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New Boat Models

New Riviera 78 Motor Yacht in Process

The Riviera 78 Motor Yacht emerges from the factory with its bridge deck in place.

Riviera Yachts continues to make progress with its new flagship, the 78 Motor Yacht. The crew has connected the hull and deck and in this article, we see the addition of the enclosed flying bridge.

Super Sized

With much of the engineering work complete, the next step was to bring the superstructure together to create the enormous bridge deck that extends over the saloon deck almost to the transom.

The bridge deck was assembled separately from the main body of the yacht with the frame that separates the interior from the aft deck area installed, the windscreen lowered into place and the steel frames for the electric side windows positioned.

The hardtop, with its electronic wiring ready for TV and radar domes and the giant electric sunroof, was completed and lowered onto the bridge deck superstructure.

The windshield and side steel window frames are set in place in the super structure.

The entire assembly was then lifted over the yacht and carefully lowered into place. The afforded by computer-aided design and molding ensured that the major components of this yacht – the hull, deck and superstructure fit precisely.

The final part to be installed was the hardtop that that was pre-wired for the radar and other equipment.

First Impression

Then came the first dramatic moment for the 78 Motor Yacht as she was lifted onto Riviera’s remote-controlled TM100 transporter and brought out into the bright sunshine of an early spring day. She was delivered to the Riviera travel-lift bay at the marina and carefully lowered into the water for the first time.

Riviera’s New Product Introduction (NPI) Manager Warren Maslen explains that this process is to ensure that her waterline is as predicted by the computer modelling.

“She is beautifully balanced and floats as we designed,” he says. “She will settle slightly lower in the water after we have completed the fit-out of the yacht. While this first test is always a little demanding for the team, it is comprehensive proof of our design systems and approach.”

The yacht was then returned to the fit-out facility where craftspeople continued the exacting task of completing the detailed work. During an inspection of the timber shop, Maslen explained that a robotic spray machine had been utilized to coat the many highly varnished timber panels that were already in racks ready to move across to the fit-out facility when required. The robotic machine ensures an even coat across every panel.

With the bridge deck in place, everything was sealed up in preparation of lowering the boat into the water for the first time.

He also displayed a set of the small timber parts, each with computer-generated drill holes. “We know from this that every screw required will be in exactly the right place,” he says. Drawers include sturdy soft-close mechanisms.

“There are some 5,000 individual parts aboard this yacht,” Maslen added. “Our build manual shows me where each one is to be positioned.”

The teak decking is laid in place on the boat deck on the flying bridge.

Back on board the yacht, the teak decks of both the salon and flying bridge have been laid. The galley space in the middle of the saloon deck is marked out. This first 78 Motor Yacht includes an optional head on the bridge deck that is already in place.

In coming weeks, the salon and bridge deck cabinetry will be assembled and brought on board and the fit out of the four staterooms and four heads will begin.