The Riviera 42, launched in 2003, was a natural development of the successful “Millennium” 40.
Additional length gave the Riviera designers the opportunity to add a second bathroom on the accommodation deck as well as a space for a clothes washer-dryer. A port side bathroom was dedicated as an en suite to the forward master while the starboard second cabin was available to family or guests with en suite access to the forward day head.
The master included a walk-around queen bed with lockers on either side as well as well as wardrobes in both aft quarters. The second cabin provided accommodation for three adults in pullman-style bunks and a single as well as offering a wardrobe.
The saloon included the step-down forward galley and offered optional layouts for the entertaining space. The majority of owners chose to forego a lower helm in favour of the more social layout of a dinette on the starboard side, almost opposite the galley, and an L-shape lounge with coffee table to port, immediately aft of the galley. The lower helm option was generally favoured by European owners. It was located on the starboard side, so the L-shape dinette was located directly aft of the galley on the port side.
A saloon door on the starboard side of the aft bulkhead led to a large open cockpit that included a eutectic freezer unit as well as a hand basin forward.
A ladder on the port side of the cockpit led to the hard-top flybridge that continued the Riviera layout of helm and companion seats facing a comprehensive control and navigation panel with a wet bar opposite and seating for guests forward.
Standard power for the Riviera 42 came from twin Cummins turbo diesel engines rated to 490 hp each.
Acceptance of the new model saw 159 built in six years of production.
Media attention, too, was worldwide, with reviews in magazines in the Middle East, Croatia, Spain, Asia and the United States as well as Australia and New Zealand. She stared on the cover of Motor Boating in the US, Nautique in Asia, Pacific Motor Yacht in New Zealand as well as both the New Zealand and Australian editions of Trade-A-Boat and Australia’s Modern Boating.
Australia’s Trade-A-Boat review said: “This stylish new cruiser has self-sufficiency, a handy range and a feeling of solidity and seaworthiness”.
The reviewer for Marlin magazine in the US was particularly impressed with the workmanship of the 42. “You’ll surely be impressed with the exceptional job Riviera does with joinery and brightwork finishing – as far as I could tell it was flawless”.
