Riviera’s New Zealand dealer, R Marine Flagship, is on fire after a very successful Sydney Boat Show. In addition to this boat, which arrived a few weeks ago, the Westhaven-based team is waiting on delivery of another four 60-foot 6000 SY models.
Riviera’s Sports Yacht range is proving popular everywhere. The international success of the 6000 SY is reflected by Riviera’s crowded production schedule, which means orders taken today cannot be filled until well into 2018.
The 6000 SY’s single-level living is striking a chord with Kiwi boaters, especially those new to boating, says R Marine Flagship Liam Power.
“There’s been a big jump in demand for SY and SUV models – customers love the social layout and luxury appointments.”
The 6000 SY is a stylish and imposing vessel with performance to match. Riviera bill it as “the ultimate entertainer” and it’s certainly ideal for on-board socialising and all manner of water-based fun.
The cockpit, shaded by an awning, is optimised for relaxing, with clear-plastic side curtains to block the breeze and plenty of seating and dining options. A feature of this model is the large sliding roof panel that opens the cockpit to the sky.
Across the transom, a twin-grill electric BBQ featuring a moulded hood, stainless steel splash-back and LED lighting takes care of al fresco cooking duties, along with a sink, fridge and generous food preparation surfaces.
The play area is at water level where the huge swim platform can accommodate all sorts of water-sports activities, or simply lounging about enjoying the sun. Raised and lowered electrically, the platform gives swimmers, divers and the vessel’s tender easy access to the water. A 3.2m RIB is housed in the dinghy garage aft between two sets of transom stairs, and like the platform and cockpit roof panel, the garage door is raised and lowered electrically.
Because the dinghy lives in a garage, the foredeck is free to use. Adjustable backrests and slide-in cushions convert it into a huge sun-lounger with room for a crowd.
Anchor duties are taken care of by a Muir capstan operated remotely from the helm, the anchor lockers are generous in size and a snubber on the main anchor is standard equipment. This vessel is equipped with a remote-controlled spotlight on the bows – handy for picking up a mooring or nosing into anchorages at night.
While the sleeping accommodation is below decks, the 6000 SY’s main living area, including the cockpit, is on one level, one of this model’s many attractions. The saloon is fresh, clean, modern and bright. Flooded with light, thanks to large windows and a glass roof, the spacious saloon with its mix of leather and fabric upholstery and subtle LED lighting has the look and feel of a high-end apartment. A Yamaha media server, Bose speakers and a pivoting Samsung TV in the bar area provide audio-visual entertainment.
The u-shaped galley aft would shame many homes, both in terms of size and equipment. Corian work surfaces incorporate a double sink and a rubbish bin, there’s an induction hob, electric oven and appliances such as the two-drawer fridge-freezer and double dish-drawer are concealed behind timber fascia’s. A second identical refrigeration unit resides opposite, just inside the door and next to the bar area and entertainment suite.
The way the rear window hinges upwards and the stainless steel and glass sliding door opens to the cockpit, ensures excellent communication between the galley, the saloon and social areas outside. The ability to open the glass sunroof on hot days is fantastic, while sunroof screens provide shade when required. The boat is air-conditioned for comfort.
Light and space feature below decks as well, especially the ‘atrium’ area at the base of the companionway steps, which is bathed in light from the windscreens above. This is a three-cabin layout, which has allowed Riviera to create a ‘second lounge’ tucked away off the companionway landing on the port side. It’s furnished with comfortable seating, which converts to an extra berth if required, a flat-screen TV and an Xbox. A full-size washer and a drier are tucked away out of sight under the TV.
The atrium lounge is a generous size and an ideal space to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the main living area, or somewhere for the kids to hang out. Kids should be happy with the number of USB outlets onboard too, which are incorporated into every 240-volt power outlet.
On the starboard side is a tastefully decorated twin-berth guest cabin with a semi-ensuite bathroom that also serves as the vessel’s day head. In the bow, a second guest cabin offers a decent-sized island double berth, plenty of clothes storage in hanging lockers with additional storage under the bed, a flat-screen TV and an ensuite bathroom. The bathrooms are all well-appointed with Dometic vacu-flush toilets and large separate shower boxes.
The master suite is located amidships. It comprises a luxury bedroom with an island fore-and-aft queen bed, seating areas, console cabinet/dresser, a huge Samsung TV on the wall and plenty of natural light streaming in through the windows and ports.
The luxury bathroom takes up the whole of the port side of the suite, with a full-size shower cabinet, twin vanities, Heated towel rail and, again, lots of light, thanks to the big windows and ports. A large, switch glass window/wall panel lets light through into the bedroom or becomes opaque for privacy when required.
Continuing with the luxury theme, the master cabin has a walk-in wardrobe-cum-dressing room, which also provides access via a dogged hatchway to a large workshop/storage area under the cockpit. From there, another dogged hatchway lets out into the engine room. There’s access to the workshop and engine room via steps from the cockpit hatch as well.
This model is also available in a four-cabin layout, the fourth cabin taking the place of the ‘second lounge’ or the ‘Presidential’ layout with a full beam master cabin and the ensuite bathroom occupying the ‘lounge’ space.
Twin Volvo-Penta IPS 950s (725hp each) dominate the engine room, with excellent all-round access to the engines and all the other machinery a high-spec vessel such as this one carries: Cummins Onan 17.5KW genset, Mastervolt 5KW inverter charger, battery banks, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, fuel and water pumps, tanks and much more. There’s full standing headroom, also for the workshop, and an automatic fire suppression system.
Vision through the Riv’s raked windscreens and across the vast expanse of foredeck is very good. Hull attitude is easily controlled with the trim tabs.
The helm position is comfortable with luxurious Treben electric seats and the Volvo Penta Glass Cockpit’s twin 16-inch Garmin displays supply an impressive array of data in an almost infinite variety of combinations.
There’s also a secondary C-Zone touch screen control panel set into the helm console, complementing the main panel inside the saloon door, as well as various other controls, switches and digital readouts. Although there’s a lot going on, the helm station is stylish, clean and uncluttered.
Joystick control and slow speed mode for low speed navigation allowed Liam to ease the big Riviera out of a tight temporary berth at R Marine Flagships sales berth and down the fairway to the open sea. When the stern platform finally cleared the pole, there really was not much room between the 6000 SY’s bow and boats on the opposite side of the fairway, but a twist of the joystick and the vessel turned on the spot as IPS did its magic.
On our return, Liam made use of the reversing camera to line himself up, before changing to the fold-away joystick helm in the port aft corner of the cockpit. The wide swim platform can’t be seen from the main helm, so the camera is a necessity.
Liam made docking look easy and he assured me it was.
Underway, the Riviera gives the impression of wafting along. It’s serenely quiet in the saloon, even with the rear door open; with windows and door closed, the sound of water swishing past the hull is louder than the engines.
Twin 725hp Volvo-Pentas provide plenty of get up and go, but cossetted at the helm, high above the water – the Sport Yacht’s helm (and saloon) are as high off the water as many flybridges – it’s hard to judge speed. Looking at the digital display, I quickly realised we were travelling much faster than I had imagined.
Top speed is easily over 30 knots (31 knots during our test) and Two-Two-Four-Sea cruised happily at 25 knots. According to our glass helm, total fuel burn, both engines, was 128 litres per hour (lph) at 15 knots and 160lph at 20 knots. Progress was smooth and unruffled at any speed.
The new Riviera 6000 SY is an impressive vessel in every respect: size, layout, performance and style. Packed with features and high-tech equipment, much of which is factory standard rather than optional extras, it’s easy to see why this model and others in the Sport Yacht range are so popular wherever Riviera motor yachts are sold. We can expect to see many more of these luxury motor yachts plying New Zealand waters in the future.
