Riviera's motor yachts a hit

The new range of luxury motor yachts ranging from 73 to 85 feet announced by Queensland manufacturer Riviera back in May is proving extremely popular with both existing and new owners.

The company is working with several customers on the final interior details and engine preferences and expects the first of the new boats to be delivered by Christmas 2010.

Riviera's director of information, Stephen Milne, told BoatPoint that since Riviera CEO John Anderson launched the new boats there had been a lot of interest from both existing Riviera owners and new customers.

The boats will all feature an enclosed fly-bridge with internal and external lounge areas and a minimum of four double cabins. The vast saloon decks will feature lounge areas, separate dining areas and the latest entertainment systems. The two larger models, the 78 and 85 footers, will have crew accommodation. A range of engines will give options from a cruising range of more than 1500 nautical miles to a top speed in excess of 24 knots.

The boats will be built in Taiwan under the direct supervision of Riviera's local staff.

Built to take on any ocean conditions, the hulls will be hand laid fibreglass, moulded in one piece with longitudinal and transverse stringer and a white gelcoat finish. The hull bottom will be laminated with vinylester resin for the first two layers and polyester resin for the other layers. Deck and flybridge will be cored fibreglass.

Milne says the 78 footer is being offered in Riviera's syndication package which allows four owners to share the boat for just over $1 million each.

The syndicated boats will have a cruising itinerary that will take then up and down the coast, depending on the season, thus allowing owners to utilise them all year round.