2022 Riviera 78 teased as hull No.1 takes shape

The two parts of the all-new Riviera 78 Motor Yacht were joined together recently as the boat takes more steps closer to its early 2022 launch.

Riviera said the deck was moulded from its plug while seated on the hull’s plug “to ensure millimetre accuracy when the final hull and deck were joined”.

“The hull plug and deck mould were then wheeled outside of the lamination facility. The deck mould was then carefully lifted off the hull plug by three huge cranes.

“High in the air, the cranes worked in perfect unison to roll the mould over before it was returned to the shed for lamination,” Riviera said.

Riviera’s largest-ever boat brought some new thinking in terms of how the Gold Coast-based shipyard built it.

To help strengthen the hull’s form and save on weight, the bulkheads, crew quarters and master en-suite were built into the hull instead of being incorporated into the deck and headliner that is traditionally lowered into the hull.

Most of the kilometres of electrical cabling were installed on the hull instead of with the headliner, removing the need to complete the connections after the deck was joined to the hull.

Meanwhile, the twin MAN turbo diesels that will power this new model were test-fitted to the engine room, lifted out while final adjustments were carried out, and then installed and connected with the V-drive gearboxes and oil-filled shafts.

The bridge, which is moulded separately in the build process, was being detailed and would be fitted soon, Riviera said.

Riviera will build the Riviera 78 Motor Yacht, unveiled in concept form at the 2021 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, as both an open and enclosed flybridge model.

Work has already started on Hull No.2, Riviera said.