4600 Sport Yacht
The Riviera 3000 Offshore is a 30-foot express cruiser that was produced by the award-winning Australian yacht-building firm Riviera Yachts between the years of 1999 and 2004. Though it may have the open-top looks of a sleek sports boat, and the speed of one, too, this is very much a cruising yacht capable of taking a trio of guests on overnight voyages. A super-sharp, aerodynamic profile still impresses to this day, and the vintage styling maintains its impeccable and deluxe feel in the current year thanks to the immense build-quality for which Riviera is rightfully famous.
The long foredeck can be fitted with cushions and surrounded by high guardrails, you will be able to laze for hours in uninterrupted sunshine. Head to stern, meanwhile, and discover a teak-lined aft-cockpit that can host a dining table and set of chairs or, for the more active, be used as a dedicated sportfishing arena. This self-draining area features a transom lift-gate that leads out to a full-beam swim platform, plenty of cleats, rod holders, a raw-water wash-down hose, space for a fridge or bait-prep station and room for integrated fish-boxes.
Head past the sculptural radar arch and into the upper cockpit to discover a snug aft galley to starboard that features a microwave oven, a sink, refrigeration and ample cabinet space, while a mobile barbecue unit can also be stored in here. Across from the dinette is a comfortable U-shaped leather-effect sofa surrounding a dining table ideal for al-fresco lunches, and if the weather takes a turn for the worse, then you can cover the salon with a Bimini top in mere minutes. Up front there is a bench seat facing the helm, where single lever controls, trim-tab switches, Garmin GPS, hydraulic steering, hand-held VHF radio and plenty of analogue instrumentation are set in a handsome, walnut-lined dash.
Overnighters will delight in a spacious and light-filled lower-deck lined in steamed European beech with soft carpeting, leather furnishings and a distinct, turn-of-the-century vibe with a nostalgic allure. There is a further mini-dinette down here with a sink, while a comfortable L-shaped sofa with a table will host many memorable breakfasts and late-night cocktails. To the bow there is a queen-sized island bed and a cedar-lined storage locker, while if you are bringing along a third guest the sofa can be used to catch 40 winks. To starboard there is a main head with a VacuFlush toilet, a molded sink and an open shower fixture.
Powered by inboard motors, a rarity among boats of this class at the time, you can expect to reach top speeds of almost 30 knots at full-throttle. That’s thanks to a pair of 200HP Volvo TAMD 41 diesels that will also cruise in the open ocean at a pace of 24 knots, and keep you out on the water all weekend due to the 164 gallon fuel tank. True to its name the 3000 Offshore is an admirable performer in coastal waters, offering a dry and stable ride on a modified-V hull built from GRP.
