Riviera 58 Sports Motor Yacht (2024-)

Brief Summary

The Riviera 58 Sports Motor Yacht (SMY) is a multi-faceted yacht designed and built in Australia.  It’s blue water heritage shows through as this yacht gobbles up rough seas while running quietly and smoothly.  Her flybridge only helm design makes her salon / galley up roomy and airy.  She is as fine mechanically as any yacht in her class.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	64' 8" 19.71 m
Beam	18' 7" 5.67 m
Dry Weight	80,469 lbs 36,500 kg
Tested Weight	85,570 lbs 38,895 kg
Draft	5' 7" 1.7 m
Bridge Clearance	23' 3" 7.08 m
Fuel Capacity	1,189 gal 4,500 L
Water Capacity	211 gal 800 L
Total Weight	85,570 lbs 38,895 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Load	7 persons + gear = 1,400 lbs (636 kg) | 689 gal diesel = 4,892 lbs (2,224 kg) | 211 gal water = 1,760 lbs (800 kg) | Total Load = 8,052 lbs (3,660 kg)
Climate	77 deg; 40% humidity; wind 10-14 kts; waves 3-4’

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 1,000-hp Volvo Penta D13 IPS-1350
Std. Power	2 x 1,000-hp Volvo Penta D13 IPS-1350

by Capt. Gregg Clark

Riviera 58 Sports Motor Yacht (SMY)

Mission

The 64’ 8” (19.71 m) LOA Riviera 58 SMY is designed to be a multi-purpose yacht serving cruising, offshore fishing and entertaining intentions.  Her design was inspired by a wish list from experience Riviera off shore cruisers.  She has a fuel capacity of 1,198 gal. (4,500 L) giving her giving of 328 nm range at a cruise speed of 23 knots and an 850 nm range at a displacement speed of 9.5 knots.

Performance Review

Test Conditions

Test day brought moderate conditions with winds from the east-northeast between 10 and 14 knots and seas of 3 – 4 feet on the ocean.  The test area was just offshore from Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach, FL.

Performance Test Results

Once offshore, our first tests were a series of runs focused on getting the speed, fuel burn and noise level (measured in decibels, or dBA) at specific RPM.  

Acceleration Times & Conditions*

The next tests were the acceleration runs.  Here, 3 tests were conducted and then averaged to get the time from 0 knots to select speeds.  With the Volve Penta D13 1350s creating 1,000 horsepower each, the 58 SMY had an acceleration time of 10.7 seconds from 0 knots to 10 knots, 17.3 seconds from 0 knots to 20 knots, and 18.7 seconds from 0 to plane.

Range and Optimal Cruise

The Riviera 58 SMY has an effective range between 336 nm and 2,052 nm with a 10% fuel reserve.  At a cruise speed of 22.4 knots, she has a range of 328 nm.

Handling

The 58 SMY handled well for a boat of her size helped by the IPS drive system.

Docking

The Volvo Penta Joystick system makes for easy docking and undocking.  Our test boat was very responsive to joystick inputs…almost two responsive so adjusting to the amount of thrust took a little bit of time.  When there was a reverse component in a maneuver, there was a small amount of “squat” given the power of the thrust. 

Features Review

Highlights

• Rugged construction designed for blue water cruising
• Three levels of space

Exterior

The Riviera 58 SMY is a sleek looking yacht with lines and visual characteristics showing her intended dual use as an offshore cruising and fishing yacht.  She combines contrasting white fiberglass work with dark windows, support structures and accents.  Her exterior proportions look natural and of appropriate scale.

The walkway is 22” wide along the entirety of the superstructure with a sturdy stainless steel railing of sufficient height to feel safe even in moderate beam seas.

A thoughtful feature are the fuel gauges located next to each of the diesel fuel receptacles. 

Layout

The 58 SMY has three levels of space.  The highest level is an enclosed flybridge with dual helm seats located on the port side, seating for eight along with starboard side and an upper mezzanine with seating for eight around dining table.  

The main level features two distinct seating areas, a spacious galley and a mezzanine which is three steps up from the cockpit.  Dinghy storage is on the bow and there is also an optional bow seating area.

The accommodations feature three staterooms including a full-beam master with ensuite head, a forward VIP with ensuite head, a double to port and a utility room abaft the master which can be optionally configured as crew quarters.  

Exterior

Bow

Beginning with the main deck forward, there is a 91 SqFt (28 SqM) foredeck lounge that easily accommodates 12 people. 

Cockpit

The cockpit of the 58 SMY measures 94 SqFt (29 SqM) and is accessed via two sturdy doors from the swim platform or via integrated steps on either the port or starboard sides.  There are two large cabinet units, one to port and the other to starboard.  The port cabinet houses a sink, a grill and a griddle.  The starboard house a cutting board, ice maker and large ice chest.  There is also a live well in the aft bulkhead between the doors leading to the swim platform.  There are four separate floorboard panels that provide access to storage. There is another docking station to port that is perfect for operating the yacht short handed.

Swim Platform

The 98 SqFt (30 SqM) swim platform extends 6’ 3” abaft the cockpit and has a maximum width of 17’ 5”.  Sturdy stainless steel railings can be put in place to provide a safe environment for fishing or accessing water toys.

Interior

Flybridge

The flybridge of the 59 SMY has four separate spaces that are sure to make this a popular destination while underway or at anchor.  These include: 1) the helm, 2) the seating area accompanying the helm, 3) the entertainment area and 4) the upper mezzanine.

Helm

The helm of the 58 SMY is located on the port side of the flybridge.  While many boats targeting the US market have the helm on the starboard side, I didn’t find the port side location to be an issue at all.  There is great visibility to the safety zone to the starboard side given the large windshield.  The helm is outfitted with three Garmin 22” Multi-function displays.

Given the yacht is IPS powered, it comes with the integrated throttle control and joystick system for easy maneuvering.  There is also a Sidepower electric bow thruster.

Both helm seats have six-way adjustments to ensure comfortable and visibility for any captain.

There are anchor controls at the helm station and in the port forward anchor locker.  The anchor control at the helm has a chain counter to measure the amount of rode deployed.

There is a skylight above the helm that can be completely covered, covered with a sunshade or complete uncovered.

Accompanying Helm Seating

Next to the helm on the starboard side is seating for two that accompanies the helm station. Separating this seating from the entertainment seating is a cabinet that contains a fridge for drinks or snacks.

Entertainment Area

The aft section inside flybridge contains an entertainment area with seating for 4 – 5.  Across from the seating is a flat screen TV.  The seating area converts to a bed and the complete window shade system makes this a comfortable extra stateroom.  There is a large glass panel connecting the interior flybridge with the upper mezzanine.  This glass panel can be opened fully to make the flybridge feel continuous.

Upper Mezzanine

Riviera has created another desirable seating and entertaining area on the upper mezzanine.  Here there is seating for 6 – 8 people around a folding, triangular teak and holly table with high-gloss finish.  There is also a docking station on the port side of the upper mezzanine with dock the starboard side of the boat is called for.

Main Deck

The main deck of the 58 SMY has three distinct areas: 1) the salon, 2) the galley and 3) a mezzanine.

Salon

The salon occupies the forward half of the 58 SMY’s interior main deck. It has amazing, 360° visibility thanks to the large windows all around.  It has two seating areas.  First is wrap around seating for 5 – 6 around on the starboard side.  This area has a high-glass walnut folding table and is one of the main places for guests to take meals or congregate.  On the port side is wrap around seating for 3 – 4.  There is a flat screen TV forward to starboard that raises and lowers with the touch of a button.  The TV also rotates to be seen from the port seating area with a touch of the same button.

There is a sturdy, water-tight door from the port side of the salon to the port walkway for easy access to the bow or to the port rail for docking.

Riviera maximizes use of available space with an innovative, hidden storage area in the ceiling above the starboard salon seating area.  This is idea for the storage of fishing gear.

Galley

The galley occupies the aft half of the interior main deck.  It is a u-shaped wrap-around configuration with refrigeration, freezer and storage doors on the port bulkhead.

Mezzanine

Abaft the galley and forward of the cockpit is what Riviera refers to as the “mezzanine.”  It is a unique space feels both outside and inside.  To starboard there is wrap around seating for 5 – 6 with seating for an additional 2 people on stools.  To port is a bench seat that doubles as a day bed with seating for 3 – 4.  There is a glass panel that opens connecting the galley to the mezzanine for easy serving or socializing.

Accommodations

Riviera’s 58 SMY comes in a three-stateroom configuration.  There is a full beam master amidship, a VIP in the bow and a double berth, convertible to a queen, stateroom to port.  The master and VIP have ensuite heads and the double’s head also serves as a dayhead.

Master

The master suite with ensuite is 154 SqFt (47 SqM) with 6’ 5” of headroom throughout.  The berth measures 75” L x 82” W with 3’ 8” 0f headroom above the mattress. There is seating for two on the port side and a cabinet to starboard.  There are night stands on either side of the berth.  There is a 55” flat screen TV on the bulkhead at the foot of the bed.  There is a small coffee nook inboard when entering the master.  There are large windows both port and starboard.  There is a 12 SqFt (4 SqM) hanging closet aft to starboard with 6’ 1” of headroom.

The ensuite head is 19 SqFt (6 SqM) with 6’ 6” of headroom throughout.  There is an 8 SqFt (2 SqM) shower that has 6’ 7” of headroom.

Forward VIP

The 76 SqFt (23 SqM) forward VIP stateroom with ensuite has 6’ 5” of headroom throughout.   The island berth measures 75” L x 65” W with headroom over the mattress of 3’ 6”.  Combination night stand / storage areas line the port and starboard hull lines with overhead cabinet space and a 32” wide by 22” deep hanging locker to starboard.

The ensuite head is 16 SqFt (5 SqM) with 6’ 4” of headroom throughout.  There is an 8 SqFt (2 SqM) shower that has 6’ 6” of headroom.

Double Berth

The 58 SqFt (18 SqM) double berth has 6’ 6” of headroom throughout.  There is a nightstand between the berths.  The inboard berth slides across to join the outboard berth via a control in the hanging locker.  When slid together another nightstand is exposed inboard of the now larger berth.  There is 4’ 3” of headroom above both berths.  The hanging locker measure 25” wide by 22” deep.

Double berth / Day head

Off the lobby of the accommodations is the head for the double berth that also serves as a day head.  The head is 13 Sq Ft (4 SqM) with 6’ 4” of headroom throughout.  The shower is 8 SqFt (2 SqM) with 6’ 5” of headroom.

Utility Room / Crew Quarters

Abaft the master stateroom and just forward of the engine room is a room that can configured as either a utility room or a crew quarters.  The room is 49 SqFt (15 SqM) with 6’ 4” of headroom throughout.   Our test yacht had this configured as a utility / storage room that included a full sized washer and dryer.  Access is either through the master stateroom or from the fireproof door of the engine room.

Engine Room

The engine room measures 178 SqFt (54 SqM) with 5’ 9” of headroom below the deck stringers and 6’ 0” of headroom in between the stringers.  There is 3’ 0” of clearance above the engines and 3’ 6” of space between the engines.

Entrance to the engine room can be either through a hatch in the mezzanine or through a fire proof and water tight door from the utility room / crew cabin.

From the mezzanine, the stairs have wide, plastic treads; a nice feature that is easier on the feet than the narrow, steel treads seen on many boats.

Access around the engines and to the outboard systems is easy given the space outboard the engines.  Access to many systems such as the stabilizers and the Glendinning power cord mechanicals is well thought out.

There is an innovative oil change system that allows both the outgoing and incoming oil containers to remain on deck, greatly reducing the hassle factor of hefting heavy 5-gallon containers of oil into the engine room.

Observations

Riviera Yachts builds solid yachts designed to handle the tough ocean conditions that can prevail in Australia and beyond.  But they are far from utilitarian with interior design, fit and finish worthy of superyacht standards.  Many small details are well thought out and executed and the craftmanship is top-notch.

The 58 Sports Motor Yacht is just that – a cross between a sports fishing yacht and a finely crafted motor yacht.  She serves both purposes equally well.  Everything expert sports fishers would expect are present and highly functional, yet executed in a way that don’t compromise her role a as a true cruising motor yacht.  It is a blend of purposes rarely executed with depth and quality of this yacht.

The multitude of living and entertaining spaces across her three decks make her an excellent large family or family plus friends cruiser.  The ability to convert the flybridge into a 4th stateroom expands her functionality even further.  While a crew quarter is an option, the 58 SMY is designed first to be an owner / operator yacht.  Features like the Volvo Penta IPS drives with integrated joystick control combined with excellent external access from bow to stern help make this a reality.

Any owner / operator who is looking for a yacht that performs well as an offshore capable cruiser and a sport fisher should have a look at the Riviera 58 Sports Motor Yacht.  She is well built, spacious, refined and ready to handle just about anything the ocean can through at her.

Remember, life is better on a boat!