The Riviera 37 FB ran strongly throughout its sea trial.

The Riviera 37 FB ran strongly throughout its sea trial.



"Hey, Tom — the genset must have shut down," said yacht broker Jerry Allen of Pacific Boats & Yachts. He poked his head out of the saloon of a new Riviera 37 that was in the process of being commissioned at Ala Wai Marine in Honolulu.

"No, it's running; you probably just don't hear it," said Riviera dealer Tom Ellsworth of Ellsworth Marine in San Diego, with a chuckle.

"Well, I'll be," Allen responded as he unlatched the engine room hatch — neatly incorporated in the Australian-built convertible's cockpit sink console. "I've never been on a boat where the generator is that quiet."

Allen's pleasant discovery was one of the many we were to make as we detailed the boat after its long passage from Sydney, Australia, and readied the vessel for its new home among the sportfishing fleet in Kona, Hawaii.

Riviera is building an increasing reputation among American boaters for quality construction, "oh-wow" styling, economical performance, go-anywhere seakindliness and uncommon value. The company is Australia's largest builder of power boats for export.

First in Hawaii

We planned to test the first new Riviera in Hawaii — the latest of Riviera's models — by taking it on what is generally considered to be an arduous passage. We planned to run the 150-plus miles from Honolulu to Kona. In order to do so, we would start the trip with nearly a full load of fuel (around 320 gallons) and water (119 gallons), a boatload of detailing and shipping supplies, three people and all of our personal gear.

Although we had run the boat from Honolulu Harbor to the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki, none of us had had much experience at sea on Riviera's beautifully sculpted new 37-footer.

We had quickly become impressed with the Riviera 37's maneuverability, while working the boat in and out of the haulout area and walking the 37 sideways into the work dock and alongside the fuel dock. The boat's standard twin 330 hp Cummins 330B diesel engines were not only torquey and responsive, but they were remarkably quiet, too. They were also totally accessible — with filters, drain plugs, dipsticks, reservoirs, fill caps, manifolds, switches and the like right where you'd want them, without having to become a contortionist or yoga devotee to get to them at maintenance time.

Removing the shrink wrap and detailing the vessel had taught us that Riviera does not scrimp on quality when it comes to fit and finish. Brightly polished 316 stainless steel is used for everything from the hardtop supports on the flying bridge to the custom fabricated cockpit door latch and bow pulpit anchor chock — and the finished hardware in the engine room and lazarette.

Nicely molded skid-resistant deck surfaces meld into gleaming, high-quality gelcoat everywhere. This boat was designed and built to maintain its appearance and its integrity for many years to come.

As we unpacked things like the clear plastic spray panels for the bridge surround, canvas sunshades, outriggers, spare props and the like, the interior began to reveal itself. Riviera's new 37 has an entirely new hull design and shape, and the boat's interior has been beautifully engineered to maximize the available space.

The owner's cabin fills the bow (abaft the capacious anchor locker and collision bulkhead, that is). The amenities here include a pedestal queen-size berth with plenty of storage beneath it, a commodious hanging locker and an entrance to the portside head.

Jim and Theresa Thomas, owners of the new boat we were delivering, had opted for the factory d?cor package. The quality fabrics used, from the headliner to the throw cushions and the bunk sconce, were both attractive and practical.

The head compartment is cleverly molded so that there is little chance for water to go anywhere other than where it is supposed to go. The molded faux stone Granicoat countertop flows flawlessly into the molded vanity and into the checkerboard-pattern skid-resistant deck.

I immediately liked the bench seat that is built into the full-size shower stall (with glass door and partition). The stall easily accommodated my 6 foot, 2 inch height. The compartment's standard VacuFlush head is another good choice.

A comfortable guest stateroom is located to starboard, with over-and-under bunk berths. It is ideal for children or weekend guests. Additional storage space is found under the lower bunk and in an additional hanging locker. Serious anglers will find plenty of room to store a load of tackle in this space.

The practically arranged L-shaped galley is elevated above the accommodations level and below the saloon, to port. Here, molded Granicoat counters provide ample work space, accented by matched-grain Australian hardwood cabinets and a teak and holly sole. Everything is within easy arm's reach — including the molded sink, the stovetop, the undercounter AC/DC refrigerator, the microwave/convection oven and an uncommon amount of storage space. Even Martha Stewart would be impressed.

The saloon is the heart of any convertible yacht's accommodations, and Riviera planned this area very well. From the beautifully engineered main electrical panel (behind the saloon door on the starboard side aft) to the exquisite high-gloss matched-grain Australian hardwood cabinets, table and entertainment center, this space is warm, comfortable and inviting.

Under Way for Kona

We were eager to see how this boat would perform. We passed the Diamond Head lighthouse at around 5:30 a.m. at a little above idle speed, headed east. I had been on a couple of older model Rivieras that were a bit wetter than I would have preferred, and the Molokai Channel would quickly tell us if Riviera had licked that problem with the 37's new hull design.

We slowly increased the rpm as the sun began to light the early morning sky and the glitter of Honolulu faded in our wake. It soon became clear that the Molokai Channel was not up to its normally tumultuous ways, and that my preferred course across the seldom-visited north coast of Molokai was beckoning.

After unzipping the clear surrounds, I put my feet up on the helm and let my eyes wander over the neatly arrayed instrument console, with its easy-to-read gauges, practical and well-labeled rocker switches and nicely laid-out electronics array.

We kicked back and let the Raymarine navigation package tell the Robertson autopilot where to go. We cruised blithely at 2,400 rpm over 4-to-6-foot swells past Hanauma Bay, headed for Ilio Point on the northwest corner of Molokai.

The boat tracked perfectly and gave us a solid, stable ride. It also banked very surely as I switched off the autopilot and turned sharply to intercept a flock of birds.

By mid-afternoon we had run the entire length of Molokai's sea cliff-lined North Shore, visited the historic leper colony at Kalaupapa (now a national park) and passed valleys marked by waterfalls cascading 2,000 feet. We powered down the south coast of Maui, dodging spouting Humpback whale pods. After that, we had lunch at Molokini Islet between Maui and Kahoolawe, then caught mahi mahi in the channel between Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii. We dropped off some of our fish (and borrowed tackle) at the 96 foot Broward Kakela in Kiholo Bay, and then tied up in Kona's Honokohau Harbor.

We had passed along the coasts of seven islands, run at various speeds to break in the new engines and put the new boat through nearly every test condition imaginable. In all, we were impressed.

Nothing had creaked, groaned, clattered, chirped or in any other way protested during the experience. The Riviera 37 had run surely, comfortably, unfalteringly and very dry — throughout our entire sea trial.

This is clearly a quality vessel, built to the highest standards, and one that is obviously capable of taking its new owners anywhere — safely, comfortably and quietly.

Riviera 37 FB Specifications
Length37'11"
Beam13'10"
Draft3'5"
Weight24,030 pounds
Fuel capacity324 gals.
Water capacity119 gals.
Propellers21 x 25C four-blade nibral
Maximum powertwin 450-hp Caterpillar 3126B diesels
Base price with twin 330-hp Cummins 330B diesels$304,542

Performance
Top speed28 knots
Miles per gallon at 24-knot cruising speed.81
Fuel cost for 100 miles at 24 knots$185.19
Range at 24 knots275 nautical miles (w/standard fuel tank)
Sound level75 dB

(Fuel cost based on a fuel price of $1.50 per gallon.)

Standard Equipment

16,000 Btu air conditioning/reverse cycle heat; automatic 40 amp battery charger; 7 kw generator; AM/FM/cassette stereo with 6-disc CD changer; black tinted tempered glass windows; VacuFlush head; cockpit sink and tackle prep station; pop-up fended cleats; cockpit washdown system; transom shower; self-draining cockpit.

Options

Team Riviera Package: twin 370 hp Cummins 370B diesel engines; Morse electronic controls (bridge and cockpit); extra 65 gallon fuel tank; hardtop on stainless steel frame, tackle locker below cockpit controls; eight rod holders on flybridge; reinforced cockpit deck for optional fighting chair; struts on cockpit lazarette; ice-maker in saloon; 12v refrigerator on flybridge; custom interior package; Raymarine electronics package; Robertson AP22 autopilot.

Construction

Hand-laid molded fiberglass hull, with cored decks and cabin top. Isophthalic gelcoat exterior; three independent compartments throughout the hull. Vinylester resin in first layer. Watertight collision bulkhead forward. Two coats of epoxy undercoat; two coats of antifouling paint.

Western Dealers

Alliance Yacht Sales, Seattle, WA; (206) 283-8111
Edmonds Yacht Sales, Edmonds, WA; (425) 774-8878
Ellsworth Marine, San Diego, CA; (619) 222-1388, www.ellsworthmarine.com
Grand Yacht Sales Inc., Vancouver, B.C.; (604) 687-8943
Paul Albrecht Yacht Sales, Long Beach, CA; (562) 598-9494
Richard Boland Yachts, Alameda, CA; (510) 521-6213

For more information

The Riviera Group
www.riviera.com.au

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