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.

FreeRadical 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?

southace 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.

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