Boat Review: Riviera 3600 Sport Yacht

Presentation
A personal detailed review for May, into one of my preferred 11 metre sports cruisers the Rivera 3600 Sport Yacht. Renowned and largest Australian yacht builder, Riviera got a strong fame for building seaworthy, well built sport fisherman cruisers and yachts in over 25 years, so when the Australian builder went to built a modern hard top cruiser, everyone was curious of the out come. The 3600 Sport Yacht was the answer, as it did keep the all important Riviera lines added with some modern design and construction touches. It did respond well with the professionals, winning two important awards in 2 years: 2006 Overall Cruiser of the Year by Prestigious Yachting Magazine Australia and 2007 Best Motoryacht under 40 ft by Christophle Asia Boating Magazine. A success announced at the start!

Accommodation
A comfortable Sport Cruiser, which scores a lot of points thanks to the very intelligent living area on the upper deck, which with the full opening of the patio door and swing window, joins the interior with the exterior and the L-shaped saloon settee, galley entertainment area with the cockpit deck, making it a single area for spacious socializing. This practical interior saloon is also filled with natural light, air and views, thanks to the 2 opening sunroof hatches, and big opening side windows when the weather is nice and if it is does get bad, don't worry you can close it all in a few seconds, and make it a cosy place for chilling out.

As for the lower deck, this is all dedicated to the sleeping quarters, with a spacious owners cabin forward featuring a central located double island berth, a spacious head with separate shower stall and a second double bunk cabin. I like the solution used of creating an entertaining area up top with cabins only below, as especially in warm climate zones the lower saloon does not get used much.

Performance
Derived from a sport fishing hull with design from renowned Dutch architect Frank Mulder, the small of the Sport Yacht series does offer the goods. Its hull shape is a very deep vee forward section with a moderate vee aft, with the propellers running in tunnels for maximum efficiency, better handling and smaller turning circle. Exhaust is also an underwater system, which does add additional lift and gives lower planning speeds. The Riviera is surely not the fastest 11 metre sports cruiser, but I am sure that when the sea starts breaking off, it may come out as one of the most secure.
Positive

Patio door joining outside with inside
Upper saloon with adjoining galley

Negative

Small bunk second cabin

Only 2 Port Hole windows

Competition

If you really like the 3600 Sport Yacht, it is very difficult to find something replacing the practical features of this sports cruiser. As I say the 3600 Sport Yacht is a wild card on it's own, but you can still try to have a look at these before deciding:

Cayman 38 WA - 3 layout options inside, no patio door, safe walk around deck

Galeon 390 HT - spacious saloon, 3 cabins, stern drive or shaft option

Intermare 36 Cruise - similar interior space to Riviera with modern European looks

Portofino 37 HT - soon replaced by new IPS drive 11 model, comfortable walk around

Sciallino 34 Cabinato - seaworthy with Ligurian Gozzo lines, similar interior plan

Tiara 3500 Sovran - no patio door, spacious lower deck and second cabin, IPS drives

WILD CARD: Fratelli Aprea 36 Hard Top - Sorrento Gozzo, 2 cabins, spacious flush deck

Conclusion

Many are big fans for American sport fisherman yachts, admiring them in harbours and seeing the way most perform at sea is always an experience to anyone who loves planning motor boats. But somehow if you live in Europe and you don't do fishing you will always find it difficult to purchase one of these so called beasts! Riviera with the Sport Yacht series have to be praised for completing a circle, creating a new breed of cruisers, with hull lines derived from the Sport Fisherman with all the sea qualities included and adding a classy profile of a timeless Sport Yacht as the title says. By joining these 2 boating Worlds and putting the bonus of a super practical all weather hard top sport cruiser, Riviera did create the revolution and the success obtained by this range is testimony to this.

Technical Data

LOA. 11.73 metres (38.6ft)

Hull Length. 10.13 metres

Beam. 3.83 metres

Draft. 1.00 metre

Displacement. 9,200 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity. 1000 litres

Water Capacity. 390 litres

Accommodation. 4 berths in 2 separate cabins

Engines. 2 x Volvo D6 370 hp, 2 x 380 hp Cummins

Propulsion. Direct Shaft Line

Speed. 32 knots max, 28 knots cruising with bigger Cummins engine option

Range. 200 nautical miles approx

Project. Frank Mulder, Riviera Design

www.riviera.com.au

Picture Copyright Riviera. Data Riviera.

New Model: CNM 50 Continental Tender

As if the 50 Continental was not innovative enough, thanks to its transformable interiors, this Italian yard comes with the Tender version for the same model, aimed at giving unlimited outside space with a loft style interior. The project for the Tender version of the 50 Continental was announced just a bit later to the standard version, and Cantieri Mediterraneo have to be praised for producing big opens with a very different concept from what the major competition is doing. If you are looking for a big day boat with weekend accommodation for 2 there is not much going more then this. 50 Continental Tender, as the standard sister also scores a lot of points for the big offer in propulsion going from latest IPS, to high performance Arneson Surface Drives or to super handling water Jet propulsion.

Technical Data:

LOA - 16.01 m (52.5ft)

Beam - 4.50 m

Draft - 0.92 m (ex props)

Weight - 17700 kg (J version with big engine option)

Water Capacity - 400 l

Fuel Capacity - 1500 l

Engines - 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 600 435hp, MAN 550hp, MAN 800hp

Propulsion - standard with Volvo IPS, S version with Arneson Surface Drives ASD10L & 11 (MAN 800s), J version Jet Propulsion Hamilton or Rolls Rose Kamewa

Speed - max 35 / 46 knots, cruising 30 / 40 knots

www.cnmspa.com

Class 1 - Budva Montenegro Preview

Dubai’s Victory Team will be without defending Class 1 World and European Champion, Arif Saif Al Zafeen, when the intense rivalry between the sport’s top two teams is reignited at this weekend’s Hypo Group Montenegrin at the Adriatic resort of Budva, round two of the 2008 Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and the first of four races for the Class 1 tour in Europe. Victory 1’s Al Zafeen, winner of the opening Edox Pole Position and Grand Prix of the season in Qatar in March is forced to sit out the race on medical advice after sustaining serious back injuries in a crash during a Formula 2 race in Egypt several weeks ago. But whilst the loss of Al Zafeen, who has won five Grands Prix from just nine starts, is a bitter blow for the team, Victory has been able to call on the services of former World and Middle East Champion, Mohammed Al Marri, a veteran of 55 Grands Prix, with nine race wins and 26 podiums under his belt to step into the driver’s seat. Victory’s main championship rivals, Qatar 96, will see this enforced change as an opportunity to put pressure on the championship leaders and close the gap in the title race by taking their first win of the season. And although Hassan and Curtis will be running their spare boat for a second consecutive race, after wrecking their number one boat in qualifying in Qatar a switch from the Mercury-Class1 V8s back to Skema V12 power-plants, and considerable modifications to Qatar 96 carried out by Nicolini Offshore in Italy, may well give them the extra edge they need. Whilst the Victory and Qatar camps will be intent on maintaining their early stranglehold on the top four positions in the championship standings Victory 7 lying in third place ahead of Qatar 95 wait for any challenge to their race hopes could well depend largely on the conditions that the teams will face in Budva, when they line up for the 23-lap, 94.50 Nm Hypo Group Montenegrin Grand Prix. If the seas on the outside leg of the course around the Island of Sveti Nikola are rough, Foresti & Suardi and Jotun may well be amongst the challengers for podium positions. Foresti & Suardi’s Italian-Norwegian pairing are back in their favoured number one raceboat and have clocked up the miles testing on Italy’s Lake Iseo in the last two weeks, hoping that they can build on their fifth place in the season opener, especially if rough conditions prevail. Ugland Offshore Racing will be looking to kick-start their title challenge and put points on the board after seeing a probable podium finish slip from their grasp in the last race, and the all-Norwegian crew will be boosted by the fact that their Mercury-Class 1, V8 powered raceboat, Jotun, has undergone a significant overhaul in recent weeks. Giorgioffshore produced a very solid top-six finish last time out, and will be looking to build on their performance and expect an improved showing when they line up in Budva in only their second outing in their Michael Peters-designed Victory-built hull, SeveneleveN, with the all-new Spanish outfit of Roscioli Hotels Roma and American-based, Windmare Racing, making their 2008 debuts this weekend. Montenegro is the first of two new venues on the eight race calendar in 2008, and the picturesque resort of Budva on the Adriatic coast provides a spectacular backdrop for the championship’s first race on European waters this year. First practice takes place on Friday 23, followed by a second session and the Edox Pole Position on Saturday, with a final practice before Sunday afternoon’s 23-lap, 94.50Nm Hypo Group Montenegrin Grand Prix.
CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP - after round 1 of 8
1. Victory 1 – A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) – 20pts
2. Qatar 96 - H Al-Thani (Qatar) / S Curtis (England) – 15pts
3. Victory 7 – A Al Mehairbi (UAE) / JM Sanchez (France) – 12pts
4. Qatar 95 - A Al-Sulaiti (Qatar) / Matteo Nicolini (Italy) – 9pts
5. Foresti & Suardi 8 – K Selmer (Norway) / G Montavoci (Italy) – 7pts
6. SeveneleveN 18 - G Manuzzi (Italy) / N Giorgi (Italy) – 5pts
7. Negotiator 50 - B Eker (Norway) / C Parsonage (England) – 4pts
Jotun 90 - B Jacobsen (Norway) / J Tandberg (Norway)
White 4 – M Al Nasser (Qatar) / L Nicolini (Italy)
Windmare 21 – J Brarda (France) / TBC
Roscioli Hotels Roma 88 – S Carrasco (Spain) / D Cirilli (Spain)
EDOX POLE POSITION CHAMPIONSHIP – after round 1 of 8
1. Victory 1 – A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) – 20pts
2. Qatar 96 - H Al-Thani (Qatar) / S Curtis (England) – 15pts
3. Qatar 95 - A Al-Sulaiti (Qatar) / Matteo Nicolini (Italy) – 12pts
4. Jotun 90 - B Jacobsen (Norway) / J Tandberg (Norway) – 9pts
5. Negotiator 50 - B Eker (Norway) / C Parsonage (England) – 7pts
6. White 4 – M Al Nasser (Qatar) / L Nicolini (Italy) – 5pts
7. Victory 7 – A Al Mehairbi (UAE) / JM Sanchez (France) – 4pts
8. Foresti & Suardi 8 – K Selmer (Norway) / G Montavoci (Italy) – 3pts
9. SeveneleveN 18 - G Manuzzi (Italy) / N Giorgi (Italy) – 2pts
Windmare 21 – J Brarda (France) / TBC
Roscioli Hotels Roma 88 – S Carrasco (Spain) / D Cirilli (Spain)

www.class-1.com

Projects: Absolute 70, Absolute 43

A flagship project for this young Italian shipyard, the new Absolute 70. Piacenza located Absolute has had much success with it's range of sport cruiser models since this yard showed up in 2002 especially in the sport cruiser 11 - 13 metre segment. With the new 70, Absolute introduces an innovative project and as most of the competition in this segment of the market, follows the concept of a hard top design, offering the comfort of a more bulky flybridge boat, but with an aggressive appearance on the outside and faster performance on the water. Interior comforts will be for a 3 cabin layout, with the Owner and VIP cabins promising to be a lounge with big full windows for maximum natural light and top views, a theme which is followed in all of the yacht from the upper saloon down to the cabins. The new Absolute will also surprise for it's four by IPS 600 propulsion and a very sophisticated on board computer system. Hull no.1 is expected to launch in August, with world preview for the next Cannes show. A new important installment in the Absolute range, in a size which makes it one of today's top European builders, is the new 43, replacing the successful 45 model and taking it's prime spot between the 41 and 47 models. The new 43 looks very much similar to the recently launched 47 on the outside, thanks most to the hardtop, very look alike, but also to the now famous hull lines which makes it easy for everyone to recognize it is an Absolute. The new 43 will also feature same engine configuration as the 47, with Volvo IPS 500 or 600 power, which should give top speeds of above 40 knots, making it the fastest for Volvo's innovative propulsion system. Interior for the new 43 will have 2 spacious cabins, plus a convertible saloon all introduced with latest minimalist geometries and top finished wood, metal furnishings.

www.absoluteyachts.com

Powerboat P1 - Marseille, France Preview

Powerboat P1’s successful 2008 season opening Italian Grand Prix of the Sea in San Benedetto del Tronto in Italy may still be fresh in the mind for the sport’s fans, but most of the teams are now much more focused for the coming weekend upcoming Marseille Grand Prix. The city authorities and the Federation Francaise Motonautique and the Motor Yacht Club de la Cote D’Azur have been busy preparing for the event in recent days. But given the amount of technical teething problems that teams in the Evolution and SuperSport class seemed to suffer in the opening Endurance and Sprint races of the year in Italy, we’re hearing that there have been plenty of furrowed brows, as engineers and mechanics try to fix the glitches. We should expect plenty of late-night ‘bags under the eyes’ as teams arrive in Marseille.

In the Evolution class, the 77 Lucas Oil team seemed to have the most trouble-free weekend, as indicated by their healthy lead at the top of the standings. But they’ll be looking to see where they can catch the 99 Fountain Worldwide boat, who were clearly quickest on the water, and would have been leading the way into France had it not been for their provisional 100-point penalty. The rest of the field, particularly leading teams like the 10 Fantastic 1 Cigarette Racing Team Europe outfit, the 88 Kiton Outerlimits OSG Racing squad and the 69 Honeyparty.com crew, will be keen to solve the problems that blighted their Italian weekend so they can come back fighting in France. In the SuperSport class things are proving so closely contested that everyone will be looking to gain that crucial advantage that will allow them to move ahead of their rivals. The 07 VoomVoom.com team, the 44 Conam Yachts crew and the 59 Saho Offshore Rana’s outfit lead the way in the incredibly tight points race, but the 38 Baia High Performance boat, the 11 Sunseeker Challenger team, 47 Silverline Buzzi Bullet crew and 08 Phoenix 8 squad are all perfectly poised to make big headway in the title fight if they can find the magic mix, or if one of the leading teams suffers a technical problem in France.

Please note that for the coming weekend race, a revised schedule has been updated with races being held after each other and both in the afternoon, for better following visit the official Powerboat P1 site.

www.powerboatp1.com

New Model: Sunseeker 34 Metre Yacht

The new Sunseeker 34 Metre Yacht was previewed World wide to the public during the London Boat Show. Boasting a broad beam and a most spacious and sophisticated interior, this new Super Yacht from the renowned British builder provides luxurious accommodation for up to ten guests plus crew. The open plan living areas include a large saloon and dining area adjacent to a fully equipped galley and servery including crew mess which form a natural divide from the forward master stateroom, raised wheelhouse and crew quarters. The lower deck includes two generous double VIP cabins and two twin cabins, all offering en suite facilities and individual entertainment systems. The spacious main deck master stateroom is a duplex design which gives 180-degree visibility with a walk-in wardrobe on the main deck. Stairs then lead forward to a private toilet room and then down to an open plan en-suite with twin wash basins, bath and separate shower cubicle. The flybridge affords plenty of seating and sunbathing space with a fully equipped wetbar and the option of a large spa tub, and depending on the owner's requirement, the stern garage offers enough space for a tender. To achieve optimum performance, the 34 Metre Yacht is based on Sunseeker's proven deep 'V' hull design. A choice of powerful twin diesel engines provides up to 4800hp, enabling this yacht to achieve top speeds of 26 knots. Performance, complemented by leading-edge technology throughout, such as computerised engine management systems and the very latest navigation and communication equipment, makes island hopping or extended cruising equally effortless. There is also the option of fitting TRAC-STAR, a system that provides optimum stabilisation while at rest and when underway. The 34 Metre Yacht will be built to meet the requirements of regulating authorities including the Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) dependent on owners' specifications.

Technical Data:

LOA - 33.91 m (111.3ft)

Waterline Length - 26.62 m

Beam - 7.39 m

Draft - 2.28 m full load

Displacement - 119700 kg half load

Fuel Capacity - 14450 l + 5050 l optional long range

Water Capacity - 4000 l

Engines - 2 x 2434hp

Speed - 26 knots max

Range - 1250 nautical miles @ 12 knots economical cruising

Certification - RINA 2007 C Hull Mach Y Unrestricted Navigation

www.sunseeker.com

Project: Baia One Hundred

A project for a new model from this builder is always a bit of a news, as it is on the conservative side of things in presenting additions to it's range, having on average added models every 2 years. Expected but also challenging is the important size of the new Baia which will be a hundred footer Super Sport Yacht or as the title for the project says One Hundred. It will be the new Baia flagship, but not the biggest built by the Naples builder as it did deliver a one off 105 footer flybridge yacht in the nineties. The renderings for the new One Hundred follow what this builder offered in the last decade, that of improving its classic design into new borders of innovation and comfort, without boundaries, transforming and joining areas as the client would wish at the moment. Among the most interesting practical innovations for the Hundred looks to be the forward deck area, which is connected to the interior through an innovative opening at the bow. The new big Baia will be powered by latest generation twin MTU 16V2000 M93 delivering 2450hp each with Arneson Surface Drives propulsion, of which this builder has a special experience for using and taking out the best potential from. At this stage it is just about the wait to see the new Baia flagship for real, which as a passionate I hope very soon.

www.baiayacht.com

New Model: Viking 60 Enclosed Bridge

The Enclosed Bridge version for the 60 Viking, adds luxury to this model and more. This highly respected USA builder has been building Enclosed Bridges Sport Fisherman yachts from 1995, launching in that season the first of the series with the 58 EB and now spanning all the range from 56 to the 74 models. The 60 Enclosed Bridge version in respect to the Convertible adds comfort and an extra luxury fully climate controlled upper saloon. In fact this luxury appointed helm station has some important bonuses like the internal staircase, a luxury appointed L-shaped saloon to port and a small settee to starboard for the helmsman guests. Useless to say that the upper bridge makes much sense as an extra luxury appointed upper station but also a fully upper saloon fit out for threatening the guests at anchor and underway. Viking also make the possibility of fitting an option called the skybridge, a cozy flybridge sitting on top of the Enclosed Bridge. If it's a high helm station you are looking for, it can be assured that the New Jersey builder has all the answers.

Technical Data:

LOA - 18.49 m (60.8ft)

Beam - 5.72 m

Draft - 1.55 m

Weight - 41413 kg Gross

Fuel Capacity - 6132 l

Water Capacity - 1136 l

Accommodation - 3 cabin 6 berths, 4 cabins 8 berths

Engines - 2 x MAN CRM 1550hp, Cats C32A 1825hp

www.vikingyachts.com

Project: Sogica 47 Openbridge

An innovative young Italian yacht builder with a modern futurisic design presents it's second model, which follows the themes shown for the first of a fast fully enclosed hardtop model. The Sogica Openbridge series is the Performance Motoryachts range of Sogica, proving quite a success with the 55 model. As the 55 Openbridge the new 47 Openbridge shows an open layout full of space and accommodation which the shipyard promises will be hard to beat in this size and length. The new Sogica 47 Openbridge is powered by twin Volvo Penta IPS 600 engines, giving estimated top speeds of 35 knots, 29 knots cruising and a good range of 350 nautical miles.

www.sogica.it

New Model: Ferretti Custom Line 112 Next

Presented during the Ferretti Privilege days held in April, is the new version for the planning Ferretti Custom Line 112 model, now added with the title Next. As the title suggests the Zuccon designed motor yacht heads into the next dimension of a modern Super Yacht, helped with the adding on the exterior of big side windows for the main cabins, but also for a stylish hard top on the upper deck, which really integrates with the design in a perfect stylish way. Something to accept from this respected top Super Yacht builder! The new 112 Next follows the modernisation also inside with a 5 cabin interior layout, featuring a spacious full view owners suite on the main deck. Top speed is an estimated maximum of 27 knots, with latest MTU 2040 kw engines.

Technical Data:

LOA - 34 m (111.7ft)

Waterline Length - 29 m

Beam - 7.08 m

Draft - 2.00 m

Displacement - 132 T loaded

Fuel Capacity - 18000 l

Water Capacity - 3000 l

Max Persons - 20 guests + 4 crew

Accommodation - 5 guest cabins, 6 shower heads

Engines - 2 x MTU 12V4000 M90 2400hp

Construction - Multi Axial Fiberglass, Composites

Design - Zuccon, Ferretti Engineering

Certification - RINA 100-1-1.1 "Y"

www.customline-yacht.com