American debut for Riviera 565 SUV and Belize 54

The latest new models from Australia's Riviera and Belize made their American debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The 54th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the largest in-water boat show in the world encompassing three million square feet of space on land and in water over six sites and attracting visitors from around the world.

The 2013 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show marked the official US release of Riviera's striking new 565 SUV, the second model in the new SUV range.

The sleek, stylish and very spacious 565 SUV features a flexible accommodation plan with sleeping capacity for six to seven adults in three cabins. The stately full-beam master suite features a king size island bed, large hull windows and optional opening port holes for cross ventilation, a walk-in robe, lounge and 32 inch television and DVD player as standard in this model.

Riviera's International Sales Director, Chris McCafferty said there had been strong interest in the new SUV collection with 18 new 445 SUV's sold since her official world release last August.

"I anticipate the new 565 SUV will appeal to the astute American boater because it combines the high performance, blue water cruising and fish raising abilities of the classic Flybridge with the popular single-level entertaining characters of Riviera's Sport Yacht series," he said.

This latest luxury cruiser from Australia's favourite and most awarded luxury boat builder is a culmination of more than 33 years of boat building design, experience and extensive owner feedback from around the world.

Bearing Riviera's classic hallmark design, the new 565 SUV has been crafted with Riviera's rich-heritage in mind.

Mr McCafferty said the new Belize Motoryacht line had also attracted a lot of interest from boating enthusiasts in many different markets around the world.

"The Belize 54 that recently arrived in the US is hull number eight which demonstrates the immediate acceptance of Belize and is a huge vote of confidence for the Belize Motoryacht brand," Mr McCafferty said.

The Belize 54 is fully air-conditioned and features three cabins, including a full beam master stateroom with ensuite and opening port lights on either side to provide cross ventilation.

Belize Motoryachts are available in two models, the Belize 54 Sedan, and the Belize 54 Daybridge.

Both the Daybridge and Sedan feature wide walk-around side decks, large cockpit with rear lounge, a hi-lo table and breakfast bar with swivel stools to port. The generous size swim platform features a centre section that rises and lowers hydraulically to allow easy access to the transom's electric tender ‘garage', which has plenty of space for a three-metre tender and outboard that can be easily loaded by the built-in electric winch.

The Daybridge is truly an outdoors experience, which is why a lot of attention has been devoted to making the most of that experience. An elegantly curving deep-tread staircase leads from the cockpit up to the Daybridge where the open air feeling makes for an exhilarating boating experience.

Not only are the design features impressive but so too are the twin Cummins Zeus 600hp diesel engines and pod drives delivering a speed of 30 knots and a range at cruise speed of approximately 448nm with the installation of the optional long range fuel tank.

Riviera's impressive line-up at Fort Lauderdale this year included the new 445 SUV, 565 SUV, 5000 Sport Yacht, 5800 Sport Yacht, 53 Enclosed Flybridge, and the new Belize 54 Sedan.

Mr McCafferty said Riviera's latest models had been very well received in the US.