Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht 2023 Review

Riviera’s 465 SUV made a big splash when it launched at the 2022 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. 

Bristling with technology and featuring a right-sized sub-15.0-metre hull length, it was the right boat at the right time.

Riviera has now taken the next step, adding a third level of living space to create the flybridge-equipped Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht, featuring an open flybridge – the only Sports Motor Yacht model in the line-up to not use a semi-enclosed bridge deck.

The addition of the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht creates a new point of entry to the now five-model strong SMY line-up, meaning 46 owners can grow up through the range all the way up to the flagship 72 Sports Motor Yacht if they so desire.

Buyers get a turnkey package featuring a pair of 600hp 7.7-litre six-cylinder Volvo Penta D8-IPS800 engines driving IPS15 pods.

Riviera equips its boats ready for owners to step aboard and take the helm, so the 46 Sports Motor Yacht comes equipped with an impressively long list of standard gear.

This includes a 27kg stainless steel Ultra anchor with 50 metres of 10mm chain; hot and cold wash-down outlets in the anchor locker; a 500-litre pressurised freshwater system with a 45-litre hot water heater; pre-wiring for a full entertainment system; joystick docking; CZone digital switchboard system; LED strip lights and mains powerpoints with USB recharging ports; cockpit icemaker, barbecue and sink; 130-litre top-loading cockpit fridge; 12,000BTU reverse-cycle air-conditioning unit; convection microwave oven, two-burner cooktop, twin drawer fridge/freezer, and a single-bowl sink with mixer tap in the galley.

The Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht is built on top of an all-new hull that also sits under the 465 SUV. It is hand-laid at Riviera’s Coomera boat-building facility on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The hull is more flared at the front to deflect spray and includes the traditional deep vee forward that gives the Riviera range its renowned sea-keeping ability.

Below the waterline the hull is solid fibreglass; above it, the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht uses a cored deck and topsides. Where possible the forward compartment is foam-filled to reduce noise and add strength.

The boat is built on the same production line as other Riviera models and will use the same manufacturing process that precisely measures the number of materials used in each step of the build to ensure consistency.

Forward, the Riviera 46 Sports Motor yacht has a collision bulkhead, while its 2500-litre fuel tank sits just behind amidships to help balance the weight distribution. Similar to many other Riviera models, the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht uses Volvo Penta’s pod drive system for propulsion, linked to a joystick control system to help with low-speed maneuverability.

A large hatch in the mezzanine level lifts up to provide access to an engine compartment that has plenty of working room. Draining in-floor storage bins – ideal for fender storage as you can wash them out – are built into the cockpit floor, and are removable to provide access to the top of the pod drives.

Electrical needs are provided via an 11.0kWh/50hz Onan generator, with a pair of shore power leads supplied for berthing.

Riviera’s boats are built with a seven-year structural warranty, while the Volvo Penta powerplants feature a five-year warranty.

Pricing for the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht is available on request.

The Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht is based on the 465 SUV, and carries over the philosophy of maximising living and storage space. However, as well as the four separate living zones – cockpit, mezzanine, saloon and downstairs accommodations – the 46 SMY features the open flybridge, set up primarily as an entertaining space.

There’s no traditional bowsprit on the Riviera 46 Sports motor yacht, and instead, it integrates the anchor into the stem of the bow. However, it’s still easy to access the chain locker or snub the chain, which is exposed to the deck.

The deck, too, has some clever thinking. Moving the forward cabin’s skylights outwards has made space for a dual-width bow sun lounge with adjustable backrests, with huge storage space below. The sun lounge has a walkway along its trailing edge, making it easy to fit the covers at the end of the trip – no stumbling over cushions.

The saloon and mezzanine are integrated onto the same level, with a large stainless steel-framed window and sliding glass door melding the space into an alfresco social zone.

The design also integrates the mezzanine and aft cockpit, creating an amphitheatre-like seating atmosphere keeping the conversation flowing between those who like conversation more than fishing, and vice versa.

Aft, the mooring cleats are recessed into the cockpit’s bulwarks to prevent them from snagging fishing lines. A large self-draining kill tank is under the cockpit floor.

Slip in through the stainless steel-framed sliding door that makes up the aft bulkhead and you’re immediately cocooned in comforts highlighted in satin walnut finishes.

The more compact form of the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht makes it quite different from the next model up, the Riviera 50 Sports Motor Yacht.

For a start, the 46’s galley is on the starboard side of the saloon space, the opposite of the 50. The galley is the same U-shaped bench and includes the awning window that opens aft to the mezzanine space covered by the flybridge deck above.

The galley is well equipped with plenty of soft-close storage and contains an under-counter side-by-side combination fridge and freezer, twin-hob Summit induction cooktop and convection microwave oven.

This boat also has an optional CZone control panel mounted above the benchtop, making it easy to switch the boat between running and anchor mode, as well as control the lights around the saloon and mezzanine space.

To port, below the floating stairway to the flybridge deck, is another small benchtop with glass storage and a drinks fridge.

Forward and to port of the galley space is a U-shaped stepped dinette with a folding table top that can halve in size to make it more user-friendly while underway.

On the other side of the companionway down to the accommodations, the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht features an L-shaped lounge rather than a helm station. Central to all the lounge spaces is a 46-inch TV that automatically rises from the forward bulkhead at the press of a button.

Large sliding windows forward allow natural airflow to cross the saloon.

A feature you don’t see too often in boats this size is a roof-mounted handrail, handy for moving aft while making passage in rough weather. Riviera, after all, prides itself on its seakeeping abilities, meaning this is a boat that isn’t shy of getting a bit of green water over the bow.

The mezzanine on the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht is on the same level as the saloon, creating a connected living zone once the awning window and sliding glass saloon door – it comes with a built-in safety system so that it cannot slam shut – are opened.

The flybridge deck overhead and dot-matrix glass panels to either side give the mezzanine good protection from the sun and weather.

An option for this space is a set of zip-in clears that integrate the mezzanine with the saloon; on a hot day, you can feed cooling cross-flow air throughout the entire space.

The teak-floored mezzanine includes two outboard lounges with built-in storage and a floating ottoman. The cockpit’s port side includes a table with fold-out leaves and centrally mounted stainless steel drink holders. 

To starboard, the base of the lounge flips out to create a double-sized day bed. A hatch in the floor provides generous access to the engine room.

The mezzanine provides an amphitheatre-like view of the cockpit and swim deck. It also has controls for the Fusion audio system, and a second joystick for the Volvo Penta engines to help with docking. 

A companionway with a couple of steps leads down to a wide cockpit. An in-floor hatch opens up to reveal a large, drained kill tank.

Facing it is a barbecue grill and a wet bar, and a top-loading fridge. Mooring line lockers are on each side of the cockpit.

Swinging doors to either side of the cockpit fold backwards and flat against the transom, opening up to the optional full-beam hydraulically lowering swim deck that is on the same level as the cockpit.

You can option the swim deck with drop-in "staple" rails so it becomes a natural extension of the cockpit when not being used for watersports.

Down the fully lined soft-touch companionway, the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht’s accommodations use a conventional layout of a master stateroom forward in the bow, and two guest staterooms amidships. The owner’s suite gains its own head and shower, while the other two spaces share a head and shower that also serves as the day head. 

The port stateroom can use the bathroom as an ensuite, and all bathrooms feature full-standing headroom.

These aft cabins can be specified either as a double to port and split singles to starboard, or as two split singles, and would normally feature opening portholes. The starboard stateroom also has space to house a washer and dryer.

The Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht’s master suite has the queen-size bed built against the forward bulkhead rather than offset to one side as some designs lay it out, with skylights recessed into the deck and side windows allowing natural light to flood in.

This design yields space on either side aft of the cabin to have his-and-hers cedar-lined hanging lockers, while overhead cabinets provide even more accessible storage options.

Once again, the level of craftsmanship on display via the cabinetry is remarkable. Riviera’s skilled workforce is evident everywhere you look.

It’s been more than a decade since a Riviera has featured an aft helm station on the bridge deck, so the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht sets a new benchmark.

Having a single helm on the flybridge rather than having a main station in the saloon and a second station on the flybridge allows Riviera to maximise the downstairs living space, important on a 15-metre boat where space is at a premium.

The third level is designed as an open flybridge, but our test boat is fully enclosed in Strataglass removable clears that provide protection from the elements both on the move and once anchored. Large zip-up sections can provide airflow when needed.

The forward section of the flybridge is a split lounge space featuring a three-seater to port and a U-shaped dinette to starboard that converts into a sunbed or extra sleeping space once the table drops down and an in-fill cushion is fitted. A low, tinted windscreen helps to cut down on sunlight reflection from the water.

Aft of the lounge space, and to port is a wet bar that can be closed off from the saloon stairwell via a large hatch.

To port is the two-seat helm station. Despite being open to the elements, Riviera hasn’t skimped on the quality of the space, making it look and feel a lot like an enclosed station, albeit with a few nods to practicality such as the stainless steel steering wheel and hard moulded surfaces. 

Still, the twin Pompanette captain’s chairs are extremely comfortable and the driving position gives a commanding view over the starboard side of the vessel. However, having the co-pilot’s seat inboard locks the skipper in while it is occupied, and realistically you will need crew below to help you dock unless you option Volvo Penta’s joystick control system that takes most of the worry out of shuffling the boat into a mooring. It is brilliant at this.

We were pretty impressed with the on-water performance of the Riviera 465 SUV, and the same hull underneath the 46 Sports Motor Yacht performs just as well.

Flybridge motor yachts can be subject to a bit of head toss in rougher water as their centre of gravity is higher up in the boat compared with sedan-styled versions, but keeping the upstairs section open and clutter-free has minimised that pendulum effect.

Our test boat was optioned up with the more powerful 725hp Volvo Penta D11 engines featuring IPS950 pod drives replacing the standard 600hp D8s using IPS 800 drives, as well as Volvo Penta's joystick control system.

The helm is well back on the flybridge, but the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht flattens out quickly once it has transitioned up onto the plane to provide good forward vision, as well as a full 360 degrees around the boat.

Performance

*Both engines
Maximum range based on 10% reserve of 2500L fuel tank: 290nm@2300rpm

Of note, the aft helm layout means there is no sense that you're just the driver when skippering the boat. The helm's position means you can see everyone that joins you upstairs for the trip, making it far more social than forward helms.

We've assessed the 600hp versions of the Volvo Pentas as a great match to the sedan version of the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht, and the extra performance of the 725hp versions more than accommodates the extra tonne or so of weight the flybridge adds to the boat's displacement.

Throttle response is instantaneous and easy to manage via the fly-by-wire throttle control, while the power-assisted steering is light and responsive. The helm features a pair of 16-inch multifunction screens featuring Volvo Penta's Glass Cockpit system that provides a visual connection with the boat's engines and electronics, as well as navigation.

Running up and down the Gold Coast Broadwater, the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht felt confident and surprisingly lithe, responding immediately to even the smallest helm inputs.

Outside and with Surfers Paradise as a backdrop, the Riviera 46SMY handled the big, rolling swell with aplomb.

The Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht is the latest evolution in the Gold Coast luxury motor yacht specialist's evolution of the flybridge formula.

This new model makes clever use of its space to maximise the amount of indoor living, but at the same time aims to extend a large area of its outdoors living to work in a mix of weather.

Its compact size also opens up a lot more options for owners keen to travel to new horizons where berths for vessels larger than 15.0 metres may be difficult to find.

As a first-time flybridge cruiser for a family or a couple, it's an excellent option.