Riviera 43 Open Flybridge IPS Review
JULY, 2010 - As with most things in life, boatbuilders live and die by their mistakes. But it's not as black and white as you might think. In a fickle market like this, designers are torn between sticking with their knitting and producing safe designs, or thinking outside the square. Eventually, however, no amount of playing it safe will delay the eventual need to invest in new-product development, to embrace the latest technology and, ultimately, inspire that market with a new-generation boat.
Unlike the conventional shaft-driven Rivs that many of us are driving these days, the 43 is the first flybridge model - a vanguard for the Queensland yard - designed from the keel up for a pair of Volvo Penta's revolutionary IPS pod drives. The 51 with triple IPS that we tested a few issues back was an existing boat with pod-drive technology applied retrospectively.
As such, the 43 is a much smarter design that maximises the space gains from IPS or pod drives. It also looks the part in optional metallic Tungsten Silver livery that extends from the hull sides to the flybridge dash panel. And there's a subtle but contemporary tweak and rake to the windscreen. The sum of all these parts results in a really pretty boat.
NEW HULL
Despite assumptions that the 43 is a reworking of an existing boat, the collaboration with Volvo Penta began at the start of 2009. And despite carrying the same beam as the 41, the hull is said to be an altogether new one in keeping with IPS demands for a smooth bottom - no prop pockets and no keel - and a measured amount of deadrise, which averages 17 degrees from midships to transom, and 15 degrees at the tail, which is quite deeply vee'd.
Of course, IPS is short for Inboard Performance System comprising rear-mounted twin diesel engines coupled to independently articulating or steerable underwater drives with forward-facing propellers. With a joystick docking device and fly-by-wire technology, you can dock the boat intuitively by tweaking that joystick. But improved efficiency is the greatest gain.
Volvo Penta claims up to 30 per cent better fuel consumption than conventional shaft drives. On this 43, hull number one, it's more like 10 per cent compared with the Riviera 41, say boat number 46, which had a similar spread of gear and options. So there's room for improvement in future boats. We'll get to that.
The engines driving the 43, dubbed IPS 600s, use D6 donks producing just 435hp per side. This is modest power, since Riviera's 41 tested by yours truly in April 2007 had a pair of Caterpillar C7 460hp engines, and the 41 is almost half a metre shorter in respect of moulded hull length. Interestingly, the 4.57m beam of the 43, which is the same beam as the 41, is a tad narrower than the old 40 of which 288 were sold. So the 43 is a lean machine.
As touched on, there is no deadwood keel. Instead, the 43 hull has a smooth running surface to ensure clean water over those forward-facing IPS props. Volvo Penta says the running surface was extended to provide support for the diesel engines that, in pod-driven installations, are mounted back aft under the cockpit floor instead of forward under the saloon. Extra effort has gone into making sure the engineroom remains watertight, too, with a new type of silicon seal without memory.
TRIED AND TESTED ENGINEERING
Engine access is via a push-button-lift cockpit floor and it's just brilliant. There's also a separate hatch into the adjoining utility space, with oodles of room around the generator. I noted a Delta T venting system with washable membrane, heavy-duty sea strainer for the generator - the engine pickups have internal grills in the pods - Racor fuel filters forward for the transverse tank on the centreline, and wing water tanks. The water gauge is part of the boat's so-called C-Zone (CAN-bus) digital electrical 24/240V system, but I'd have a second gauge in the galley as well.
The Victron charger has a 650W inverter for the AV system but upgrade it to a 1800W inverter and you can run the microwave oven and powerpoints for boiling a kettle, charging your laptops and so on, without needing the generator. An engineroom camera, feeding back through the Raymarine electronics package, and gurney with bow fitting were among the options fitted. You will want a tender and perhaps a watermaker, too.
With the rear-mounted engines under the cockpit rather than saloon floor, the 43 is also a quieter cruiser than its shaft-driven sister ships, something apparent when you're cruising indoors. Who does that? If not travelling in the flying bridge, the family will find it pleasant enough reeling in the sea miles in the saloon. Either, way, the common-rail fuel injection system on the D6 engines ensures there's not whiff of diesel smoke. And there was no back spray as per the dreaded station-wagon effect.
OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENTS
While such things add to the driving pleasure, a big improvement to my eyes was the reduction in the number of stainless steel supports and framework that hold up the newly styled hardtop. As such, the sight lines are unfettered from the flybridge helm over the bow or back down to the cockpit. Indeed, the 43 would make an excellent gamefishing boat and we're told one is heading for Tasmania equipped for the purpose.
For family boating, a new wide-tread ladder - similar to that on the 47 Enclosed - makes accessing the bridge a breeze, while a new leather-topped dash includes storage space for personal effects and room to accept the latest wide-screen electronics. As with all good flybridge boats, there's a fridge, a sink with solid-surface counter as per bigger enclosed-bridge Rivs, and the L-shaped lounge upholstered in man-made suede can be optioned as a double 'cruising' bed. The Pompanette helm chairs are sufficiently high-backed to be supportive.
Back down on deck, options include a submersible boarding platform that can carry a tender and there's provision for a 300kg davit on the bow. The non-skid is the easy-fix dot pattern type, there are requisite swim platform and hot-cold shower, but the cockpit amenities centre is something else again. In place of a livebait tank was an optional hot-rock 240V barbie, sink surrounded by solid-surface counter, hatch to a garbage bin, and storage space. LED lights lessen the DC demands
at night.
However, the rear-mounted IPS engines do swallow up a lot of valuable storage space, in effect the lazarette, on conventional shaft-driven Rivs. You still get a decent eutectic fridge/freezer moulded in under the ladder, side pockets, two underfloor bins with gulper pumps, and there are big tackle drawers under the mezzanine-level outdoor lounge, which has a stereo remote alongside. But you'll have to carry the crab traps on deck and think about where you put the deflated water toys.
That said, the wonderfully oversized cockpit - deeper than a Riv' 47 - is something that Australian boaters will embrace. The aft-facing outdoor lounge on a mezzanine level hard up against the saloon bulkhead is brilliant. Borrowing from the success of its Sport Yachts with their single-level indoor/outdoor entertaining decks, Riviera's new 43 has a hopper or awning window that swings open to create one big, flowing living area from cockpit to saloon. Open plan is the mantra - something not often attributed to flybridge cruisers.
INSIDE LIVING
Rousing views surround the interior saloon seating headed by a giant C-shaped lounge to starboard that can be optioned as a convertible double bed. As it is, it's a great daybed, a perfect solution to seating, and the high-backed lounges are wonderfully supportive. The twin tub chairs opposite can slide or roll across to create a serious dining setting for six or more. And with a fully loaded galley befitting of a 50-footer sweeping back into the saloon, you can entertain with ease.
Astute seafarers will note the fiddle rails surrounded flat surfaces and the generous buffet-ready bench space. Amenities run from a dish-drawer dishwasher to a convection microwave oven, drawer-style fridge and freezer, to cooktop with potholders, and pot-storage space. But lift the floor hatch and, as ever, extensive storage exists below the floor and in a number of lift-out tubs. The mounting space for the optional washer/dryer is here, too. Oh, and there's a storage hatch in the ceiling for rods, cushions, and so on.
In respect of accommodation, the Riviera 43 can sleep up to seven people if you must, but it gains from its aft engine IPS installation in a mighty way. Although there isn't full headroom, the aft cabin is full width - quite an achievement on a boat of this calibre - with a transverse double bed that can be split into singles without much fuss, and a single bed sitting longitudinally before a panorama window opposite. Opening portlights offer natural cross-flow ventilation, but they're alarmed so you can't drive away with them open. And although the mattresses in the aft cabin were on the thin side, I'm told plusher bedding is forthcoming.
The second cabin, more than likely the owner's retreat, features a double island bed in the bow. It also has an en suite of trademark Riviera proportions. There is great attention to detail on the 43, too, with plenty of powerpoints, extractor fans, and natural ventilation. Fit and finish were five star, perhaps reflecting the fact that today's pared back Riviera - which is still in receivership - has the time to focus on quality before quantity like never before. With a twin bathroom and big aft cabin, the 43 will appeal to families foremost.
(Facts & Figures)
RIVIERA 43 OPEN FLYBRIDGE IPS
PRICE AS TESTED
$951,130 w/ twin Volvo Penta IPS 600s engines and options
OPTIONS FITTED
Extra air-con, Raymarine electronics pack, gurney, underwater lights, engineroom camera, digital TV, LCD TV in saloon, teak cockpit, dishwasher drawer, fridge in bridge, Strataglass clears, carpet and soft-upgrades, hull colour, rocket launcher, and more
PRICED FROM
$812,809 w/ twin Volvo Penta IPS 600s engines
GENERAL
Material: GRP hull, cored decks and hardtop
Type: Moderate to deep-vee monohull designed in cahoots with Volvo Penta
Length overall: 14.46m
Hull length: 13.61m
Beam: 4.57m
Draft: 1.13m
Weight: 14,200kg dry w/ std motors
CAPACITIES
Berths: 6 to 7
Fuel: 1800lt plus 300lt long-range tank
Water: 460lt
Holding tank: 150lt
ENGINE
Make/model: 2 x Volvo Penta IPS600s
Type: Six-cylinder four-stroke D6 common rail diesel
Rated HP: 435
Displacement: 5.5lt
Drives: IPS w/ T2 props
SUPPLIED BY
The Riviera Group, 50 Waterway Drive, Coomera, Qld, 4209, (07) 5501 0000, www.riviera.com.au
FINAL REPORT
A lot of thought has gone into the new 43 and that's been duly rewarded. Nine of the boats sold at the recent Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, says Riviera, each priced around a cool million dollars, and a further two sold at the time of writing just after the show. And there is the Sydney International Boat Show opening late July. I think that market will appreciate it.
Evidently, some of the 43 buyers have been new blood to flybridge cruisers, attracted by the IPS joystick docking device, the design innovations, and the single-level living from transom to galley. Indeed, there's a lot to like about the 43 and it's a fitting flag bearer in the age of pod drives.
Source: Trade-a-Boat, July 2010