Since there has been a lot of discussion about product reports for new
boats as they appear in magazines, here's an example of an item that
will debut next week. :-)

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Class, and Attention to Detail

Alliance Yachts Sales, on Westlake Avenue in Seattle, is a member of as
somewhat exclusive group. Only twenty carefully selected dealerships
are permitted to represent
Riviera Yachts in North and South America. Alliance Yachts is a
dealer/distributor, operating a dealership in Seattle and servicing an
appointed dealer in Canada, (Van Isle Marine). Riviera yachts are built
in Australia, with about 400 boats per year "hand crafted" in a
state of the art facility. Riviera has produced boats for about 25
years, and has earned a reputation for building up to a high standard
rather than down to a low price. A thousand highly skilled employees
finish just over one boat per day at Riviera, and the vessels are built
to comply with the codes and standards of the EU, the US, and other
major markets. Riviera may be built in Australia, but with global
distribution through distinguished dealerships in major markets it can
truly be considered a universal, rather than merely an "Australian"
boat.

Riviera hulls are laid by hand. Coring is used only where it will
enhance strength and reduce weight, and any balsa coring is infused
with resin to prevent the absorption of water. Rivera yachts feature
"collision" bulkheads forward; evidence of high integrity
construction and a source of additional "peace of mind" when
underway. Workmanship is of paramount importance, and Riviera has an
internal apprenticeship program so there is no need to hire workers
that haven't been trained to Riviera standards or may be
inexperienced in achieving certain standards of production.

If there is a "signature" style for Riviera, it would certainly be
the flybridge convertible. Riviera builds 13 models of boats from 33-60
feet, and 9 of the choices are flybridge convertibles. Convertibles
share many of the same design characteristics associated with
sportfishers; a no-nonsense offshore hull, eminently fishable
cockpit, expansive foredecks, and excellent sight lines from the
flybridge. Convertibles often include more deluxe interior
accommodations to "convert" a fine fishing platform into a
well-rounded luxury cruiser. Most true sportfishers will eliminate the
forward windows in the main cabin, while convertibles normally include
the forward glass to introduce more light and improve visibility. Lower
helms are optional on many convertibles, but not on most sportfishers.
Convertibles have an aggressive, sporty, stylish, and adventurous
looking profile, and they tend to appeal to an energetic crowd.

Robert Scott and his son Rob are partners in Alliance Yacht Sales.
Robert remarked,
"Our customers for these Riviera convertibles are an entirely new
breed of boater. They are younger and more dynamic. They want to do it
all, do it all now, do it fast, and look good in the process. They
fish, dive, crab, explore, and know how to have a very good time. I
have sold pilothouse yachts, and they're great boats, but the typical
buyer of a convertible wants something that is more stylish and
contemporary."

The Riviera 42' Flybridge Convertible

Our "Sea Trial" boat for this issue is the 42' Riviera Flybridge
Convertible, a model that seems particularly well suited for Pacific NW
boating. Standard power for the 42 convertible is a pair of Cummins QSC
500-HP diesels with electronic controls. 540-HP and 575-HP Cummins
packages are also available. (Our test boat was a previously sold 2006
model, with the 480-HP engines that were formerly standard ). An 11kW
Onan generator provides AC power underway and will be essential to the
operation of the galley stove as well as the reverse cycle heating and
A/C climate control system.

Major Specifications:

LOA: (with bow roller and swim step) 50'10"
Beam: 14'11"
Draft: 4'2"
Dry Weight: 33,075 lb.
Fuel Tankage: 473 USG
Water Tankage: 119 USG

The quality inherent in a Riviera is apparent as soon as one steps into
the cockpit. All of the fiberglass surfaces appear to be flawlessly
executed, and fittings are substantial as well as solidly connected.
The standard deck in the cockpit is non-skid FRP, but a cockpit carpet
is available as well as a teak overlay package for the cockpit and side
steps. Our test boat was equipped with an optional bait well mounted
into the transom, and there are fish boxes built in below the cockpit
deck. The most incidental edges and concealed portions of molded
components are very well done; there has obviously been a lot attention
to detail.

When the 42 Flybridge Convertible is trolling for fish, a unique local
upgrade will allow the skipper to be a full participant in the cockpit.
Alliance rigs a forward facing camera on the flybridge cowling, with a
monitor in the cockpit. Cockpit controls permit effective maneuvering,
and with the forward camera view there is no need (particularly at
trolling speeds) to have somebody steering from the flybridge. Most
boaters, including non-fishers, will find the cockpit controls
extremely handy when backing into a slip.

The interior of the 42 Flybridge Convertible is very impressive. Top
grain leather settees are situated in the aft port quarter and
starboard forequarter of the salon, with a richly finished teak dining
table to starboard. A pull-out mattress will convert the port settee
into an additional bunk. The teak throughout the interior is a warm,
brown hue with a gloss finish; very impressive looking and not easily
confused with an "ordinary" teak interior. An icemaker and a
beverage locker are built into a serving bar in the aft starboard
quarter, and everyone aboard can monitor the vessel's progress
underway if the large flat screen video monitor mounted in the forward
portion of he salon is connected to the chartplotter.

The galley is one step down from the salon, and to port. The excellent
visual impression created by the designer materials and flawless
execution in the salon is in no way diminished by the Granicoat (tm)
countertops and more of the exceptional teak joinery in the galley. A
pullout, drawer style dishwasher is standard on the vessel, as well as
a microwave/convection oven, an electric cooktop, a dual door
"upright" refrigerator/freezer, and a powered exhaust fan.

Riviera builds the 42 Flybridge Convertible as a two stateroom vessel,
and has managed to include one of the roomier and more versatile guest
staterooms to be found on boats of this general size group. The guest
stateroom is arranged with three single berths- an upper and a lower
stacked against the gunwale and a lower berth toward the centerline
wall of the cabin. The lower berths could be combined to make a large
double or a queen. Guests will enjoy the plasma TV with DVD
entertainment system, as well as plenty of stowage.

The guest head, to starboard, is almost an exact mirror image of the
master stateroom head across the companionway but without the private
entrance. Both heads are roomy and bright, with top of the line marine
toilets and fixtures, dedicated shower areas, and abundant stowage
options.

The master stateroom is most forward, featuring an "island" queen
berth with an innerspring mattress, two hanging lockers, audio and
video entertainment systems, all bathed in filtered sunshine beaming
through the overhead translucent hatch. Riviera has created a master
stateroom that is classy and elegant through straightforward design and
decor rather than garishly over decorated.

A rather vertical ladder in the port forequarter of the cockpit
accesses the flybridge. (If we had to gripe about anything on this
boat, it might be the flybridge ladder- although it was certainly wide
enough and sturdy enough. All boat designs contain compromises, and
steep access to the flybridge is an expected design element on most
sportfishers and convertibles). The upper helm is set well aft on the
flybridge with "tournament" style passenger seating forward. There
is a standard FRP hardtop, and nearly everyone in the Pacific NW will
want to rig a full enclosure around the flybridge to permit comfortable
boating in any weather. Robert Scott pointed out that Alliance upgrades
the forward panel on the enclosure to a hard, curved, and mounts a pair
of windshield wipers, so there will never be a need to squint through
rain-smeared plastic inserts when piloting the Riviera 42 Flybridge
Convertible. Alliance Yacht Sales offers an optional flybridge heating
and front panel-defrost system to additionally improve comfort and
visibility.

Underway:

With Twin Disc electronic controls that include a "slow idle"
feature and an optional bowthruster, the Riviera 42 proved to be one of
the easiest handling boats around. Robert Scott pulled away from the
slip, executed a 90-degree turn in a fairway that could not have been
much wider than the length of the boat, and backed out into Lake Union
under complete and total control. Robert is an accomplished pro, but
even a novice would be able to learn how to handle this boat reasonably
quickly. Robert Scott pointed out a set of manual trolling valves and
said, "We normally install trolling valves as a local option. Also,
the E120 and E80 Raymarine plotters at the helm are local options. If a
boater has an engine room camera, that can be monitored on the
Raymarine split screens as well."

We noticed that the hardtop is supported by some impressive looking
stainless steel.
"That's 316 stainless," remarked Robert, "and that's the way
Riviera markets this boat on the west coast. Back on the east coast,
the market tends to prefer powder coated aluminum to stainless, so
Riviera ships boats to the east coast with powder coated instead of
stainless rails."

We motored out to Lake Washington, making 7 knots at 800 RPM. A
complete set of analog gauges includes twin tachometers that also
incorporate a digital display, so a very accurate report of engine
speed can be easily obtained. In addition, the Cummins SmartCraft
engine diagnostic system will electronically monitor the operation of
both engines, compiling almost more data than anyone could ever imagine
actually needing but virtually sure to have any critically needed
measurement displayed whenever required.

We cleared Webster Point and throttled up. The Riviera 42 Flybridge
Convertible accelerated very smoothly, and ran with a solid feeling of
"presence" on the water. There is no doubt that this is a large and
powerful boat, and it operates accordingly. We were running with a
normally laden boat, with a heavy shoreboat on the foredeck, full water
tanks, and a ¾ load of fuel. At 2060 RPM we made better than 20 knots,
but the boat rode so steadily that the only impression that we were
turning that sort of speed was the SOG reading on the GPS. At 2270 RPM
we were turning 24 knots, at 2480 RPM we were over 27 knots. "With
the increased buoyancy and better prop bite in sal****er, even with
these 480-HP engines this can be close to a 30-knot boat," observed
Robert. "With the larger, optional engines this boat should be able
to do 32 knots or so without any problem at all."

Out on Lake Washington, we were able to confirm that smooth, relatively
quiet, and stable running characteristics can be added to the
impressive exterior styling and well executed interior layout when
listing the major attributes of the Riviera 42 Flybridge Convertible.

Conclusion:

Boaters seeking a stylish, contemporary, and versatile boat for
cruising, exploring, fishing, crabbing, and diving in the Pacific
Northwest should look into the Riviera 42 Flybridge Convertible. There
is evidence of excellent quality throughout, with high construction
standards, the selection of top caliber systems, and attention to the
most finite details. The boat is small enough to be a comfortable
"couple cruiser", yet large enough to accommodate up to half a
dozen or so adults and kids for a summer vacation cruise.

The suggested retail price for the 42 Flybridge Convertible is actually
less than we would have guessed, and at $639,612 for a boat with
standard equipment presents a surprising value.