The Australian boatbuilder Riviera is a growing presence in the U.S. with a sales, parts and service network managed by its subsidiary Riviera Yachts of  the Americas. The builder specializes in open and enclosed-bridge sportfishing convertibles, Euro-style express cruisers and a new series of sport yachts, 36- and 47-foot sedan models.

Riviera’s impressive 4700 Sportyacht is new for 2007, and it’s clear that its target audience will be experienced yacht owners who put to sea and know what they want. No mass-produced cruiser, this exceptionally well engineered, good-looking sedan has a blend of classic and contemporary styling with pleasing proportions and a hint of power below the curvaceous surface.

Aft is a large teak-covered hydraulic submersible swimplatform used to launch a PWC that sits awthartships, along with an electric barbeque and a tender garage that holds a 10-foot Zodiac RIB; two tenders on a 47-footer—not bad. The big cockpit, protected from the elements by a hardtop extension, sports a wet bar, refrigerator, and an optional icemaker. A dining table drops to serve as a coffee table or, down lower still, as a sunpad. The topsides are safe and accommodating with wide side decks and tall, stout railings all around. A mix of teak and beautifully sculpted fiberglass creates an upscale look everywhere onboard.

A big saloon window opens to the cockpit, and an overhead power sunroof opens to let in lots of light and fresh air. Inside is a leather lounge, a fold-out adjustable height dining table and a galley-up to port with all the amenities including under-counter refrigeration, a dishwasher and pull-out pantry. Forward are a wine storage cabinet and a concealed flat-screen TV. Two tall helm seats provide a commanding view through the two-piece curved-glass windshield; all around visibility from the helm is excellent, and quality components are everywhere, including a pair of 40-inch heavy-duty articulated wipers with washers.

The two-head lower deck accommodations are available with either three staterooms or two staterooms and a lounge; the cherry is immaculately crafted and the cabin finished in a pleasing blend of Euro and American decor; these Aussies cover all the bases.

The engineroom is finished off like a Feadship with tooled fiberglass bilges, and the fuel tanks are over the center of buoyancy to minimize trim fluctuations as fuel is consumed. The Frank Mulder hull is efficiently (strongly, but not heavily) built with a solid fiberglass bottom, foam-cored stringers and plywood bulkheads and has a modified vee bottom with propeller pockets to reduce draft and shaft angles.

A pair of 715-hp CAT C12 diesels produced a cruise speed of 31 knots and 34 knots at full power. The boat comes up on plane with very little bow rise, there’s plenty of standing room at the wheel, and it took only 29 seconds for a full turn at 28 knots, but we’d like to see the seven-turn lock-to-lock steering tightened up for improved agility. Underwater exhaust and well insulated decks produced an eerily quiet yacht—just 76 dBA at 26 knots. It was so quiet as to be disconcerting at first; you have to look out the window to know you’re going this fast.

 The Riviera 4700 is superbly engineered and great looking to boot, a mix of practicality, seaworthiness, deck safety, and fit-and-finish. American builders should give this yacht a close inspection. For more information contact, Riviera Yachts of the Americas, (877) 403-1060; www.rivierayachtsinc.com.

SPECIFICATIONS       
LOA........................54'9"
Beam......................15' 7"
Dry weight......40,800 lb.
Draft.........................4'1"
Fuel capacity.634 US gal
Water capacity....198 gal

rpm    knots    gph   
700    7.4    6.4
1000    9.9    13.4   
1300    13    23   
1600    19.1    31.8
1900    26.1    40.4
2200    31.2    53.5
2500    34.1    72