Independent experts have their say on the 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition and 45 Open Flybridge from our Riviera Boat Show collection

Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition

Review by Kevin Koenig of
Yachting magazine (USA)

Available for immediate enjoyment
Sun Country Marine

Riviera 45 Open
Flybridge

Review by Peter Scott of
Go Boating magazine (Australia)

Available for immediate enjoyment
Pompano, Florida

Exterior:

“I stepped aboard the hydraulic swim platform under blue-grey skies on a typically low-lit winter’s day on Sydney Harbour, and proceeded forward via the portside staircase leading to the cockpit (there’s a mirroring staircase to starboard that nicely aids with feng shui). The cockpit itself is wholly devoted to entertaining. A transom barbecue with twin griddles, refrigerated compartments and a stainless-steel backsplash handles the alfresco cooking duties and serves an L-shaped dining settee to port. That settee has an adjustable teak table that allows it to convert to a sun pad once lunch has been served. There’s also a lounge opposite the settee. An electric sunrooof overhead protects guests from ultraviolet rays as well as from sun-showers on days when there’s just enough drizzle to be annoying.”

Exterior:

“The 45 Open is a clear-cut winner in terms of styling. It’s a nice looking boat, runs high and dry and has a welcoming open saloon and large cockpit. Even the extended bimini which provides shade to the cockpit did not limit my line of sight to the swim platform and transom. The Riviera 45 Open has a portside helm, but the true driving position is almost midships because of the clever design features. To allow for a moulded flybridge staircase, Riviera’s design team has moved the helm from starboard to port with absolutely no disadvantage to the overall look of the boat or its handling.”

Interior:

“A glass bulkhead separates the cockpit and salon, though ‘separates’ is perhaps not exactly the right word because the two areas are melded by a sliding glass door and a flip-up window above the aft galley (all framed in mirror 316 stainless steel). The aft-galley setup makes the space more informal and open to conviviality and can serve the salon and cockpit equally. A formal dining settee to port is forward, across from the helm, and there is a sofa to starboard at amidships. All the seats in the salon are at a height that allows good sightlines out the windows, so everyone can enjoy the view no matter where they are sitting.”

Interior:

“The interior layout and design of the 45 Open is most impressive, providing good space, well positioned furnishings, a forward galley and aft alfresco window. The interior is cherrywood (oak and walnut are options) with a composite timber finish floor. There are two lounges – a portside L-shaped lounge with adjustable coffee table on entry to the saloon and a forward starboard lounge which provides eating around the extendable dining table mounted on a solid base with storage compartments. The galley is forward of the port lounge and is aft facing.”

Accommodation:

“The Classic (design) setup has an amidships master and forepeak VIP, as well as mirroring guest staterooms between them. An optional Lounge version replaces the portside guest stateroom with a lounge and TV, which is great if you’re traveling with kids because it gives them their own area to hang. Last, the Presidential option converts the portside guest stateroom into an en suite head for the master, which opens up the stateroom’s main living space, making it full beam.”

Accommodation:

“There are three cabins aboard the 45 Open. Two cabins feature single beds while the forward stateroom has an island queen. The master stateroom has deep shoulder-height lockers on either side of the cabin and twin wardrobes. Long hull windows below the overhead lockers add a spacious dimension to an otherwise roomy cabin. The en suite is to port and aft of the cabin entry. Again Riviera’s interior designers have done a great job in delivering a spacious, well appointed and practical wet area with composite timber finish floor. The port cabin has two horizontal single bunks which extend aft under the galley floor while the starboard cabin has upper and lower single bunks. Both cabins feature full height on entry.”

Engineering:

“The twin Recaro helm seats enjoy excellent sightlines, something that was extremely helpful as I wheeled the nimble boat through a busy Sydney Harbour and out to the rolling Pacific 3s and 4s. There, the Riviera’s hand-laid, vinylester-resin hull proved sturdy and quiet, not to mention soft-riding as she rose and fell with the well-spaced-out swells.”

Engineering:

“The 45 features hull tunnels and this innovation has clearly benefitted the handling of this model. The turning circle in our test boat was most impressive and handling was responsive from the flybridge portside helm. Not only does the Open 45 have tunnels, it features underwater exhausts and a quality finish in the spacious engine room. The engineering standard is very high and little things like a wash-out hose in the engine room, quality Racor filters and separators, a Seafire fire suppression system and brass straps fitted to the stainless steel shafts clearly demonstrates the boat is built for serious boating. Coupled with a watertight collision bulkhead forward, a solid GRP keel and hand laid keel, the 45 Open is built to last.”

Performance:

“With twin 725 hp Volvo Penta IPS950s churning below our feet, we saw a 28-knot top speed and cruised at 21 knots. Range at the latter speed is 370 nautical miles, or about the distance from Miami to Jacksonville, Florida.”

Performance:

“We ran due east away from the ever-increasing silt bar developing on the Gold Coast seaway to get away from the inshore jiggle. The big cruiser powered its way forward with complete ease. There was absolutely no cavitation or vibration, even in tight turns. The 45 Open is fitted with QL tabs and the day of our test was probably the only time I have been impressed with these new tabs. The boat responded quickly and trimmed up well with just a touch of the electronic control pads with indicator lights to show the true down angle of the tabs.”

The verdict:

“As I stepped off the 6000 and watched her pull away, I admired her sleek appearance, accentuated by the Platinum Edition signature black-and-silver colour scheme. Her oh-so-recognisable Riviera lines were apparent at a glance, yet the hot new paint job really made her dance. It was just another detail that shows how much Riviera Yachts understands that offering safety and performance is good, but putting it together in style is great.”

The verdict:

“Riviera has approached the design of the 45 Open with, dare I say, an open mind and the result is a clear winner. For those discerning buyers searching for a well-appointed, comfortable convertible flybridge cruiser with an excellent pedigree and backed by one of the industry’s best after-sales service programs, the Riviera 45 Open will be of considerable appeal.”