Riviera now Grand Banks distributor

Australia's largest luxury boat builder, Riviera, has announced that its Australian retail organisation, R Marine, will distribute the iconic Grand Banks range of motor yachts effective immediately.

R Marine displayed two Grand Banks models on the Riviera/R Marine display at the Sydney International Boat Show - an Eastbay 47 Flybridge (above right) and a 64 Aleutian.

Tim Sayer (top right), managing director of R Marine, said: "We are delighted to partner with Grand Banks and to welcome existing Grand Banks owners throughout Australia to the R Marine family.

"The Grand Banks brand fits perfectly with the values and quality of Riviera, and also with the Princess brand which is distributed in this region through R Marine.

"The Grand Banks product line itself is also very complementary to the Riviera and Princess ranges, and will bring new customers into the R Marine family as well as catering for some of our existing customers as their boating needs and tastes change.

"The R Marine network has established itself as the leader in offering premium boating lifestyle options throughout Australia having recorded outstanding sales of 17 Princess motor yachts since it began representing the brand in Australasia in August of last year. The Grand Banks range adds another exciting option for owners," Sayer said.

The president of Grand Banks Yachts Limited, Rob Livingston, said: "The R Marine dealer network is truly the best in this region, and that makes it the best fit for Grand Banks and our owners.

"Their commitment to customer support, and the ability of R Marine to provide strong after-sales service, matches the high standards we set for authorised Grand Banks dealers everywhere.

"We look forward to working closely with R Marine to strengthen the presence of Grand Banks throughout Australia," Livingston said.

Sayer said that the R Marine network of 12 Dealerships spans Australia from the Whitsundays in northern Queensland to Perth in WA.

Purchasers of Grand Banks models through R Marine will enjoy all the privileges of the network, from 24/7 on-water assistance and valet service, access to 40 Riviera factory-trained service staff with 26 mobile service vehicles around the country, as well as opportunities to join Dealer Experience events.

Grand Banks Yachts was established in 1956 as American Marine Ltd in Hong Kong. With increasing demand, the company developed a new factory in Singapore in 1969 and finally completed relocation from HK in 1974.

The company moved into a new factory in 1999 and now has a second facility in the state of Johor, Malaysia.

Supported by a total work force of about 1300 employees in Singapore and Malaysia, Grand Banks has an average production capacity of more than 100 boats per year.

Grand Banks builds 14 models ranging from 46 to 72 feet over three lines: Heritage (above right), Eastbay and Aleutian.

The Heritage line, based on the very first Grand Banks displacement cruiser models, includes five models from 46 to 52 feet. Six exhilarating Eastbay models range from 47 to 55 feet, while the impressive open-water Aleutian 59, 65 and 72 models are long-range cruisers with distinctive, ageless design.

For more information, visit www.riviera.com.au