Australian giant Riviera strikes me as a boatbuilder that has long been comfortable in its own shoes. Not usually the first to shift with the trend of the moment, its steadfast commitment to building high-quality, blue-water boats has earned the brand loyalty in spades. Of all the trends the industry has seen in recent years, one of the biggest has been the push toward outboard-powered dayboats.

Their answer to this tide shift? The Volvo Penta IPS-powered (600 or 650) 4300 Sports Express. Deliberately bucking a trend that many traditional diesel builders have folded to, Riviera believes the ultimate dayboat—or weekender—doesn’t need quad outboards to be successful.

A sunny, low-angle shot of a man wearing a white polo shirt, blue shorts, and a black baseball cap standing on the teak-planked swim platform of a yacht. He is sliding a large, dark blue and turquoise stand-up paddleboard into a dedicated, built-in horizontal storage locker located beneath the transom seating. The sun flares brightly overhead against a clear blue sky, illuminating the calm green water surrounding the boat.
Photo: Darcy Starr

When the boat debuted at the Fort Lauderdale show last fall, I tried my best to be patient and wait my turn to board. I had to hang out on the swim platform for a while as the crowd cleared out, which in hindsight was a good thing. The 4300 wouldn’t be a proper Australian boat without a substantial swim-platform barbie. Besides the grill, sink, and cold storage, there’s a really nice deep locker for a stand-up paddleboard. I found myself daydreaming about paddling peacefully behind the boat between flipping burgers.

Finally passing the crowd and stepping aboard, I found myself admiring the telescoping table in the salon—not a compliment I make often. But when its leaves are folded up, as they would be when you’re underway, there are grabrails all the way around, helping you to safely sit or stand in heavy seas. Small touches like this prove the Riviera design team actually uses its boats.

A simple canvas enclosure also wraps around the cockpit, transforming your open dayboat into a climate-controlled cruiser in a matter of minutes.

There’s a second, smaller galley area amidships for quick sandwich or snack prep. Another thoughtful touch topsides is that beneath the helm seat there’s storage for a Yeti cooler. With so much built-in cold storage aboard, the cooler space may feel very center-console-ish, but it’s worth remembering that Rivieras are rarely marina queens. These boats often cruise with a tender, and for those excursions, having a cooler for cold drinks and fresh food is essential.

While we were walking through the boat at the show, my colleague Chris Dixon pointed out yet another design touch that makes sense for the serious boater: manual buttons at the helm for controlling pumps, lights, and wipers, so you can activate them quickly without needing to swipe on an MFD while running offshore.

A bright, wide interior view of the main deck salon and cockpit lounge area on a modern yacht. The space is lined with light-tan teak-style flooring and features two large, plush, U-shaped sofas upholstered in light grey fabric, accented by navy and patterned blue throw pillows. On the left, a folding wooden dining table is neatly set with dinnerware and rolled blue napkins. In the background, a small wet bar console with drinks stands near the forward helm station, where two grey captain's chairs face the windshield. Large open side windows offer a panoramic view of a calm blue ocean during a sunset.
Photo: Darcy Starr

Down below is a third galley—with a two-burner cooktop, microwave, and enough cold storage to fuel weeks of cruising in the Bahamas, a claim I’d certainly like to put to the test.

One of the cleverest design features aboard the 4300 is a sliding half door that converts the forward stateroom from wide open to nicely enclosed. After a couple of days draining my social battery at the boat show, it felt awfully tempting to close this space off and cool my heels in quiet comfort for a while; I can imagine owners feeling the same way after a full day of entertaining.

Amidships is another cabin with similar versatility, this time enclosed by a hidden curtain. A space best suited for adult guests for a few nights—or kids indefinitely—there’s a double berth to port and a single to starboard, offering flexibility.

Working our way past a crowd of showgoers, Chris and I found our way up to the bow, which is perhaps where the 4300 most feels like a dayboat. Speakers, phone chargers, cup holders, easily movable tables and a sunpad that folds up, in, down, or out keep you comfortable from every angle, while a tall railing and grabrails everywhere keep you, first and foremost, safe underway.

An interior view of a modern, compact lower-deck galley kitchen aboard a yacht. The space features light-colored wood flooring, minimalist white cabinetry, a white countertop with an integrated cooktop, a small sink, a built-in stainless steel microwave, and double drawer-style refrigerators. On the left is a curved wall leading to a rich grain wood door, while a modern set of open wooden floating stairs with stainless steel railings stands on the right. In the background behind the stairs, a cozy guest cabin berth is visible, neatly made with light blue bedding.
Photo: Darcy Starr

A few days after the model’s coming-out party in Lauderdale, I had the chance to hop aboard for a sea trial and really test this model’s chops as a dayboat. After a quick engine-room check and the stowing of a few covers, we idled easily out of the slip, using the control of the IPS joystick to avoid a daydreaming paddleboarder. The ability to get off the dock quickly is a calling card of others in the dayboat market—we were off in minutes. Check one.

Despite mostly calm conditions, the 34,000-plus-pound 4300 felt extremely solid from every angle. Comfort underway: Check Two. During my two-way speed run, our test boat easily hit 33 knots. Is that as fast as a hex-outboard-powered HCB? No—but fast enough to get you to your favorite anchorage after the kids’ soccer practice and home in time for dinner? Absolutely. Check Three.

Able to serve as a fast, fun dayboat that reconnects you and the family with the water—and each other—while also offering the accommodations and luxury for a couple setting out on the Great Loop, this model proves a boat can offer the best of both worlds without sacrificing what made the brand successful in the first place.

A high-angle, first-person view of a modern, high-tech yacht helm station. The matte-grey dashboard features a carbon-fiber accent panel, a black leather-trimmed steering wheel with a silver center logo, electronic engine throttles, and a joystick control. Two large multifunction display (MFD) screens are illuminated, displaying sonar and navigation chart data. To the left of the helm console, a companionway opens up to show a glimpse of a lower lounge cabin with a cream-colored sofa. In the foreground, the backs of two light-grey leather captain's chairs are visible, while the expansive forward windshield looks out over the bow toward a calm, vast blue ocean with mountains on the distant horizon during dusk.
Photo: Darcy Starr

Riviera 4300 Sports Express Test Report:

Riviera 4300 Sports Express Specifications:

LOA: 45’6”
Beam: 14’7”
Draft: 4’2”
Displ.: 34,167 lb.
Fuel: 316 gal.
Water: 105 gal.
Power: 2/440 Volvo Penta IPS 600; 2/480-hp Volvo Penta IPS 650

This article originally appeared in the May 2026 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.