Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition (2022-)

Brief Summary

Riviera’s 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is targeted for the discerning, experienced cruiser who wants a bluewater express motoryacht that stands out from the crowd with her stunning paint treatments on the exterior and premium amenities on the inside.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	63'4" 19.3 m
Beam	17'8" 5.38 m
Dry Weight	59,445 lbs. 29,964 kg
Tested Weight	66,184 lbs. 30,020.56 kg
Draft	4'11" 1.49 m
Fuel Capacity	872 gallons 3,300 L
Water Capacity	211 gallons 798.72 L
Total Weight	66,184 lbs. 30,020.56 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	9.8 seconds
Load	3 persons; 741 gal. fuel; full water; 50 lbs. gear
Climate	75 deg.; 60% humid.; winds: 0-5; seas: 1

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 725-hp Volvo Penta IPS950

Captain's Report

Report by Eric Colby

Mission Statement

The Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is the flagship of the series that launched a few years ago. The Australian company says it took customer feedback based on the features owners said they loved and those they said they wanted in a luxury performance yacht with bluewater capabilities. The result is a boat that strikes a stunning pose at the docks with its painted hardtop and radomes and black hullsides. The cockpit layout was changed and interior upgrades included waterfall countertops in the galley and Recaro seats at the helm. She’s available in a choice of three accommodations layouts and our test model had the optional Presidential configuration.

Riviera Yachts 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition Main Features

• Twin Volvo Penta IPS950s with station keeping
• Upgraded graphics with contrasting colors
• Waterfall countertops in galley
• Hydraulic swim platform
• Seakeeper 9 gyroscopic stabilizer
• Volvo Penta glass dash with twin Garmin MFDs
• Cockpit bar with grill
• Choice of optional layouts
• Tender garage

Riviera Yachts 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition Features Inspection

The Stern. Let’s start with the swim platform that has a median width of 14’2” (4.32 m) and 4’1” (1.24 m) fore to aft. It’s hydraulic and lowers with the push of a button. There’s a small step or seat across the transom about 9” (22.86 cm) above the platform when it’s in the up position. When the platform is in the up position, there’s a stout boarding ladder under a hatch to port. Push a button to open the garage that is designed to hold a Williams 325 jet tender.

The Cockpit. Stairs on each side lead from the platform up to stainless-steel gates that open to the aft deck. One of the port side steps is hinged and opens to reveal salt- and freshwater wash downs, the freshwater fill and a shore power cord. The second step to starboard opens the second shorepower connection. Just above the stairs to starboard, a cabinet houses the switches for the garage, platform, sunroof, underwater and overhead lights and a table. Headroom in the cockpit is 7’2” (2.18 m) and there’s an opening sunroof.

The aft lounge measures 73” (185.42 cm) wide by 22” (55.88 cm) fore to aft. The bottom cushion is hinged and it opens to reveal storage including a clip for a boat hook. Forward to port, an L-shaped lounge wraps around a high-gloss walnut table that can be lowered and topped with a custom-made cushion to create an extra berth or playpen for the kids. Continuing the upgrade package, the teak deck has platinum caulking.

Opposite, the cockpit bar has a Kenyon grill and griddle with a refrigerator and ice maker in the base. There’s a sink aft and alongside is a wastebasket beneath a removable cover. Outboard on each side, the 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition comes standard with Volvo Penta docking stations.

Side Decks. Before we head indoors, let’s head forward and check out the bow. The side decks are 12” (30.48 cm) wide and the aft bulwarks are 25” (63.5 cm) tall with a 4” (10.16 cm) rail. Fuel fills are in each side deck under flip-up hatches that open on stainless-steel gas struts. At amidships, the bulwark height drops to 7” (17.78 cm) and the rail is 23” (58.42 cm) above that.   

The Bow. When we reached the bow, the bulwark was 6” (15.24 cm) tall and the 32” (81.28 cm) rail flares out. The foredeck has side-by-side sun lounges that are a combined 102” (259.08 cm) long by 67” (170.18 cm) wide. There are rails on each side with three cupholders just aft. In the forepeak, there’s a Muir windlass with 22.66’ (70 m) of steel chain rode and an Ultra 99.21-lb. (45 kg) stainless-steel anchor. A hatch in the deck to port opens to access the remote control, hand crank and washdowns with rode access to starboard.

Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition Salon

Heading aft on the side decks, we notice that the windshield is 58” (147.32 cm) tall with two 69” (175.26 cm) panels on each side of the center mullion. As we head indoors, the stainless-steel framed sliding door pulls aside, creating an opening that measures 27.5” (69.85 cm) wide and 77” (195.58 cm) tall. To port, Riviera’s opera door opens to link the cockpit lounge to the galley. It’s also framed in stainless-steel and measures 56” (149.86 cm) wide by 39” (99.06 cm) tall. It opens on a stainless-steel strut and secures with a latch on the underside of the cockpit overhead.

The Galley. Part of the Platinum edition is the waterfall-style white Corian countertop running down the side of the galley. The sink is under a cover in the aft port corner and the underside of the cover is a cutting board. Just beneath the sink is a Miele dishwasher. There’s also a wastebasket with a removable cover. The four-burner Miele cooktop is forward to port with a microwave-convection oven underneath. The forward counter is left open for food prep and there are two Isotherm refrigerator and freezer drawers. Opposite the galley, the entertainment center is home to a 43” (109.22 cm) TV on a remote-controlled retractable bracket, the Fusion stereo head, a CZone digital switch panel and climate control.

The Salon. Moving forward, the salon has 78” (198.12 cm) of headroom and overhead, the Webasto power sunroof measures 87” by 59” (220.98 cm x 149.86 cm). To starboard is a sofa-style lounge with a clever add-on. The center bottom cushion pulls out like an ottoman and then a table folds out of the base. Opposite, step up 7” (17.78 cm) onto a raised dinette with a lounge that wraps around a high-gloss walnut table that exhibits impressive craftsmanship.

Helm Seats. Indicative of the 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition’s high-end feel, our test boat had twin Recaro high-backed helm seats that featured a diamond pattern, hand-stitching and folding armrests. Both adjust fore and aft and holding folding armrests and the captain’s seat can also be adjusted for height.

The helm is finished in a matte black Alcantara suede upholstery. Up top are two 17” (43.18 cm) Garmin displays that are part of the Volvo Penta glass dash and just aft there’s a tray with a USB plug. There are air-conditioning ducts and cupholders outboard of the MFDs on each side. The Seakeeper control screen and accessory switches that illuminate when activated are to the left just below. Working from the left on the lower section are the 7” (17.78 cm) Volvo Penta engine screen, the chain counter for the windlass and the searchlight controls. To the right of the tilt wheel are the engine start-stops with VHF radio just below. Forward to starboard is another CZone panel and working aft are the Volvo Penta engine controls, wiper buttons, joystick and toggle to work through the Garmin screens. Riviera provides a five-year extended warranty on all Volvo Products from the propeller nut to the helm screens and if the company fits any Garmin component at the factory, the warranty extends to that as well.

Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition Accommodations Deck

Now let’s head below to the accommodations deck. Centrally positioned stairs lead to the belowdecks area and Riviera uses an atrium design that lets natural light cascade down from the windshield. The stairs lead directly to the VIP quarters in the bow. There’s a centrally positioned berth that measures 75” (190.5 cm) long by 66” (167.64 cm) wide. Headroom is 76” (193.04 cm) and there’s 45” (114.3 cm) above the berth that has four storage drawers in the base. There are two full-height hanging lockers plus smaller ones ahead on each side. An overhead deck hatch and large hullside windows with opening ports let in natural light and fresh air. There’s a TV on the aft bulkhead and the en suite head has a separate shower stall.

Exiting the VIP, aft to starboard is the guest cabin with two separate berths that measure 73” (185.42 cm) long by 28” (71.12 cm) wide. The berths cannot be pushed together and there’s a 24” (60.96 cm) TV on the side of the full hanging locker. Across from the guest cabin is a cabinet with Miele stacked washer and dryer.

The Master Stateroom. In the presidential layout, the master is a full-beam with the berth centrally positioned and lounges on each side. The berth measures 82” (208.28 cm) long and 66” (167.64 cm) wide, which is slightly longer than a queen. Max headroom is 7’2” (1.93 m) and there’s 3’8” (1.17 m) above the berth. To port, there’s a pair of seats on each side of a 27” (68.58  cm) by 33” (83.82 cm) table. To starboard, there’s a small loveseat forward and a vanity with a hinged top aft. Outboard on each side are large hullside windows and 11” (27.94 cm) diameter opening ports. When a port is opened in any cabin, it sends a signal to the helm when the engines are running. There is a chest of drawers at the aft end of the stateroom with a 42” (106.68 cm) TV above. A doublewide closet is in the entryway.

The Master Head is aft to starboard and entry is via a pocket door. A highlight is the heated towel rack and there’s a separate shower stall. The same white Corian used in the galley is on the countertops and soles in all the heads.

The Utility Room. A door in the aft starboard corner of the master leads aft to the 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition’s utility room that could also be the crew quarters. A ladder leads up to a hatch for entry from the cockpit. Our test boat had the optional wine chiller and the battery switches and CZone panel are in easy reach just aft of the ladder.

The Engine Compartment. A watertight door in the utility room opens to the engine compartment. The twin Volvo Penta D11 IPS950s link to the IPS pods with protected shafts. As we’ve seen on other Rivieras, the engine-mount nuts and bolts are marked after they’re torqued down so a technician can tell if anything loosens. Our test boat had a 27.5 kW Cummins Onan generator outboard to port and the Seakeeper 9 gyroscopic stabilizer is under the garage. There are 50-amp shorepower cord reels in each aft corner and our test boat also had the optional Legendary water maker. The Dometic air conditioning system is to starboard as is the water heater. Aft, the sea strainers are centrally positioned and the twin Racor fuel-water separators for each engine are forward.

Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition Performance

The Numbers. The 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition measures 63’4” (19.3 m) long with a 17’8” (5.38 m) beam and a draft of 4’9” (1.45 m). Empty weight is listed at 59,455 lbs. (29,964 kg) and we tested with three people, 741 gallons (2,804.99 liters) of fuel and 211 gallons (798.72 liters) freshwater aboard, giving us an estimated test weight of 66,184 lbs. (30,020.56 kg).

Powered by twin 725-hp Volvo Penta D-11 IPS950 6-cylinder diesels and pod drives, the 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition hit a top speed of 30.3 knots at 2500 rpm. We recorded best cruise at 1750 rpm where she ran 15.8 knots and burned 34.3 gph even. This translated to .5 knots per gallon and a range of 361.6 nautical miles with 10% of her 872-gallon (3,300-liter) fuel capacity held in reserve.

Test day brought calm conditions and a calm Pacific Ocean swell that the 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition just chewed up. Our test boat was one of the best handling, most nimble IPS boats we have tested in recent memory. She came around a full 180 degrees in less than 2.5 boat lengths. When we returned to the slip, the cockpit docking stations backing in a non-issue.

Observations

The flagship of the series, Riviera’s 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is not for an owner who wants to blend in at the docks. Her graphic treatments are intended to make the bold statement our test model did. She has a decidedly luxurious feel in the salon, cockpit and belowdecks, but there’s also a practicality that makes her easy to own and spend time on. Riviera likes to say it equips its yachts with the equipment that an owner wants, but not a bunch of useless bells and whistles. The side windows in the salon open manually because it’s easy and adding motors would be unnecessary. The aft docking stations come standard, which will provide peace of mind for a captain stepping up to his first vessel longer than 60’ (18.29 m).