Australian giant Riviera strikes me as a boatbuilder that has long been comfortable in its own shoes.
Not usually the first to shift with the trend of the moment, its steadfast commitment to building high-quality, bluewater boats has earned the brand loyalty in spades. Of all the trends the industry has seen in recent years, one of the biggest has been the push toward outboard-powered dayboats.
Riviera’s answer to this tide shift? The Volvo Penta IPS-powered 4300 Sports Express. Deliberately bucking a trend that many traditional diesel builders have folded to, Riviera believes the ultimate dayboat—which, in the builder’s eyes, is more of a weekender—doesn’t need a squad of outboards to be successful.
When the boat debuted at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last fall, I tried my best to be patient and wait my turn to board. I had to hang out on the swim platform for a while as the crowd cleared out, which in hindsight was a good thing. The 4300 wouldn’t be a proper Australian boat without a substantial swim-platform barbie. Besides the grill, sink and cold storage, there’s a deep locker for a stand-up paddleboard. I found myself daydreaming about paddling peacefully behind the boat between flipping burgers.
Finally passing the crowd and stepping aboard, I found myself admiring the telescoping table in the salon—not a compliment I make often. But when its leaves are folded up, as they would be when you’re underway, there are grabrails all the way around, helping you to sit or stand safely in heavy seas. A simple canvas enclosure also wraps around the cockpit, transforming the open dayboat into a climate-controlled cruiser in a matter of minutes. Small touches like this prove the Riviera design team actually uses its boats.
A credenza flanks the helm and serves as a topsides snack-prep area. Another thoughtful touch: Beneath the helm seat, there’s dedicated storage for a Yeti cooler. At first thought this may feel trendy, but it’s worth remembering that Rivieras are rarely marina queens. These boats often cruise with a tender, and for those excursions, having a cooler that’s ready to stow cold drinks and fresh food is essential.
While we were walking through the boat at the show, my colleague Chris Dixon pointed out yet another design touch that makes sense for the serious boater: manual buttons at the helm for controlling pumps, lights and wipers, so skippers can activate them quickly without needing to swipe a screen on a multifunction display while running offshore.
Down below is a proper galley, with a two-burner cooktop, microwave and enough cold storage to fuel weeks of cruising in the Bahamas.
One of the most clever design features aboard the 4300 is a sliding half door that converts the forward stateroom from wide open to fully enclosed. After a couple of days draining my social battery at the boat show, it felt awfully tempting to close this space off and cool my heels in quiet comfort for a while; I can imagine owners feeling the same way after a full day of entertaining.
Amidships is another stateroom with similar versatility, this time enclosed by a hidden curtain. A space best suited for adult guests for a few nights—or kids indefinitely—there’s a double berth to port and a single to starboard, offering flexibility.
Chris and I found our way up to the bow, which is perhaps where the 4300 most feels like a dayboat. Speakers, phone chargers, cupholders, movable tables and a sunpad that folds up, in, down, or out keep guests comfortable from every angle, while a tall railing and grabrails everywhere keep everyone, first and foremost, safe underway.
A few days after the model’s coming-out party in Lauderdale, I had the chance to hop aboard for a sea trial and really test this model’s chops as a dayboat. After a quick engine-room check and the stowing of a few covers, we idled easily out of the slip, using the control of the IPS joystick to avoid a daydreaming paddleboarder. The ability to get off the dock quickly is a calling card of the dayboat market—we were off in minutes. Check one.
In mostly calm conditions, the 34,000-plus-pound 4300 felt extremely solid from every angle. Comfort underway: check two. During my two-way speed run, our test boat easily hit 33 knots, powered by optional, 480-hp D6-IPS650s (standard power is 440-hp IPS600s). Is she fast enough to get you to your favorite anchorage after the kids’ soccer practice and home in time for dinner? Absolutely. Check Three.
Able to serve as a fast, fun dayboat that reconnects you and the family with the water—and each other—while also offering the accommodations and luxury for a couple setting out on the Great Loop, this model proves a boat can offer the best of both worlds without sacrificing what made the brand successful in the first place.
Riviera 4300 Sports Express Specifications:
LOA: 45ft. 6in.
Beam: 14ft. 7in.
Draft: 4ft. 2in.
Displacement: 34,167 lbs.
Fuel: 316 gal.
Water: 105 gal.
Power: 2x 440-hp Volvo Penta D6-IPS600
Info: rivieraaustralia.com
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2026 issue of Passagemaker magazine.
