur and globally they said quite well about the little Viko, as you can see on the links and movie below.
https://www.voileetmoteur.com/essai/voiliers/essai-du-viko-s21-le-petit-deriveur-blanc/89502
https://www.delius-klasing.de/viko-s21-19515?number=ZD-19515
The best is the price, 12 990 euros for a standard boat without taxes. However, that is pretty much a boat with a naked interior and a well-equipped boat will cost you 50% over and even more if it includes a dedicated trailer and a mast with an easy system to deploy. Anyway one of the best offers on the market for a boat that looks cute and disguises its big freeboard very well.
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