Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition Review (2023 Edition) by NautiStyles

On Deck

Step aboard at the swim platform and you’re straight into the fun – hydraulic lift for the tender, twin staircases up to the cockpit, and a garage that swallows a 3.3m Brig with a 20hp Honda. It’s a setup designed for a family weekend: launch the tender in minutes, stash the lines and fenders right where you need them, and you’re off.

Cockpit switches run the platform, garage, and the roof. The opening sunroof makes this sport yacht feel like it has a flybridge, breeze when it’s hot, sun when it’s cool. Seating is split: port lounge with a hi-lo table that turns into a daybed, opposite settee with deep bin storage and the emergency bilge handle clipped in place. Both aft corners have optional joystick docking stations with start-stop, small screen, and even a cup holder. Fusion audio is right at hand.

The exterior galley faces the view with twin griddles, sink, drainable tool bin, fridge, ice maker, and trash. A nice light over the grill means no more cooking by phone torch. Side decks are safe and solid, with heavy shocks on hatches and JL speakers throughout. Teak is light grey, Riviera logos glow at night, and blue courtesy lights add some style.

The bow has a long sunpad with adjustable backs, draining lockers with cup holders and a Fusion remote, plus proper access to chain and rollers. Safety hook for the anchor, windlass gear to starboard, and line storage to port. Fender racks above the chain locker, searchlight mounted forward, and chafe guards everywhere.

Go inside and the cockpit flows right into the galley thanks to Riviera’s favorite trick, a heavy-duty manual window. No motors to fail, just slide it open and suddenly the aft bar, grill, and seating all connect as one. It feels like the boat just opens up.

The galley itself is loaded. Dual sinks, one small and one big enough to thaw a roast. Miele induction cooktop with an extraction fan above, plus a Miele microwave. Storage is everywhere, in drawers, overheads on good shocks, a pull-out pantry for spices, and even a tidy slot to stow the sink covers so they double as counter space. Refrigeration is over the top: multiple fridges and freezers including a big double-freezer stack the family keeps filled. Dishwasher drawer too. There’s a proper bar cabinet with Riviera’s stemware (acrylic, so it survives a tumble), and the CZone panel for tanks, lights, and systems.

The starboard side has a clever little lounge. The armrest pops out, the table folds down into its own cavity, the ottoman tucks away and suddenly it’s a clean settee. Ahead of that is the dinette, a proper six-seater with storage beneath. Overhead, a skylight keeps it bright, or shade it off when the sun’s too much.

The TV is mounted on a powered arm that swings right out and locks, so you can watch from the galley, dinette, or lounge. Stows flush when you’re running.

Forward at the helm, two electric seats face a wide console of Garmin screens, Volvo joystick, throttles, CZone, VHF, etc. Open the sunroof above and the whole main deck feels outdoors. Pair it with the side windows and the aft window open and you’re practically in the breeze.

Down below, this boat carries the optional lower lounge instead of a fourth cabin. It’s bright thanks to no bulkhead – natural light pours down the stairwell. There’s a TV and an Xbox set up for the grandkids, and the lounge itself converts into a proper berth with a quick pin-and-cushion trick. Washer and dryer live here too, with elbow room to actually fold laundry. It doubles as a quiet escape – a spot for a book or a phone call when the salon upstairs is buzzing.

The style is Riviera through and through with light tones, 3D headboards, indirect lighting, and hardware that feels like it’ll last. And after two years with a family of kids, grandkids, and two dogs, this interior still looks fresh, which says a lot.

Owner's Cabin

Drop into the full-beam owner’s suite and the first thing you notice is the space, there's great headroom, a king-size berth, and that soft strip of indirect lighting overhead that just makes it feel calm. Nightstands each side, same cool 3D paneling on the headboard as the other cabins, and a little settee to starboard that’s perfect for sneaking away with a book or laptop.

The en suite is generous with a a one-and-a-half person shower with a bench that wraps around, storage tucked everywhere, and an opening port for fresh air. There’s also a privacy glass wall that turns opaque at the touch of a button.  

Also off the owner's cabin is what the owners call the “speakeasy.” It’s a hidden compartment with serious storage and even a little single berth if you need an overflow bunk for a captain, a grandkid, or whoever draws the short straw. It links right up to the cockpit hatch, so you’ve got a sneaky back-door exit too. Alongside that is the big battery and breaker panel, all labeled and easy to get at.

Guest Accommodation

Starboard side brings you to the twin cabin, and the first thing that jumps out is the headroom at close to 2.4m (8ft). The bunks themselves are comfortable, and every bit of space is used. Upper lockers, drawers, nightstand cubby, and even big under-berth cavities for the stuff that usually ends up in bags. It links to its own en suite, which also works as the day head.

All the way forward is the VIP, carrying that same 3D headboard design. Headroom is solid at about 2m (6.6ft), even up at the bow thanks to a small step that lets you reach right forward to make the bed. The berth is a queen, flanked by hanging lockers, drawers, a TV, and a big lift-up storage bay under the mattress. The en suite feels a touch bigger than the twin’s, with a roomy shower (easily a one-and-a-half person job), deep medicine cabinets, and good countertop space.

Then there’s the lower lounge on port – this boat carries it instead of a fourth cabin, and it’s a win. It’s bright because there’s no wall cutting it off, so natural light pours down from the salon. The family has an Xbox hooked up for the grandkids, and when needed the lounge flips into a full-size bed with a quick pin and cushion shuffle. Washer and dryer live right here too, with enough space to actually fold clothes.

Access is straight through that “speakeasy” hatch, which already makes it feel like you’re in on a secret. Step down and the space is tidy, well-lit, and everything’s labeled. Power comes from twin Volvo Penta IPS 950s (725hp each) on pods. She cruises comfortably at 21 knots with a top speed of 28 knots, offering a maximum range of 370 nautical miles at her cruising pace.

The forward bulkhead is lined with the big breaker panel, house bank circuits, and primary fuel filters all where you can get at them. Sea strainers are right below, easy to eyeball, with through-hulls and valves cleanly laid out. Centerline battery boxes sit midships, again simple to reach.

Port side holds a large Onan genset, plus the Blue Water Legend watermaker with its tank, the hydraulic unit, mufflers, and water pumps. Starboard side carries the water tank, battery chargers, and the heavy-duty chillers for the air con. Engine room ventilation is robust and wiring is clipped and labeled.

For an owner-operator, the Riviera 6000 Platinum is set up to make life easy. The tender launch is a one-person job – drop the platform, flip the rollers, hit the winch remote and you’re done. Docking is equally simple with IPS joysticks at both aft quarters, plus the main helm up front. This particular boat has been in family hands for two years, with kids, grandkids, and dogs on board, and it still looks fresh. Beyond build, Riviera backs its yachts with a solid warranty package. New boats come with a five-year structural warranty, two years stem-to-stern, and Volvo’s coverage on the IPS drives. That support lowers the stress of early ownership and makes servicing straightforward in Australia and beyond.

If you’re weighing rivals, the Bluegame BGX60 has a very different layout philosophy with its reverse living spaces, and the Palm Beach PB55 leans toward classic lines and straight-shaft simplicity.

The Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is a true family boat – one-level living, smart storage, and a cockpit-to-galley flow that keeps everyone together. Three cabins plus a convertible lounge cover guests, while the owner’s suite with its hidden “speakeasy” is pure Riviera fun. Easy to dock with IPS joysticks, simple to service, and backed by solid warranties, she’s a sport yacht that’s practical, stylish, and ready for real family use.