Author : Barry Thompson
AS GOOD AS IT GETS
Technological changes have had a significant impact on the design and construction of Riviera boats over the years, and the Riviera 45 open flybridge convertible provides a no better example.
The 5000 Sport Yacht was another first for Riviera, being the first boat in the range that was only available with twin Cummins turbo diesel engines linked to the Zeus pod drives. The Riviera 5000 SY was the fifth member of Riviera’s European-style Sport Yacht family and replaced the shaft drive 4700SY. Today the sport yacht range comprises four models, 5800SY, 5000SY, 4400SY and the 3600SY.
Riviera’s inspiration for their Sport Yacht series, came from recognising peoples changing values and lifestyles, where easy living and convenience have taken the place of stuffy traditions, unnecessary embellishments and sometimes ostentatious and impractical features.
Riviera’s Sport Yacht range certainly follows those guidelines, with the clean lines, the bright, contemporary interior, the modern materials, the emphasis on easy entertaining, the solid feel and handling among the many qualities that have made the range so successful.
The 5000SY maintains and expands on the single-level lifestyle design of the Riviera Sport Yacht line, including an aft galley and stainless steel pillarless aft bulkhead door and fold-up awning window that open the saloon right out into the cockpit.
Continuing Riviera’s commitment to innovation, the 5000SY offers owners the option of two accommodation layouts to further personalise the vessel: a three cabin and two bathroom design or two cabins and two bathrooms plus a below-deck lounge area. The large full-beam aft cabin offers options of an athwartships double bed and single portside bed or three singles.
Concept Design Manager Neil McCabe said: “Our computer modeling systems are giving us greater opportunities to offer these options. Our goal with the 5000SY was to create a fully specified boat while giving our customers the opportunity to tailor it to suit their individual needs and tastes.”
Expansive panoramic windows and a huge electric sunroof in the saloon enhance the relaxed, refreshing and airy ambience. Another innovation to the 5000SY is the option of an aft-facing lounge in the forward quarter of the cockpit, offering expansive views while protected from sun and wind. “Our challenge with the 5000 Sport Yacht was to build on the success of the 4700 design and take full advantage of the space provided by the Zeus drive system,” said McCabe. “Our computer design work utilises three-dimensional CAD to a greater extent than ever before. Everything down to small parts is fully computer-designed. The joinery throughout is CNC machine cut and, of course, it is all coated using our robotic varnish system.
“The propulsion system alone had a major effect on the design simply because it allowed us so much more accommodation space. The design is similar to the very successful 4400 Sport Yacht implementation. “The result is a three cabin, two bathroom layout with a large full beam aft cabin and sleeping for seven people”, said McCabe.
Tender Garage
The Riviera 5000 Sport Yacht inherits the award-winning design principles of its predecessors, the 3600, 4400 and 4700 Sport Yachts, most notably the al fresco lifestyle concepts built into the pillarless wide stainless steel hopper window and aft bulkhead door. When opened, space flows freely between cockpit and saloon.
The cockpit is both spacious and functional with a wide lounge across the transom and two optional lifestlye configurations. In standard configuration, a large table with drink holders is mounted on gas assisted high/low pedestals in front of the lounge. A wet bar, including solid surface top with sink and mixer tap, is built into the port forward quarter of the cockpit. The wet bar features a stainless steel refrigerator and an optional stainless steel ice-maker. An optional configuration offers an L-shaped lounge in the port forward quarter with a table. The wet bar is moved to the starboard side and the long table is deleted.
The cockpit floor opens up by means of an electric actuator for easy access to the engines. A smaller access hatch in the forward area of the cockpit serves for general inspections. Two steps each side of the cockpit (with courtesy LED lights) makes access to the side decks safe and easy. The transom features a large garage housing a 3.1-metre Zodiac tender. A hydraulic swim platform lowers for easy launch and retrieval. A sun pad with rails and drink holders is fitted to the foredeck and includes a cover for protection when not in use.
Wide Open Spaces
Interior space in the 5000 Sport Yacht feels very light, airy and spacious; combining with the pillarless aft bulkhead window and door, as well as a huge electric sunroof that slides open at the push of a button. A sumptuous leather lounge with chaise runs the length of the saloon on the port side while the helm and galley are positioned to starboard.
A folding timber table is mounted on high/low pedestals to convert from dining to coffee table. A liquor cabinet with drawers is forward of the lounge, below the entertainment system that includes an electric lift 26-inch LCD TV integrated with an AM/FM stereo, CD/DVD player with amplifier, sub-woofer and four speakers to the saloon with an additional two speakers and stereo remote to the cockpit.
The galley layout features plenty of cupboards and drawers, above and below bench for storage as well as a convection microwave oven and a stainless steel front-opening refrigerator with a freezer compartment. High quality Amtico flooring has been used throughout the saloon and galley for aesthetics and practicality.
The helm console is ergonomically designed so that all critical navigation equipment and controls are within easy reach. Visibility of all electronics, including comprehensive engine instrumentation and vessel controls, is excellent. A high quality timber sports steering wheel completes the helm. High backed leather helm and companion chairs are fitted, with electrical adjustment fore and aft on the helm chair. Moulded footrests with teak inlays are fitted for comfort.
Three Cabin Layout
Standard accommodation aboard the 5000 Sport Yacht includes three cabins. The master stateroom forward is equipped with a queen walk around island berth complete with inner spring mattress. Storage drawers are under the berth. The large aft cabin includes a large athwartships double bed and a single along the port side. The third starboard cabin is fitted with two bunk beds.
A full height linen cupboard is built into the accommodation companionway of the Riviera 5000 Sport Yacht. This space can be utilised to house optional appliances such as washer/ dryer or a freezer unit. A large square deck hatch with Mk 5 OceanAir blind is fitted to the deck head and features a two-way flyscreen and block-out blind for privacy. A 15” LCD TV and DVD package can be added to the Master stateroom as an option.
The ensuite bathroom features a solid surface benchtop with a contemporary style glass bowl sink. There is a mirrored vanity cabinet above the benchtop and a storage locker below and a Vacuflush toilet. A frameless glass door leads to the large shower stall with a non-slip tile pattern floor. It includes a satin finished chrome shower pole and shower head on a slide bar. Flooring is in high quality Amtico (excluding the shower stall).
Riviera’s designers have taken full advantage of the extra space available by using the Zeus system in creating the aft cabin with two berths – a single and a large athwartships double – and plenty of space. Large fixed windows feature on both sides of the hull, washing the cabin with natural light. As well, there are two opening portholes fitted to this cabin to ensure cross-ventilation when the boat is at rest.
The double berth hinges up to reveal a large storage space underneath. There is a bedside table with a drawer and an upholstered bedhead. Both beds include foam mattresses. A full height hanging locker with cedar lining and automatic lighting is located to the forward of the stateroom with another drawer unit next to it.
top: The galley
Large mirrors fitted to the aft bulkhead add extra dimension and style to the stateroom. The second bathroom has dual entry from the companionway and from the aft stateroom and features a separate shower stall with a frameless glass shower door and shower head on a slide bar. The solid surface vanity benchtop features a contemporary style glass bowl.
Zeus Power Plus
The Riviera 5000SY is powered by twin Cummins QSC 8.3 common rail 600hp diesel engines with 1.8m long jackshafts to the rear-mounted Zeus drives. The engines are 700mm further back than the 4700 so there is an obvious space gain in the accommodation areas.
With the Zeus pod drive propulsion system, the 5000SY is as manoeuverable as a runabout and just as nimble. One of the big benefits is the ability to hold station in most conditions. With the touch of a button the Skyhook feature maintained the 5000SY on a fixed heading within a tight area even in the strong currents and windy conditions around Sydney Heads. A great plus for anyone who goes fishing in very deep water, when anchoring isn’t an option.
Zeus features twin drive units, or pods, mounted in tunnels under the hull that protects the pod drive from underwater debris. Each unit includes twin forward-facing, counter-rotating propellers on each drive unit.
Each drive unit is capable of turning independently to provide correct thrust to move the boat in the direction required by the driver, controlling the system either through a wheel or joystick at the helm. The Zeus drives can turn 15 º in and 45° out. Steering is controlled by an electronic system that makes the helm one finger light and super fast; only two turns from lock to lock.
Docking the Riviera 5000 SY back at the marina was effortless. The joystick control system is incredibly intuitive and can be operated with a single turn of the wrist. One hand controls it all, from sideways tracking, to spinning on a dime, to precise speed control.
The boat was super quiet at idle. There was literally no vibration or engine noise, because there is an idle relief valve that keeps the exhaust bubbles from vibrating underneath the boat.
At full speed of around 32 knots at 3070 rpm, I could whip the wheel right over to full lock. The Riviera 5000SY carved a full turn without excessive heel, with little loss of speed or rpm.
However what I really loved were the auto tabs. The tabs, which are an integral part of the Zeus drives, have computer sensors that automatically trim the hull to its most effective setting with no effort on the part of the driver. You can override the tabs and run manually, but for most of the time you would leave them on automatic mode.
From a standing start, as soon as you advance the throttles, these very fast acting tabs go right down full to help the boat plane off quickly. Once up on plane, the tabs come off gradually to maintain optimum performance. The tabs on the Zeus system are large, and they’re very effective. Riviera have certainly got it right with the 5000SY and despite the current economic situation have proven that if you give the punters what they want they will but it. Every aspect from the initial design to the finish product in the water speaks volumes of the dedication of everyone at Riviera involved in the project. The Riviera 5000SY with Zeus is certainly a winning formula.
debris. Each unit includes twin forward-facing, counter-rotating propellers on each drive unit.
Each drive unit is capable of turning independently to provide correct thrust to move the boat in the direction required by the driver, controlling the system either through a wheel or joystick at the helm. The Zeus drives can turn 15 º in and 45° out. Steering is controlled by an electronic system that makes the helm one finger light and super fast; only two turns from lock to lock.
Docking the Riviera 5000 SY back at the marina was effortless. The joystick control system is incredibly intuitive and can be operated with a single turn of the wrist. One hand controls it all, from sideways tracking, to spinning on a dime, to precise speed control.
The boat was super quiet at idle. There was literally no vibration or engine noise, because there is an idle relief valve that keeps the exhaust bubbles from vibrating underneath the boat.
At full speed of around 32 knots at 3070 rpm, I could whip the wheel right over to full lock. The Riviera 5000SY carved a full turn without excessive heel, with little loss of speed or rpm.
However what I really loved were the auto tabs. The tabs, which are an integral part of the Zeus drives, have computer sensors that automatically trim the hull to its most effective setting with no effort on the part of the driver. You can override the tabs and run manually, but for most of the time you would leave them on automatic mode.
From a standing start, as soon as you advance the throttles, these very fast acting tabs go right down full to help the boat plane off quickly. Once up on plane, the tabs come off gradually to maintain optimum performance. The tabs on the Zeus system are large, and they’re very effective. Riviera have certainly got it right with the 5000SY and despite the current economic situation have proven that if you give the punters what they want they will but it. Every aspect from the initial design to the finish product in the water speaks volumes of the dedication of everyone at Riviera involved in the project. The Riviera 5000SY with Zeus is certainly a winning formula.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Boat Design Name: Riviera 5000 Sport Yacht
- Year Launched: 2010
- Builder: Riviera
- LOA: 16.69m
- LOH: 15.46m
- Beam: 4.76m
- Draft: 1.10m
- Displacement: 18000 kgs
- Construction: GRP
- Fuel Cap: 2300 litres
- Water Cap: 750 litres
- Engines Make: Cummins QSC 8.3 @ 600hp
- Drive Train: Zeus pod drive
