Well they've made it to Airlie, just in time for 30+knots of wind, freezing cold and loads of rain.
Riviera/Maritimo are definitely world class. For those kind of boats, I don't think there is an equal or anything that comes close (maybe Hatteras perhaps?).
I owned a Northshore 370, was Northshore pretty much the last Australian production yacht builder? Was there ever any other substantial yacht producer in Australia? I've sailed a bit on a few of the other Northshore models and always admired them, really well built and their design aesthetics are timeless.
Here below is South Oz Rivera fleet .
I maintain a Riv 57 platinum , a kingfisher 65 and have just finished messing around with a 5 year old marintimo 65.
The Riv is far the highest quality at 10 years old twin 1200 Cats and the fit out is exceptional.
The kingfisher has its downsides but has a good sea keeping hull.
The 5 year old marintimo ......all the gelcoat was completely tarnished .... The cleats ,bolards, fair leads and some safety rails are Crome plated and some have been replaced already.
My pick would be the older Riv anyday!
Select to expand quoteFreeRadical said...
Riviera/Maritimo are definitely world class. For those kind of boats, I don't think there is an equal or anything that comes close (maybe Hatteras perhaps?).
I owned a Northshore 370, was Northshore pretty much the last Australian production yacht builder? Was there ever any other substantial yacht producer in Australia? I've sailed a bit on a few of the other Northshore models and always admired them, really well built and their design aesthetics are timeless.
As a boatbuilder I have nothing but admiration for Bill Barry Cotter's business model. He has done an outstanding job.
HOWEVER......
Rivireras are too beamy, heavy and have an inefficient hull shape . They have crammed too much boat into a given length and given too much importance to the ability to punch into waves at high speed.As a result, they require much more horsepower than other makes and tow mini tsunamis behind them. It takes horsepower to create a wake like that.
The question that I have pondered is:
Do Riviera/Maratimo owners not know the carnage that they create, or do they know and not give a ****?
Ignorance or Arrogance?
Select to expand quotepsychomub said..
Rivireras are too beamy, heavy and have an inefficient hull shape . They have crammed too much boat into a given length and given too much importance to the ability to punch into waves at high speed.As a result, they require much more horsepower than other makes and tow mini tsunamis behind them. It takes horsepower to create a wake like that.
^5's to that man, I agree with you and said the same thing in a previous post.
Select to expand quotesouthace said...
Here below is South Oz Rivera fleet .
I maintain a Riv 57 platinum , a kingfisher 65 and have just finished messing around with a 5 year old marintimo 65.
The Riv is far the highest quality at 10 years old twin 1200 Cats and the fit out is exceptional.
...and there we see the problem.
2400hp in a 57ft boat????
A friend in NZ has a Salthouse Sovereign which is about 58ft ( stretched 55). It has all the bells and whistles, immaculate fit out, and goes like a raped ape with twin 600hp Cats.
That's half the horsepower of the Riv.
As an added bonus, the Salthouse doesn't tow around a destructive wake as it is lighter and narrower and has flatter aft sections.
Rivs just don't want to plane! They go through the water like a half shut pen knife. I just don't get it, why the hell are they so popular?
Almost without exception after everything has been sent flying you look up and spot the Riv.
Its a game we have played for years, there is obviously an inverse relationship between the massive horsepower required to get those boats to plane and the intelligence or experience required to operate them.
Planning hulls are usually fairly flat or light. Neither of these terms can be used with a riv. Having a flat hull in an ocean going boat would not be too smart and probably result in a very rough ride for the occupants. I been anchored up rivers and had jet ski's motor past, at a speed just before they plain, and they rock the crap out of the boat. A lot more than what they would if they whizzed past at 20knts, which by law, they are not allowed to do. I've been out at sea in close quarters (sharing the same channel) with container ships and these guys actually rock the boat less that the above mentioned jet skis.
Yep, I've also been in anchorages where people with 25hp tenders rip through anchorages and they are off sail boats. So we of the sailing community are not squeaky clean.
In the end, it really up to the prick on the wheel/tiller to have some understanding of their vessel and have some consideration for others. I also don't doubt that there are also some FNC's who get a perverted thrill out of annoying others
Maybe it could be that Rivs are not actually meant to go anywhere, but rather are just a huge great hole into which prospective fools try and see who can pour more money into the hole while tied to the dock and impress everyone else in your social circles.
