The Riviera 505 SUV is a 55-foot dual-purpose sports cruiser launched by award-winning Australian yacht-building firm Riviera Yachts in 2019. Styled very much like a sports coupe, with curved lines, sharp structural flares, trapezoidal glazing and an assertive entry, this yacht doubles as a premium sportfishing boat with plenty of angling gear in the cockpit. A metallic livery, hand-crafted deluxe materials throughout and vast sleeping quarters on the lower-deck give this vessel plenty of panache and live-aboard appeal, while a swift performance out on the water will be appreciated by thrill-seekers.
A double-width sunpad in piped upholstery and backrests sits out on the foredeck, ready to accommodate a pair of sun-worshippers. Broad side-decks lead back to a more active space in the teak-lined, self-draining aft-cockpit, where dedicated fishing equipment is on hand for casual and competitive fishers alike. Back here there are two transom gates out to an extended, full-beam bathing platform with an actuating function, a transom livewell with aquarium-glazing, wash-down hoses, rod-holders, an in-sole fish-box, and a tackle and bait-prep station. Fittingly for a yacht in this class there is a second cockpit space, this time sheltered under an overhang, with a pair of sofas, a teak-topped table and a wet-bar station with an outdoor grill, a sink, chilled storage and an ice-chipper.
Sliding glass doors lead into a spacious, breezy salon with an oak sole, lacquered walnut surrounds, panoramic windows, Sunbrella upholstery and steel fixtures, along with two glazed skylights and a retracting sunroof to let the maritime breezes in. A walk-in aft-galley impresses with marble-effect countertops, a two-zone hob, a convection oven, under-counter fridge-freezer units and a steel bucket sink, while there’s also two L-shaped sofas in here, one paired with an Ottoman and another that hugs a dining table. A pair of leather-lined helm seats face the starboard helm controls, where you will discover a dual Volvo Glass Cockpit with touchscreens, joystick handling, trim assist switches, GMR Fantom radar, a CZone monitoring tablet and hand-held VHF.
Plush carpeting and warm timber surrounds lend a hushed tone to proceedings on the lower-deck, where sleeping quarters for up to six overnight guests are split between a trio of cabins. A compact bunk-berth with Pullmans is situated to starboard, while a VIP double stateroom with two full-height closets and an en-suite with a shower cubicle is located by the bow. An amidship master stateroom boasts full-beam dimensions, broad hull glazing, a side sofa, bespoke cabinetry units, a king-sized bed, bedside cabinets and a luxurious, marble-lined en-suite with porcelain sinks and a waterfall shower cubicle.
Powered by a pair of 725HP Volvo Penta IPS950 D11 diesel pod-drive engines, you should expect top speeds in excess of 34 knots and a cruising speed approaching 28 knots. At this lower pace you will enjoy a cruising range of approximately 456 nautical miles thanks to a fuel tank holding 872 gallons of diesel, while from a standing start you will reach a planing speed in just over 7 seconds.