New Riviera 49

The big news at last week’s Riviera press conference -- held during the inaugural Riviera Festival -- was the release of a new 49 Enclosed Flybridge cruiser. The Coomera-based boat builder is now taking advance orders for the anticipated mid-2013 release.

The new 49 is very much in the same family as the popular 53 released last year and accounting for 20-odd sales already. But Riviera says the 49 is "in the sweet spot" as far as owner/driver operation and berthing in the average marina pen are concerned. Some think the 53 is just a bit daunting.

The big point of difference in the three-cabin cruiser is an exciting full-beam forward stateroom with transverse bed and bathroom in the bow, where headroom in the shower stall benefits.

Like the 53, the 49 has high freeboard, a seaworthy sheerline and profile. The three-sided enclosed flying bridge is similar to the popular 47 of which more than 200 were built (open and enclosed variants).

Concept Design Manager at Riviera, Neil McCabe said the 49 will be a great owner’s boat, as it’s not too big, yet there are three spacious cabins and all the popular features of the fast-selling 53.

McCabe was garnering owner input during the aforesaid Riviera Festival, so the renderings hereabouts should be considered preliminary.

That said, the 49 has some things set in stone: helm seats located well aft for great views into the cockpit, lower window line in the saloon to enhance the vistas, aft galley with hopper window, hinged cockpit floor for engine access, and a great big cockpit with mezzanine seating. That latter is the clincher.

Power comes from twin Cummins QSC 600s with Zeus pod drives or optional Volvo Penta IPSII 900s. The former aft-facing drives have prop tunnels and there is a half-height keel for tracking.

Returning Riviera CEO Wes Moxey is a Zeus man and the set-up is said to be very similar to what he implemented on his Belize 52, which many consider a sweet-running boat.

Back to the accommodation. The forward stateroom will have twin sliding doors that when left open creates a massive open plan below- decks layout. Cruising couples will like that.

Opening hull windows ensure natural ventilation to the cabins, the portside cabin with queen bed on the centreline could easily double as the master, while there are twin adult singles in the third cabin. 

There is a separate communal guest’s bathroom.

There’s 6ft 5in headroom throughout and in the landing areas of the two amidships guests cabins. As with every Riviera, furnishing options exist and doubtless owners will look to possibilities like media rooms, too.

Riviera has sold more than 50 flybridge boats in the sub-50ft class over the years. The boat builder has high hopes for the 49, which seems to be all the boat many pleasure boaters need these days.

The twin rather than triple engines are a nice fit, especially after our recent tests with twin IPS IIs on the Riviera 53. It’s our considered opinion this set-up with big props gives shaft-like grunt across a much lower rev range than the whirring triple IPS 600s.

Riviera dealers are happy to discuss the new 49 with prospective owners. More from the factory as the boat evolves.