By Tim Banse
Boat Test #1669
You probably already know Riva is one of the worlds oldest shipyards. There luxury motor yachts are legendary for artful beauty and performance.
Rivale 56’s open yacht is a beauty. Glazed windows run the length of the hull, accented by flush portholes. Her teak-soled cockpit features a double-size, white sunbed at the stern residing beneath a black, roll bar. Matching lounges flank to port. Mambo Arctic technical fabric-upholstered lounges and sunbeds, created especially for Riva, is soft-touch and weatherproof. Overhead, an electro-hydraulic Bimini top deploys for instant shelter from sun and rain.
The stern garage, with protective hatch, carries a William’s Turbojet 325 tender. The swim platform partially submerges, unveiling steps in the hull, essentially a stairway for getting into and out of the water without the steel ladder. At the bow, double sunbeds.
Below reside two en-suite staterooms where the interior interplays lacquered dark mahogany with contrasting dark leather and white fabrics. Saloon sofa and ottomans are upholstered and created by noted designer Ivano Redaelli. Wall-to-wall carpeting, from the Dutch company, Van Besouw. Berths are decorated with white-leather headboards and dark leather bedside tables. Ivano Redaelli also designed cushions, bedspreads and tartan blankets.
Mirrored walls render the port side galley mostly invisible. A bar set includes a special compartment for storing a Champagne magnum. A glass hatch cover and large hull windows stream-in abundant natural light.
The crew cabin with single bed and bathroom boasts separate access by way of a cockpit hatch concealed by the dormeuse. It can be substituted by a third guest quarters.
Engine room access is via two bridge hatches, one in the centre of the cockpit and the other at the far left end of the stern. Standard propulsion is twin, 1,000-hp MAN diesels flowing power through V-drives, and equiped with Seakeeper stabilization. Cruising speed is 31-knots. With more powerful, twin 1,200-hp MANs, cruising range is about 200-nautical miles and top end increases to 38-knots.
Specifications LOA: 56.8 ft 17.27 m Draft: 4.9 ft (Max)1.49 m Beam: 15.7 ft 4.74 m Power: Twin Man V8 Diesels 1000 hp/735 kW @2300 rpm(std) 1200 hp/882 kW @ 2300 rpm (optional) Capacity: 10 Persons MRSP: approx. $3.310M USD For more info:www.executiveyachtcanada.com www.riva-yacht.com
