When Ian Hall began research to find the ideal boat for his cruising lifestyle around the Gippsland Lakes district of south-western Victoria, his first thoughts were toward a Riviera 4000 Offshore hardtop.
Then a call with Paul Harrop, Dealer Principal at R Marine South Australia, led him to DevOcean, a Riviera M430 Sports Cruiser in immaculate condition.
Riviera built 145 M430s over six years from 2001 as part of a collection, including the M290 and M370 Sports Cruisers.
The M430 included two cabins, the master with walk-around double bed forward and a midships cabin including a double and single bed. The bathroom had two-way access as either a private ensuite or day head. The galley at the foot of the companionway was fully equipped with a two-door fridge/freezer, two-burner electric cooktop and microwave oven.
The large entertainer cockpit included a wet bar with a fridge and ice maker opposite a roomy lounge area behind the helm.
“I specifically wanted a motor yacht that would happily cruise the lakes over a weekend with enough space on board to entertain friends – and was a classic of its type,” said Ian. “I also wanted speed and strong diesel engines. This M430 is equipped with Volvo Penta turbo diesels.
Ian flew to Adelaide to meet Paul and inspect the boat.
“She was immaculate,” said Ian. “The engines had recorded only 300 engine hours despite being a 2003 model – 430/56. A test run proved that the electronic systems on board were still in perfect working order and the entire motor yacht was very well presented. The stainless steel throughout is full marine grade 316.
“It even had the original sales paperwork and the original manuals on board. A fantastic find.
“DevOcean fitted all of my requirements perfectly. There are a few on the market with petrol engines but I was specific in the need for diesel both for safety and fuel consumption.
“The hull of the M430 is special, too. It was born of an offshore race boat so it is very agile and responsive as well as extremely strong.
“I own a shopfitting business so I understand the demand for quality joinery. The work on the M430 is immaculate; the highest standard.”
Ian took his Riviera M430 to her new home at Paynesville on the Gippsland Lakes and began upgrading it to perfectly suit his lifestyle.
“While the original electronics on board worked well, I wanted the latest technology,” he said.
“So, with the help of Stuart Jackson and his team at R Marine Jacksons and their Riviera electronics contractor Paynesville Marine Electronics, we updated everything to the latest Raymarine systems. We now have digital output for the engine systems so I can monitor complete engine performance.
“I have even added a FLIR camera and AIS marine tracking. The AIS is not necessary on the Lakes, of course, but I am preparing DevOcean for offshore voyages next year.
“The M430 includes a bow thruster and, because I often cruise alone, I needed to be able to dock her myself. So we added a stern thruster and remote controls for both thrusters through Wifi. The remote hangs around my neck, so I can jump off the motor yacht at a dock and bring her alongside at the press of a couple buttons.”
The interior decor was the next step for Ian. He turned to Sarah Swain at Riviera Decor.
“I don’t know much about the softer side of boats, but I do know what I want,” said Ian.
“Sarah recommended the very latest Riviera decor. A bonus was the craftspeople who would bring it all together. Rob and Viv Sales have delivered the finished fabrics for Riviera for nearly 30 years and still had the specifications for the M430 beds and lounges. The result is incredible.
“I love history and researching this motor yacht has been a delight. I love this old girl.”
Many M430 owners agree. Here are some comments on Facebook:
Charles Phillis: “Amazing offshore with that lovely waterline length and ease of power on tap! Only made better by being built by Riv.”
Martin Holmes: “Still one of the best looking boats out there. Great design stands the test of time.”
Dale Mackney: “I’m picking up my first M430 next Thursday, I can’t wait.”
Rennie Dolich: “My favourite from all the Riv family.”
Brent Price: “Sexiest sports cruiser ever built.”
