Riviera 50 Sports Motor Yacht and 505 SUV Buyer's Guide

One hull, two boats, and why the Riviera 505 SUV matters here

Most people who search for the Riviera 505 SUV end up comparing it with the 50 Sports Motor Yacht, and for good reason. Riviera's own specifications show that the two boats share the same 55-foot 10-inch overall length, the same 50-foot 7-inch hull, the same 16-foot 3-inch beam, the same 872 gallon fuel tank and 164 gallon water tank, and the same three-cabin, two-head plan below. What separates them is the deck above the saloon.

The 505 SUV is Riviera's single-level concept: one helm on the main deck, an open-plan saloon flowing to the cockpit, and a hardtop with a sliding sunroof rather than a flybridge. The 50 Sports Motor Yacht moves the helm up to a three-sided enclosed flybridge reached by an internal staircase from the saloon, and that extra structure accounts for most of the roughly 2,200 pound difference in published dry weight, 56,218 pounds for the SMY against 54,013 pounds for the SUV.

Engine choices have shifted since launch. When the 505 SUV premiered in 2020, Riviera listed twin 600 hp Volvo Penta D8 IPS 800 as standard and the 725 hp D11 IPS 950 as an option, with a lighter quoted dry weight of 48,061 pounds. The 50 SMY, announced in September 2020, was offered with IPS 950 pods or 800 hp MAN i6 shaft drives. Riviera's current pages list twin D11 IPS 950 for both, so confirm engine fitment on any specific boat.

What Riviera means by a Sports Motor Yacht

Yachting listed the Sports Motor Yacht series in late 2023 as the 46, 50, 58, 64, 68 and 72, and it is Riviera's answer to buyers who want a flybridge yacht that still drives like a sport cruiser. The idea is a lower, sleeker profile than the classic Riviera flybridge, a main deck given over to living space, and the helm moved up to an enclosed, air-conditioned flybridge.

On the 50 that translates to a saloon with a curved windscreen, an L-shaped dining lounge facing a U-shaped lounge, a galley positioned aft so it serves both saloon and cockpit, and an opening connection to the 69 square foot cockpit. A mezzanine deck of about 63 square feet sits a few steps up between cockpit and saloon, a Riviera signature that gives you an elevated seat to watch the water or the fishing lines. Upstairs, the flybridge helm sits to port with twin adjustable chairs, opposite a guest lounge.

Flybridge or SUV, choosing where the helm lives

This is the decision that matters most, and it is less about money than about how you use the boat.

Pick the 50 Sports Motor Yacht if you like to drive from up high with a near 360 degree view, want a second social space away from the cockpit, or value an enclosed, climate-controlled helm deck. The raised helm also makes docking in tight marinas easier for some skippers because you can see more of the boat.

Pick the 505 SUV if your crew is two people who prefer to stay together on one level, if bridge clearance on your home waters is tight, or if you want the driver in the same space as the saloon and galley. With no flybridge to climb, the SUV is also the easier boat for older owners and young children.

• Same hull, tankage and accommodation below decks
• SMY moves the helm to an enclosed flybridge and adds about 2,200 lbs of dry weight
• SUV keeps all steering and socializing on the main deck
• SUV has a slightly shallower published draft of 4 ft 6 in versus 4 ft 9 in

Full-beam master, VIP forward and a third cabin to starboard

Below, both boats use three staterooms and two bathrooms. The master runs the full beam amidships with a walk-around queen island bed, ensuite and walk-in robe, the VIP sits forward, and a third cabin with twin beds sits to starboard and shares the second bathroom. Sleeping capacity is six.

Two heads for three cabins is normal at 50 feet, and Riviera spends the space it saves on wardrobe volume and a generous master shower. Buyers coming from American sedan bridges will notice the joinery quality, which is one of the reasons Riviera has a loyal following among repeat owners.

Running on Volvo IPS 950 pods

Twin Volvo Penta D11 engines rated at 725 hp each, driving IPS 950 pods, give the 50 SMY 1,450 horsepower against a dry weight of about 56,000 pounds. Riviera does not publish official speed or fuel figures for the model, so ask the dealer for a sea trial on the exact engine package rather than relying on broker estimates.

With 872 gallons aboard, the pods give useful range for coastal hops, and range improves sharply if you throttle back to displacement speed. Older boats with 600 hp IPS 800 pods, or the MAN shaft option, will behave differently, so compare like with like when you shop.

The IPS package brings joystick docking, dynamic positioning on newer systems and the Volvo Penta Glass Cockpit electronics, which Riviera lists as standard. For owners who handle the boat as a couple, the joystick is a serious selling point. The trade-off is that pod service requires a Volvo-trained technician, and the underwater units need careful attention to zincs, seals and bellows.

Where the older Riviera 5000 Sport Yacht fits

Search for a 50-foot Riviera and you will also find the 5000 Sport Yacht, introduced in 2009 with a single-level hardtop deck and pod power; Power and Motoryacht's 2010 test boat used Cummins QSC 600 diesels with Zeus pods. It is the spiritual predecessor of the 505 SUV and remains a strong value on the used market, often costing well under half the price of a late 50 SMY. Riviera plans a reworked 5000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition for late 2026.

The newer boats bring a more modern interior, larger glass, updated electronics and refinements to the mezzanine and cockpit arrangement. If your budget is closer to $700,000 to $1 million, a well-kept 5000 Sport Yacht is a legitimate alternative, but check pod service history carefully because early pod installations need more attention as they age.

What a 50-foot Riviera costs to keep, and to sell

Annual costs for the 50 SMY typically run $110,000 to $190,000 excluding depreciation. Dockage for a 56-foot boat, insurance, IPS and engine service, generator upkeep, bottom paint, canvas and electronics updates make up the bulk. Fuel is on top, and at planing speeds it adds up quickly.

Riviera has one of the better reputations for value retention among imported flybridges in the US, helped by an established dealer network and loyal repeat buyers. The SUV versions tend to sell a little faster in northern markets, while the flybridge SMY is the stronger seller in Florida and the Gulf. Expect a reasonably gentle depreciation curve for the first five years if the boat is well maintained and has full Volvo service records.

Practical advice before you sign

Decide on SMY or SUV based on where and how you cruise, then focus on options that matter for resale. Gyro stabilization, an upgraded generator, cockpit refrigeration and a quality flybridge or hardtop enclosure are the items American buyers most often look for.

On a used boat, ask for the Volvo IPS service record, the vessel's engine hours and any software updates performed on the joystick and Glass Cockpit systems. Shipping damage on new boats is rare but not unknown, so a commissioning survey on delivery is worth the money.