2020 Belize 66 Sedan review

Belize Motor Yachts was launched in 2011 with the retro-looking Belize 52 Sedan. Designed in Australia but built in Taiwan, the 52 earned plaudits for combining traditional exterior styling with modern technology and construction materials.

In 2012, Riviera's owner, Longhurst Marine Holdings, bought Belize. Riviera has a manufacturing facility on the Gold Coast, but Belize Motor Yachts are still made in Taiwan by respected boat-builder Ka Shing Enterprise.

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A Daybridge version of the Belize 52 Sedan followed in the wake of the first model's success. It paired the features of the Sedan with a flybridge helm station and upper living area.

Today, the Belize range has expanded to four models built over two different hull sizes. The original Belize 52 has since upgraded and refined to become the Belize 54, available in Sedan and Daybridge variants.

Late in 2017 a new, larger Belize hull was developed, culminating in the release of the flagship Belize 66 Sedan and Daybridge models. The former is the subject of this review.

Riviera's regular production line models, up to 23 metres in length, are already built to the highest standards. The premium Belize models raise the bar even further.

The fit, finish and build quality of these craft is exceptional. Only the best fixtures, fittings, timbers and materials are used, and each vessel is hand-crafted in Taiwan by an elite team of tradesmen.

Belize Motor Yachts also come standard with features and accessories listed as optional with many rival brands.

Unsurprisingly then, Belize Motor Yachts command a price premium over "regular" models. Our test boat, for example, has a substantial starting price of $4,999,999.

As tested, with a range of customer ordered options and modifications, the price rises to a higher, but undisclosed, figure.

Propulsion for every Belize 66 Sedan and Daybridge cruiser comes from a pair of 1000hp Volvo Penta turbocharged six-cylinder D13 diesel engines coupled to IPS1350 pod drive units with forward-facing duo-prop propellers.

The Volvos also come with finger-tip electronic power steering and joystick control for berthing and close-quarter manoeuvring.

The Belize 66 Sedan has a joystick located at the helm station, and another on each side of the rear cockpit. The two aft joysticks allow the skipper to manoeuvre the boat whilst standing dockside for a clear view of the length of the vessel.

Our test boat also was fitted with an optional bow thruster, but I am not sure it is needed. A bow thruster on the Belize will help to navigate into a very tight marina pen, but I expect most docking or refueling can be handled using the joystick-controlled Volvo IPS pod drives.

Integrated with the Volvo engines is the helm's Garmin digital electronics suite consisting of a pair of 22-inch GPSMap 8422 multifunction displays, along with a separate 17-inch GPSMap 8417 display.

Functions available to the skipper include engine management, radar, depth sounding, GPS chart plotting, autopilot, onboard cameras, and more.

Alongside at the helm is one of several screens scattered about the boat to access its CZone digital switching and monitoring system, used to balance the boat's changing electrical needs. All functions in the boat can be controlled from one of these touch-screen displays as well as an included Apple iPad.

General features onboard the Belize 66 Sedan includes three or four staterooms with permanent accommodation for up to eight people; air conditioning to each of the staterooms and the saloon/helm station; three full bathrooms; laundry; saloon dining area and helm station with overhead electric sunroof; and wide, wrap-around front windscreen; two outdoor living areas (cockpit and foredeck); a U-shaped galley; transom electric BBQ grill; multiple flatscreen TVs; watermaker; wine chiller (under the stairs); LED lighting throughout; vast storage areas; bow and stern Muir windlasses; and a tender garage forward of a huge rear swimming platform.

The latter is split into two sections with the port side of the platform configured to lower hydraulically into the water to make it easy to launch up to a 3.4-metre inflatable tender.

As noted earlier, our test boat was fitted with a range of options. Chief among these was the selection of the three-stateroom Grand Presidential accommodation layout, along with the aforementioned bow thruster; a Seakeeper 16 Gyro stabiliser; an upgraded air conditioning and heating system; upgraded underwater lighting; teak flooring to the helm station (instead of carpet); teak decking to side walkways and foredeck; a high/low adjustable pedestal table to the saloon (instead of a storage table); an upgraded cockpit enclosure with clears; and a flatscreen TV with gaming console to the guest (third) cabin.

Cosmetic changes included non-standard colour marble benchtops to the galley and bathrooms, along with extra leather upholstery to selected areas.

The Belize 66 Sedan is built with a hand-laid moulded fibreglass hull, deck and superstructure. The hull bottom, keel and chines are solid fibreglass to the forward engine room bulkhead, and cored fibreglass thereafter.

The 19.42m long by 5.45m wide hull is stiffened with longitudinal and transverse foam-cored and fibreglass sheathed stringers. Transverse bulkheads add more rigidity.

The hull has segregated, independent compartments throughout, along with a watertight, collision bulkhead and anchor locker at the bow.

Vinylester resin is used in the outer layers of the hull to provide strength and to stop osmosis

As with most modern Riviera models, the Belize hull is optimised for Volvo Penta's through-hull steerable IPS pod drives with forward-facing counter-rotating and steerable duo-props.

All Belize 66 variants are fitted with a pair of Volvo Penta's most powerful IPS pod drives, the IPS D13-1350.

Delivering a combined 2000hp, the big Volvo's push the Belize 66 to a top speed of 33 knots with full fuel and water. That is very impressive given the vessel carries 4500L of fuel across three tanks, and 700L of water in two 350L plastic tanks.

The Volvo Penta engines sit well aft in the Belize 66 inside a well lit, and clean-looking white-painted engine room beneath the elevated cockpit living area.

The engines are staggered with the port side unit sitting forward of the starboard one to make room for a larger tender garage.

Jack shafts connect the engines to the through-hull mounted IPS pod drives.

Acess to the engine room is through a primary service door aft of the master stateroom, and via four separate cockpit entry-points.

Accordingly, getting down to service the various components, such as the engines, generator, filters, strainers, batteries and water maker, appears to be a relatively straight forward task.

But for a step separating the saloon/galley from the helm deck, the Belize 66 has single-level living from the aft cockpit through to the expansive three-piece wraparound windscreen providing a terrific panoramic view.

Entry to the boat is via a port or starboard transom gate, and from the cockpit to the saloon via a polished stainless steel and tempered glass sliding door.

There's also a watertight pantograph door on the port side of the cabin opening into the saloon.

A U-shaped galley to starboard is equipped with all the mod cons including a three-burner Miele cooktop, convection oven and rangehood, under-bench dishwasher, pull-out pantry rack, double sink with faucet, and a custom-coloured stone benchtop.

Opposite are a full-height fridge/freezer and pantry storage racks behind varnished timber doors. Storage shelves and a drawer-style fridge are situated alongside, aft of a port side lounge seat.

Non-slip teak flooring stretches the length of the saloon, while satin varnished American walnut timber trims the cabinetry throughout. It is mixed up and blended in most areas with a light-coloured high gloss two-pack finish.

The main lounge and dining area is to starboard, ahead of the galley, and features a L-shaped lounge with storage beneath, and an expandable teak dining table (a high/low adjustable pedestal version in our test rig).

A flatscreen TV pops up from behind the helm station, viewable from the saloon seating area and galley.

The helm station is in the centre of the forward saloon, appropriately located to provide the skipper with unrestricted visibility forward and aft.

The layout is very car-like in the sense that there are two big, comfortable chairs for the skipper and co-pilot, separated by a centre console with easy access push-button switches and a left-handed throttle box with dual throttles.

The helm's joystick control is built into the skipper's starboard side armrest where it is comfortably within reach and intuitive to use.

The wide, leather-bound dash and fascia house the three Garmin multifunction displays and the CZone digital switch panel, along with the timber-trimmed stainless steel steering wheel and other instruments.

A third, forward-facing companion chair is on the starboard side, above a rack of storage drawers.

Overhead, the electric-opening glass sunroof and light-coloured vinyl headlining combine with the tall, wrap-around front windscreen, high saloon side windows, and an opening aft galley awning window to provide lots of ambient light and a general feeling of spaciousness throughout.

Our test boat was optioned with the three-stateroom Grand Presidential accommodation layout. There's also the standard four-cabin Classic layout and a second three-cabin configuration called the Presidential.

The Grand Presidential is aptly named because it has the largest master stateroom, stretching the full beam of the boat forward of the engine room, and separated by an equally wide and spacious ensuite bathroom.

The master on our test boat is equipped with a queen-size bed with ample walkaround space, a mirrored bedhead wall, varnished walnut cabinetry and wall panels, a pair of cedar-lined hanging cupboards, along with soft-touch vinyl head linings, splashes of leather upholstery, and matching carpet.

The master stateroom also features cabin windows with opening portholes (alarmed to the helm if left open when the boat gets underway) bedside storage drawers, reading lights, LED lighting, under-bed LED glow lighting, a starboard side lounge, wall-mounted flatscreen TV, and a work desk/office space.

A door in the rear cabin bulkhead opens to an ensuite with an electric head on the starboard side, and a double-size shower opposite with a teak timber seat and an opaque opening porthole window.

In between is a mirrored vanity with stone benchtop and storage cabinets.

Teak decking provides non-slip qualities to the ensuite floor panels, which can be removed for cleaning. Silica is added to the teak finish to improve traction, both here and throughout the boat.

A utility room behind the ensuite provides access to the engine room and a laundry with a stacked washer and dryer – laundry appliances are usually built into a cupboard on the starboard side of the base of the saloon/lower deck stairwell.

Moving forward, you'll find a second queen-size berth in a VIP cabin in the forepeak. It is half the size of the master stateroom but still feels roomy and comfortable.

The VIP cabin is similarly well outfitted. Key features include an ensuite bathroom with electric head, shower, vanity, stone benchtop and removable teak flooring, along with a mirrored desk/make-up table, hanging cupboards, under-bed storage, flatscreen TV, stereo, and more.

The guest cabin, or third stateroom, is to port at the bottom of the companionway. This room is configured with two single beds that slide together electrically to form a double berth.

A two-way bathroom with head, shower and vanity is adjacent and forward of the guest stateroom, allowing it to be used as an ensuite or a day head.

Outdoor spaces in the Belize 66 are great for socialising, with comfortable lounge seating areas, ample storage space, cooking/fridge facilities, and covers and enclosures proividing shade or shelter.

In warm weather family and friends will congregate in the rear cockpit. The teak decking is comfortable and grippy underfoot, and there is ample space to move about.

Overhead, a hardtop with canvas shade extension provides shelter.

There's also seating for eight to 10 people in the rear-mounted settee and the large, L-shaped lounge seat with accompanying varnished teak table.

The lounge sits up against the cabin/saloon bulkhead, and beneath an outward opening awning window. The latter allows the chef in the galley to socialise with friends seated in the cockpit.

When the chef is not in the galley, he or she will be outdoors with guests cooking up a storm on the port side cockpit electric BBQ grille.

The twin-plate barbecue is built into a three-quarter length cabinet beneath a gas strut-supported hatch. There's also a refrigerator drawer, icemaker and storage cupboards.

In the height of summer I expect sun lovers will gravitate to the forward deck. Accessed via 330mm-wide walkways, the bow deck has a comfortable U-shaped seating area with another high/low teak table.

There's also an overhead bimini and surrounding storage lockers for everything from fenders to gear bags and deck lines.

The seats can transform into chaise-style lounge seats, or lower to create a giant sun-pad.

The forward deck living space can even be enclosed with zip-up drop curtains/clears.

The Belize 66 Sedan is a fine looking vessel in anyone's eye. The long, slim hull blends with an arching roofline and full, wrap-around glass windows to exude an old-world charm and elegance.

In some ways, the classic, traditional external design of the Belize sedan suggests that this vessel might be something of a modest performer, a semi-displacement bay cruiser that might be lucky to pull 15 knots flat-out with 30-knot tailwind.

The truth is quite the opposite.

Beneath those retro lines, unusually upright, vertical stem shape and finely drawn shoulders lurks a genuine rough-water performer and a high-speed planing hull. Riviera doesn't design boats for pottering about on smooth-water lakes and harbours, and no exception was made for the Belize 66 Sedan.

Whilst we were not able to test this particular boat offshore (huge seas raged off the eastern seaboard at the time of testing) we do know that this flagship Belize model is very capable in offshore waters – smooth, quiet, stable, surefooted and quick. Very quick.

On the Gold Coast Broadwater we pushed the Belize 66 Sedan to the max, and wow, is this rig fast.

Official figures show the vessel is capable of a top speed of 32.6 knots with full fuel and water. During our test, with 86 per cent fuel and 91 per cent water on board, we averaged a top speed of 35 knots at 2450rpm for a fuel burn of 380L/h.

It was effortless too. Gun the left-handed throttles and the whole boat seems to elevate up out of the water before gathering momentum with speed and deceptive ease.

Before you know it, you are bounding across the bay at 35 knots, keeping a sharp eye out for smaller craft – bearing in mind the Belize 66 Sedan is more than 20 metres long and can come upon small tinnies and open boats very quickly when motoring at full noise.

I also noted that the transition from a displacement to a planing speed is almost imperceptible as Volvo Penta's auto-trim system combined with a well-balanced hull to limit bow-lift.

At cruising speeds, the skipper, nestled comfortably in the leather-bound helm chair, can choose to steer the boat with either the wood-rimmed steering wheel or the starboard side joystick control. It is all rather easy and comfortable.

Good performance in a straight line is one thing, but does the Belize handle? Can she do corners?

The answer to that question is a resounding yes. The sheer size of the vessel means you do need a fair bit of room to swing it around, but throw the steering wheel hard over and the Belize 66 Sedan will come about with surprising agility.

Range on 90% of the 4500L fuel supply at 1900rpm: 411nm@1900rpm
*Both engines

Riviera likens the Belize brand to famous automotive marques such as Bentley and Bugatti.

Is it a stretch to make this comparison? I don't think so. Belize Motor Yachts, including the Belize 66 Sedan model we just tested, are beautifully finished, masterfully engineered, and proudly crafted – nautical incarnations of the very best in the automotive world.

Certainly our test boat was very hard to fault; the fit and finish was stunning (properly high-end) the handling and performance exceptional, the styling, comfort and convenience class-leading.

The Belize 66 sedan has all the onboard amenities, features and creature comfort needed for short- and long-range cruising combined with a choice of three and four stateroom accommodation layouts and a fast, ocean-capable hull.

With this wonderful power cruising vessel, old-school charm and elegance combine with modern sophistication and state-of-the-art technology for a unique blend of the traditional and the contemporary.

Specifications
Model: Belize 66 Sedan
Length overall: 21.12m
Hull length: 19.42m
Beam: 5.45m
Draft: 1.6m
Weight: 35,015kg (dry)
Bridge clearance: 5.91m
Engines as tested: Dual 1000hp Volvo Penta D13-1350 IPS drives
Genset: Cummins Onan 29kW
Fuel: 4500L, diesel
Water: 700L
Holding tank: 500L
Accommodation: 6-8

Priced from: $4,999,999 including air conditioning to each of the staterooms and the saloon/helm station; three full bathrooms; laundry; saloon dining area and helm station with overhead electric sunroof; and wide, wrap-around front windscreen; two outdoor living areas (cockpit and foredeck); a U-shaped galley; transom electric BBQ grill; multiple flatscreen TVs; watermaker; wine chiller (under the stairs); LED lighting throughout; vast storage areas; bow and stern Muir windlasses; and a tender garage forward of a huge rear swimming platform

Price as tested: Undisclosed including bow thruster; a Seakeeper 16 Gyro stabiliser; an upgraded air conditioning and heating system; upgraded underwater lighting; teak flooring to the helm station (instead of carpet); teak decking to side walkways and foredeck; a high/low adjustable pedestal table to the saloon (instead of a storage table); an upgraded cockpit enclosure with clears; and a flatscreen TV with gaming console to the guest (third) cabin

Supplied by: Riviera Australia www.riviera.com.au