Boat test for the 2005 Riviera 47G2 Convertible with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2005 Riviera 47G2 Convertible.

Sightlines are clean in all directions, and visibility ahead is enhanced with the optional front EZ2CY hard-clear enclosure. There is no warping or distortion when looking off to the sides or where the enclosure wraps around the hardtop. The side and aft enclosures are constructed of softer Strataglass.

The saloon is equally clean and appealing, taking full advantage of the boat’s 16’1” beam and featuring grain-matched, satin-finish cherrywood (teak is an option) accented with high-gloss trim. The fully equipped galley-down, which also features enough stowage under the sole that I can fit my 5’7” frame in it comfortably, sports the same cherrywood and standard Corian countertops. It all complements the blue leather L-shape lounge and dinette seating; it’s a truly nautical feel that’s carried below to the three staterooms.

Space is abundant in the 131-square-foot cockpit that can be rigged for entertaining or fishing. (Kaufman even had an outlet installed behind a stowage area on the saloon bulkhead so he could plug in his barbecue.) But with the in-transom livewell, two in-deck fishboxes, and an in-cockpit bait freezer all standard, she’s almost ready for tournament time. I’d add some double-spreader outriggers, at least six in-gunwale rod holders, electric teaser reels and rocket launchers on the flying bridge, and a cockpit fighting chair or bolster. I might even lose the swim platform. Kaufman is a diver, so he had scuba-tank mounts placed in the roomy lazarette along with mounted boxes to hold spare props and prop parts.

One place where space is tight is in the engine room, which reminded me of the 40. Like the 40, the 47’s ER offers limited 4’5” headroom, and outboard access to the starboard engine is tough with the Glendinning Cablemaster forward of the engine and a battery bank aft. Inboard access to both powerplants is adequate, with 16 inches between them. This engine room, however, does have a diamond-like luster.

The Riviera 47G2 possesses a lot of the positive attributes I admired in the 40, but also displays the builder’s progressive nature. Riviera took a 47-foot convertible (Generation 1) that was a success on the water and in the marketplace, and felt it could make the boat better. I never had the chance to test the first-generation version, but I can say the 47G2 is a dual-purpose boat that should appeal to both the family cruiser and offshore angler. She’s sure-footed underway and has round-trip-canyon and Bahamas range with room to spare. She’s also a looker with a sleek, low profile similar to the builder’s 40-footer. If these are attributes you’re looking for in your next boat, the 47’s worth taking for a ride. And chances are, if you do, you won’t want to stop until you’ve tried running after a few horizons yourself.

Riviera Yachts
(561) 472-8800

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