Riviera celebrates world launch of the ground-breaking 50

by Jeni Bone on 3 Aug 2013 'There's a heck of a lot of boat crammed in to this model,' said CEO Wes Moxey by way or introduction to the latest model in the Riviera range, the 50 Enclosed Flybridge - and the first under his and owner, Rodney Longhurst's reign.

'Not that it's crammed - it's extremely spacious! We learned a lot from the Belize and our customers had a lot of input into this model,' Moxey continued.

'At the Riviera Festival of Boating in May, we had a full-scale model of the interior for people to walk through and the feedback was extremely helpful. What you see now is the culmination of what they are looking for in a boat and we are confident it will do very well, both here and in the US.'

Stephen Milne, director of brand and communications said: 'From the moment you step onboard you will sense this is a fresh new approach from Riviera to the flybridge boat design. Transom doors located either side of the cockpit makes great use of the swim platform to create additional entertainment space and mezzanine seating with interchangeable cockpit table providing a versatile alfresco area.'

Featuring a flexible accommodation plan, the 50 offers three generous sized staterooms with the option to have the master forward or aft allowing owners to personalise their layout. There is plenty of room for entertaining in the spacious and relaxed saloon or flybridge which is the ultimate skylounge.

Powerful new generation and fuel efficient twin Cummins QSC Zeus pod drives with joystick manoeuvrability delivering about 30 per cent more fuel efficiency, 15 per cent faster cruise and top speeds giving the 50 an expected top speed of over 30 knots with cruising about 25 knots and delivering a range of approximately 400 nautical miles.

Since May, Riviera has done extremely well, selling 18 boats locally and more into overseas markets like Peurto Rico and the US. 'In our first year together, we have managed to bring clarity to the brand, now our objective is distribution. I have focused more on distribution in the past six months than in the past 20 years!'

Longhurst is credited with 'getting the company back on track', said Moxey, now owning both the business and the Coomera facility and land on which it stands. He has previously stated that he is in it for the long haul, and intends to build the brand and the business for his sons and their sons.

'My six year old came down to Sydney from the Gold Coast with me, taking turns in each of the models along the way,' said Longhurst. 'At show and tell next week he is going to say he drove some very big boats!'

The company is strong, we're very happy, but we're not going to rest on our laurels,' said Moxey. 'We have new boats on the drawing board, and with the Australian dollar dropping substantially, we're in a good position.'

'It's all falling in to place. We're more buzzed than ever!'

Also making its Sydney debut is the new 565 SUV, with other models on show: 445 SUV, 5000 Sport Yacht, 5800 Sport Yacht, 43 Open Flybridge, 53 Enclosed Flybridge, and the new Belize 54 Daybridge.

More at www.riviera.com.au