Brief Summary
The Riviera 575 SUV combines the blue-water cruising and fishing abilities of the Riviera 57 Enclosed Flybridge convertible with the single-level, leisurely entertaining, and cruising features of the company's Sport Yacht design. The cockpit layout includes a transom seat, an L-shaped Mezzanine settee with table, a wet bar with twin BBQ, a refrigerator, and an icemaker. CZone touchscreen systems controls are standard. Virtually all aspects of this yacht are best-in-class.
Key Features
- Volumes of storage, including large fish bin to port, massive center lazarette and engineering access panels supported by gas struts with heavy-duty stainless steel latches
- Sliding stainless door is tinted, tempered glass and set in a strong stainless steel frame
- Stainless steel Ultra anchor with galvanised chain
- The premium entertainment system in the main living area includes a flatscreen LED TV integrated into Yamaha AV receiver with Apple TV, Airplay, Bluetooth, Blu-Ray and second zone to cockpit, five Bose speakers and subwoofer
- Reverse-cycle air-conditioning with electric heat, split to the galley
- Pompanette Platinum, fully adjustable helm and companion chairs with arm and foot rests
- Helm electronics area with 24V DC feed and protection main circuit breaker
- VHF radio including aerial
Test Results
| RPM | MPH | Knots | GPH | MPG | NMPG | STAT. MILE | NM | dBa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2271 | 1974.6 | 60 |
| 1000 | 11.5 | 10 | 11.2 | 1 | 0.9 | 973 | 845.7 | 67 |
| 1250 | 12.3 | 10.7 | 21.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 534 | 464.6 | 70 |
| 1500 | 15.6 | 13.6 | 35 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 424 | 368.7 | 70 |
| 1750 | 22 | 19.1 | 53.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 391 | 340.2 | 72 |
| 2000 | 27.2 | 23.7 | 75.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 344 | 299.2 | 75 |
| 2250 | 32.2 | 28 | 93 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 329 | 286.4 | 78 |
| 2300 | 33.1 | 28.8 | 100 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 315 | 273.8 | 79 |
Specifications
| Length Overall | 60' 8" / 18.5 m |
|---|---|
| Beam |
16' 10" 5.13 m |
| Dry Weight |
60,400 lbs. 27,400 kg |
| Tested Weight |
67,116 lbs. 30,443 kg |
| Draft |
5' 1" 1.55 m |
| Deadrise/Transom | N/A |
| Max Headroom | N/A |
| Bridge Clearance |
12' 10" 3.91 m |
| Weight Capacity | N/A |
| Person Capacity | N/A |
| Fuel Capacity |
1,057 gal. 4,000 L |
| Water Capacity |
198 gal. 750 L |
| Total Weight |
67,116 lbs. 30,443 kg |
Price
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Acceleration Times & Conditions
| Time to Plane | N/A |
|---|---|
| 0 to 30 | N/A |
| Ratio | 2.04:1 |
| Props | 32x37x5 Veem 1.5mm Interceptor strips |
| Load | 4 persons, 7/10 load, 9/10 water, 50 lbs. of gear |
| Climate | 78 deg., 65 humid.; wind: 0 mph; seas: 0 |
Engine Options
| Tested Engine |
2 x 1000-hp 12.9 CAT |
|---|---|
| Std. Power |
Not Available |
| Opt. Power |
2 x 725-hp Volvo Penta D11-IPS950 2 x 900-hp Volvo Penta D13-IPS1200 2 x 900-hp Volvo D13 Shaft Drive 2 x 1000-hp CAT C12.9 Shaft Drive |
Captain's Report
Mission Statement
The Flagship of the Riviera SUV line, the 575 blends the fit-and-finish of a luxury cruising yacht with the ability to go fishing. This combination of two yachts in one allows the captain and his crew to travel in comfort yet still be able to target blue water pelagics along the way, and once they reach their destination, they have all the amenities of a cruising yacht. But we think that she is equally as good for weekend entertaining as for cruising or fishing.
Because she can fish, cruise, entertain and be an all-around watersports platform, Riviera has given her the SUV appellation. She does not have a flying bridge, so ardent big game anglers will probably choose other boats in the Riviera line, but nevertheless, more casual fishermen will enjoy her large cockpit and fishing amenities.
And who said you have to have a flying bridge for big game fishing, anyway? Ernest Hemingway didn’t initially have one on Pilar. Zane Grey managed without one and never complained about it.
Overview
Most important to remember is that Riviera is located on the east coast of Australia. Its primary customers are Aussies who like to range from the major cities such as Sydney, Brisbane and others north to the Great Barrier Reef and points north -- and south. The western pacific and the Tasman Straits can be rough bodies of water, so its boats must be designed to both take punishment and provide comfort. Our experience with Riviera boats indicates that they do both.
Distinguishing Features
• Mezzanine seating including an L-shaped settee with table and a wet bar.
• Comfortable transom seating.
• Straight-shaft or pod propulsion systems, both with joysticks.
• Optional main deck layouts with four forward-facing Pompanette Platinum chairs or expanded sofa with coffee table/ottoman.
• Master stateroom with walk-in wardrobe and sofa.
• C-Zone electrical control system standard.
• Premium equipment, hardware and materials in all cases.
A Sea-Going Build. Attention to detail is what Riviera has built its reputation on. And that starts with designing boats that are sleek with rounded corners and clean, uncluttered and unaffected lines. Lines that we think will be as pleasing to the eye in 10 years as they are today.
Their builds are known for being robust with stout equipment, carefully installed. They are one of the few builders who design their interiors for actually going to sea in and not just for dashing from marina to marina. This is a fact that sets Riviera apart from many builders in class. She is a solid boat and, as a result, heavier than many in class, with a tested displacement of 67,116 lbs. (30,443 kg).
She also has one of the greatest beams in class, a foot or more than many of the Italian flyers that place speed in flat water ahead of a good sea-going ride in choppy conditions.
Performance. The Riviera 575 SUV allows owners to select their personal preference of either pod-drive or conventional shaft-drive propulsion to suit their specific geographic regions. There are four choices for a drive package for the 575.
Propulsion System Options
The Riviera 575 SUV is available with either Cat or Volvo Penta engines driving conventional straight shafts. The Volvo IPS pod drive system is also available. The advantage of a straight shaft system is its simplicity, low maintenance and lower cost to both buy and fix if there is a grounding. And Riviera offers thrusters on boats powered by either the Cat and the Volvo straight shaft systems, making docking easy.
The advantage of pod drives is they are more fuel efficient at mid-range cruising speeds where most boats are operated. They have a joystick for easy docking. Descriptions of each system are as follow --
Straight Shaft Options
1. Volvo Penta shaft-drive package with twin D13 engines (2 x 662 kW/900-hp) includes twin lever controls, bow and stern thruster controls, and auto pilot at the helm, as well as Quickshift gearboxes that are freshwater-cooled, as well as (3x) 17” Glass Bridge touchscreens.
2. A CAT shaft-drive package with twin C12.9 engines (2 x 735 kW/1000-hp) includes twin lever controls, bow thruster, Quickshift gearboxes that are freshwater-cooled, (3x) 16” Garmin Multi-Function Display screens and autopilot.
3. Twin Disc, a major manufacturer of marine gears, makes what it calls an “Express Joystick System” (EJS) that gives joystick control to the CAT C12.9 and the Volvo D13. A bow thruster is part of the system.
Pod Drive Options
1. Volvo Penta D11-IPS950 system with twin D11 engines and IPS20 Pod drives (2 x 533 kW/727-hp) with jackshafts and joystick.
2. Volvo Penta D13-IPS1200 system with twin D13 engines and IPS30 Pod drives (2 x 662 kW/900-hp) with jackshafts and joystick.
Performance Test
Our test boat had a 16’10” (5.13 m) beam, a draft of 5’1” (1.55 m) and had an estimated displacement of 67,116 lbs. (30,443 kg). She was propped with 32x37 5-bladed Veem propellers on straight shafts.
With twin 1000-hp Cat C12.9 engines, our test boat reached a top speed of 28.8 knots at 2300 rpm. Her best economy was found to be at 1750 rpm and 19.1 knots. At that speed, our fuel burn was 53.5 gph for a 340.2 nm range.
At 10 knots, she burned 11.2 gph for a range of 845.7 nm.
The boat gets nearly the same economy per mile from best cruise to wide open throttle, so it’s best to set the speed according to sea conditions and time constraints. If seas are calm, let her run. If the winds pick up, pull her back so she rides along with the frequency of the waves for a more comfortable ride.
We like this Cat C12.9 shaft-drive set-up, as it is lower cost in the beginning and maintenance issues are considerably less as compared to pod drives. With a bow thruster, docking is easy. It should be remembered that people have been docking twin screw boats without thrusters or joysticks since the dawn of power boating.
Features Inspection
Helm. State-of-the-art touchscreen navigation systems are flush-mounted into the dash and control -- all essential navigational and systems controls within easy reach of the captain.
Dining. The dining area has an L-shaped settee with a varnished wood dinette table to port. To starboard is a choice of either an additional L-shaped lounge or a couch with two additional helm chairs. LED overhead lighting, a flat screen LED TV and a premium entertainment system are included.
Standard is a Yamaha AV system, Bose speakers, Apple TV, Blu-ray and Bluetooth, plus flat screen TVs throughout the boat.
Galley. The galley is to port on entry, and is equipped with the latest in premium-brand appliances and conveniences from all over the world, complemented by satin oak timber cabinetry with teak accents above the solid-surface bench tops. The refrigeration features two fridge and two freezer drawers.
A built-in dishwasher is within easy reach of the stainless steel sink. On the counter is a 3-burner electric stovetop. The aft bulkhead has a wide opening glass window that brings the excitement of the cockpit indoors.
Open-Air Galley Window
One of the attributes of the 575’s design is the opening aft window adjacent to the galley. This serves a number of purposes: (1) it brings fresh air into the galley and salon, (2) it keeps the galley cook involved with the cockpit conversation, and (3) it allows food to be passed out to guests in the cockpit.
The Cockpit
In this age of motoryachts and express cruisers with aft decks that are up high, it is refreshing to find an express cruiser with a genuine cockpit. And while most people think of them for fishing -- and they are certainly designed for that -- Riviera knows full well that most people will be using them as their primary entertaining venue.
Prime Entertaining Venue. The Riviera 575 SUV has a cockpit designed for entertaining a large group with cocktails, a cookout or an informal buffet dinner. With comfortable seating on the mezzanine and on the transom bench seat, women will have places to sit while the men perch on the cockpit covering boards.
A Cozy Mezzanine. While many convertibles have mezzanine seating, few have them arranged like the one on the Riviera 575. We like the L-shaped settee and the large square table. Not only will it be a prized place for sundown cocktails and a cool spot for breakfast or lunch, it will also serve as a convenient sideboard while having a cocktail in the cockpit.
The teak deck on the mezzanine comes standard.
Systems Control. Built into the aft bulkhead, just above the mezzanine seating, are two fiberglass hatches. One leads to all of the breakers and battery switches for the electrical systems, and the smaller one leads to a manual bilge pump and control valve. A C-Zone system comes standard.
Wet Bar and Barbie. To starboard is a wet bar complete with electric grill, icemaker, sink and fridge. This is a handy layout, and one that we like, because it adds utility to the boat and keeps the chef in the thick of conversation with guests in the cockpit. It also keeps smoke and heat outside.
Accommodations
The Riviera 575 SUV has three staterooms and two heads. The master stateroom has a private head with separate shower stall. This stateroom is remarkably large for a boat of this size, and that is due to its 16’10” (5.13 m) beam and its position in the boat. The VIP forward is pretty much the same as other boats in class simply because there is not much any builder can do in this space to make the basic design different -- but there are differences, and they are in the details. The guest cabin on the starboard side has been cleverly designed and has a remarkable amount of space.
The Master Stateroom
Master Stateroom. The master stateroom has a full-size bed which has room on either side, even allowing storage cabinetry along both perimeters. It also has its own sofa, TV integrated into a home theater system, and full walk-in cedar-lined wardrobe with full-length mirror and shoe racks. The headroom is 6’3” (1.9 m).
The Master Head has a separate shower stall with glass door and teak seat. There is an opening port and an exhaust fan. The head has a “Quiet-Operation” toilet on a raised fiberglass platform. A fiberglass inner liner makes it easy to keep the head clean.
Washer & Dryer. Every boat that is going to be used for cruising needs a washer and dryer. Washer/dryer combos are a good compromise on smaller boats, but they don’t do as good a job of drying as a separate unit.
The 575 SUV has both a separate washer and dryer. They are located in the passageway to the master stateroom, so they couldn’t be handier.
VIP Stateroom. The forward guest stateroom mirrors the high level of luxury of the master. A full-size island bed allows for good side access. There are cedar-lined closets, bedside ledges with fiddles that can be used for books and mobile devices. The VIP stateroom has private access to the largest head on the boat, which is shared.
The Second Head. To port is an ensuite head for the VIP stateroom, including a solid surface vanity with top-mounted porcelain sink bowl and porcelain head. The separate shower stall features a frameless glass door, along with a tiled floor. This head is actually larger than the master head, and has a second door in the passageway so that it can be used by those in the guest cabin and as a day head.
Guest Stateroom
The Engine Room
Observations
Put simply, we find the Riviera 575 SUV to be an extraordinary boat. Virtually everything has been done correctly, all equipment is the best available on the market, the boat is built to go to sea, she has attractive styling, her joiner work and fiberglass fabrication is first rate, and she can be used for cruising, entertaining and fishing. What more could we ask for?
