Down Under Diva
The Riviera 39SMY is the first boat Riviera has built under 40 feet in more than a decade. The Australian yachtbuilder has invested a tremendous amount of energy over the past six years—under the current ownership of Rodney Longhurst—into developing their bigger line. This was to cater to current Riviera owners who were looking to upgrade, and the company felt there was a need to bring new models online to meet that demand.
“We felt the timing was right to energize the under-40-feet area of the motoryacht market as people are wanting to move up to a new Riviera and also current owners are possibly looking to downsize, but still wanting to stay in the Riviera family,” said Stephen Milne, brand and communications director for Riviera.
The 39 benefits from an extended flybridge, more extensive side decks with raised bulwarks, a lower helm and commodious accommodations. Plus it was given a sportfishing cockpit and performance attributes of its larger siblings, the 68 and 72. In keeping with the sports-motoryacht ethos, there are three dedicated outdoor lounge areas that, when taken together, are impressive for a boat of this size: one in the cockpit, another on the flybridge and the third on the foredeck.
It may be the smallest offering in Riviera’s 14-boat fleet (plus four Belize models), but it doesn’t lack the attention to detail or fit and finish of the larger models. Riviera’s philosophy is the same for every boat, no matter the size. What you see in the way of the build quality and the equipment list in the flagship 72 is the same for the 39.
“We have one philosophy on the way we design, engineer and build our boats,” said Milne. “We build our boats to last, to be run offshore, to incorporate superior quality materials and systems and to give our owners peace of mind knowing that the Riviera they have is not only going to be reliable and well-supported but also hold its value in the market.”
Accommodations are two cabins, a forward master with a central island berth and an aft cabin under the salon sole with three single berths. Two of the singles can be joined with an infill mattress to form a second double. There’s a generous-sized single head/shower space, which can be accessed as an en suite from the master or used as the day head and guest cabin bathroom.
Certainly, the starboard-side aft galley is a departure from the old-school Rivieras. The galley features a Corian surface and excellent serving areas, a convection microwave, compartmentalized storage for the monogrammed crockery, a hot plate and fridge/freezer drawers. Forward is a small lounge opposite the internal helm.
Cruising off Australia’s Gold Coast with a warm breeze in my face, but also protected by the shade of the Sunbrella bimini, felt just right. With a proven propensity for cruising and a range of over 300 nautical miles at 25.8 knots, there was plenty of bluewater for this nimble sport yacht to explore.
Riviera 39 Sports Motor Yacht Specifications:
LOA: 43’6″
Beam: 14′
Displ. (Dry): 28,219 lbs.
Fuel: 396 gal.
Water: 103 gal.
Cruise Speed: 30
Top Speed: 33 knots
Power: 2/435-hp Volvo Penta D6-IPS600s
Base Price: $653,276
