RIVIERA 565 SUV REVIEW

The Riviera 565 is a sporty refinement on the successful Riviera 53 Flybridge. It’s a big, beamy hull at a touch over 60 feet overall and a whopping 5.13m or nearly 17 feet wide. Construction is fully compartmentalised with a watertight collision bulkhead forward and solid fibreglass keel, chines and engine area.

RIVIERA 565 SUV

ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS

Rayzaway is owner Ray Hadrell’s fifth Riviera and he is now convinced that he has finally got a boat that’s 100 per cent right. Of note is the CZone interactive electronic system controlling the whole craft and featuring programmable favourite settings for all modes at the touch of the screen. What this translates to is that Mrs Hadrell can now come to the boat with a group of friends and switch from Dock Unattended to Dock Entertain mode, quickly activating all her power needs. No longer does she have to be an electronics expert and when the afternoon’s festivities are over she simply hits the remote control for a time-delayed shutdown of nonessential items.

CABINS

The master stateroom has a king-size bed, lounge and plenty of room to move including heaps of head-height. Its light and open design is emphasised by the large, tinted hull windows which retain a nautical feel incorporating opening portholes that have sensors to the engines in case they are left open when underway. The master also features a walk-in wardrobe and en suite complete with vanity, VacuFlush toilet, a large shower and full-length mirror. It has bookracks, TV, convenient lighting throughout including dimmable LEDs and reverse cycle air-conditioning.

There is a V-berth in the bow that Ray chose as an option, replacing the standard island bed. To starboard is another twin-bunk room and all have plenty of storage and a high level of comfort and volume.

SALOON

Upstairs in the helm-saloon area the general feel is of a serious seagoing vessel. The Riviera 565 SUV really “makes a house a home” with a full, functional helm hosting premium Raymarine electronics, a horseshoe-shaped galley and terrific all-round vision. Ray chose much of the helm layout and saloon décor. He replaced the carpet with Amtico teak flooring (now standard) and the leather with a beige marine suede upholstery for an upmarket Euro feel, exquisite comfort and great practicality, particularly when you consider his love of entertaining – up to 20 passengers he tells us.

HELM

We often find limited visibility at the helm when there is a variety of instruments and electronics, however. Ray’s Riviera 565 SUV has three colour 15.4in Raymarine e165 multifunction displays providing sonar, radar, GPS-plotter, thermal night vision, NMEA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Further to the Raymarine displays is a Volvo Penta EVC 7 inch digital and analogue engine management screen.

For docking and low-speed manoeuvring there are remote joysticks on either side of the cockpit as well as the portside helm. The Volvo Penta IPS joystick has two speeds for all windage, current and experience levels, and makes low-speed manoeuvrability a breeze.

I must emphasise the terrific all-round vision. Ray’s wife always complained that she couldn’t see outside while seated at her previous dinette but on the 565 SUV it feels like you are part of the outside environment.

GALLEY

Behind the helm is an enticing L-shaped dinette to port with a drop-down two-leaf table that converts from dining to a convenient coffee table. Opposite is a long, comfortable lounge ahead of a buffet/liquor cabinet complete with a multitude of fridges and a 26in colour television that pops up from behind.

Back to port the U-shaped galley is an entertainer’s delight with stacks of storage and bench space as well as Miele induction cooktop and microwave/grill, two more refrigerator drawers, stainless steel sink with mixer tap and a range hood. The standard package comes with an icemaker but Ray chose a watermaker instead.

ENGINES

The Volvo Penta IPS900 is a 10.84lt six-cylinder turbo-diesel pushing out 700hp at 2350rpm. Due to the efficiency of the IPS twin drives the engine is considered equivalent in horsepower of 900hp alternatives, hence its model designation. With its twin drives the package performed beautifully at 30kts and 2340rpm using 263lt/h. Throttling back to a more sensible, yet exceptionally speedy cruise of 24.6kts at 2070rpm created an almost surreal travelling experience with a total loss of speed perspective. The freestanding champagne glasses never budged an inch! Ray tells us he has had an incredible increase in efficiency compared to his former Riv’ 51 with 825hp engines and shafts. Greater range using less fuel is on top of everyone’s wish list.

HIGHS

• Outright performance
• Surreal feel at speed
• Helm layout
• Visibility
• Pompanette seats
• Facilities and general flow
• Refrigeration
• Huge master stateroom
• General finishes
• Huge rear deck
• Sensational IPS drives

LOWS

• Set-up as a cruiser – I’m a fisherman

RIVIERA 565 SUV SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE AS TESTED

$1,900,556

PRICED FROM

$1,695,000

SEA TRIALS

Twin 700hp Volvo Penta IPS900s

*Sea-trial data supplied by the author. Fuel burn is combined for both engines.

GENERAL

MATERIAL Vinylester infused GRP

TYPE Deep-vee monohull

LENGTH 18.52m overall; 17.2m hull

BEAM 5.13m

DRAFT 1.3m

WEIGHT 22,300kg (dry)

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE (NIGHT) 6+2

FUEL 3500lt

WATER 750lt

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL 2 x Volvo Penta IPS900

TYPE Six-cylinder turbo-diesel

RATED HP 700 at 2350rpm (each)

DISPLACEMENT 10.84lt (each)

PROPS Forward-facing counter rotating three-blade Nibral

SUPPLIED BY

R Marine Jacksons,

Shop 1, 36 Jetty Road,

Sandringham, VIC, 3191

Phone: (03) 9598 7777

Web: jacksonsmarine.com.au; riviera.com.au