Riviera Yachts, Australian Bluewater Cruisers Built for American Owners

From Barry-Cotter's start to Longhurst's rebuild

Bill Barry-Cotter founded Riviera in 1980 near Sydney and moved the company to the Gold Coast of Queensland the following year. Riviera started exporting to the US in 1983, and the American market has been central ever since. Barry-Cotter sold in 2002 to private equity investors, and he later founded rival builder Maritimo, which is why the two brands share so much DNA.

The 2008 financial crisis hit Riviera hard, and it entered voluntary receivership in 2009. In 2012 Australian businessman Rodney Longhurst bought and recapitalized the company, and under his ownership Riviera has invested heavily in its Coomera campus and broadened the range. The company employs around 950 people and exports roughly 60 percent of production, with the US as a primary market.

Collections, and where the 50 Sports Motor Yacht fits

Riviera organizes its boats into collections. The Sport Yacht and Sports Express lines are open express boats, the SUV collection mixes a sedan-style saloon with an open foredeck, the Sports Motor Yacht line adds an enclosed flybridge with a sport profile, and the Motor Yacht collection covers the larger flybridges. Belize, a sister brand, builds Downeast-style sedans.

The Riviera 50 Sports Motor Yacht, which we cover in depth, sits at the heart of the range. It pairs a three-cabin layout and an enclosed flybridge with a cockpit that can still handle a day of trolling, which is a very Australian way to build a cruiser. Launched in 2020, it runs on twin Volvo Penta D11 IPS 950 pods with joystick docking, though 800 hp MAN i6 shaft drives were also listed at launch.

Build quality is consistent and conservative, with solid hardware and good engine room access. Riviera buyers tend to keep boats longer than average and cruise them farther.

Riviera in the US, dealers and used checks

Used Rivieras are common on the East Coast and in Florida and generally hold value well, especially newer IPS models. Older shaft-drive flybridges from the 1990s and 2000s remain popular with buyers who want a sturdy coastal cruiser on a budget. Riviera's US dealer network is solid on the East Coast and Gulf, but service for older boats often falls to independent diesel shops.

• Review Volvo IPS service, especially pod seals and steering actuators.
• Inspect the enclosed flybridge for window leaks and headliner staining.
• Check fuel tanks and fuel lines on older models for corrosion.
• Look for blistering on older hulls that spent years in warm water.