Queensland boat builder Riviera on track to smash sales record

Queensland boat builder Riviera is selling more luxury vessels than ever to the rich and powerful all over the globe. SEE THE VIDEO

They can’t name names – apart from Tom Cruise – but Queensland boat builders, Riviera, are selling more luxury vessels than ever to the rich and powerful all over the globe.

Queensland is on track to smash an incredible sales record of $198 million in 2021 after selling $120m worth of vessels in just the first half of this year.

Shipbuilding exports are now running at $20 million per month according to The Courier-Mail’s analysis of trade data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

One of the most luxurious boats being snapped up is the 78 Motor Yacht Riviera valued at $6.6m.

Riviera boss Rodney Longhurst with the company's new $3.2 million 64 Sports Motor Yacht. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The superyacht has three levels, three bedrooms, four state rooms and can sleep up to eight people, plus crew. It can travel more than 1000 nautical miles at 30 knots and has numerous entertaining areas, as well as electric blinds and a garage.

Premium yacht builder Rodney Longhurst said Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise was one name he could drop, but the extensive list of celebrities and sporting identities who have purchased Riviera boats had to remain confidential.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MAY 06: Tom Cruise attends the Mexico Premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" at on May 06, 2022 in Mexico City. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

He said a craving for fresh air and adventure during the pandemic had spurred demand.

“It’s just an awesome lifestyle because you can go away on the boat and anchor up somewhere on your own and have absolute solitude,” Mr Longhurst said.

“Or you can get into adventures, you can go fishing, go diving, go out in your little tender scurfing around, waterskiing.

“It’s very multifaceted you can pull up in Sydney Harbour or the Whitsundays”.

Inside the Riviera 78 Motor Yacht. Picture: Supplied

Exports of boating and shipping related products built in Queensland have tallied over $120 million for the first half of this year, almost double the $67 million in sales achieved for the same period 12 months earlier.

Maritimo Operations Director Philip Candler said there’s been a global trend and increase of interest in boats since the pandemic.

“Luxury boat manufacturing or luxury boat sales, the key driver behind it was Covid,” Mr Philip said.

“People decided to spend money in Australia rather than travel around the world.

“Our export market has grown as well so it’s not just Australia, our sales in the US, sales in New Zealand have grown as well”.

The superyacht has three levels, three bedrooms, four state rooms and can sleep up to eight people.

Mr Candler said the boat building industry would easily employ more than 5,000 people in southeast Queensland.

“The government supports initiatives at a state and federal level that recognises the importance of boat building training,” he said.

“Hindrance to manufacturing in Australia, is the cost of freight.

“A huge percentage of the components we use for boat manufacturing is imported.

“The engines that we import come from Germany, Sweden, and the US so there’s no engine manufacturers in Australia.

“Price of materials and price of labour are two significant challenges to the boat building industry in Australia”.

The Riviera 78 Motor Yacht.

Although Australia has to pay more for the machinery and navigation brought in from overseas, SeaTransport CEO Mr Ballantyne said this actually makes the labour cheaper.

Mr Ballantyne said Australia has very innovative boat designs, which could also be a factor behind the boat building and exporting surge.

“My design company, for instance, Seatransporters, we’ve exported our designs to 47 countries,” Mr Ballantyne said.

“Queensland really has the best combination of temperature and humidity for fibreglass boat building.

“That’s why the major manufacturers such as Riviera and Maritimo are here.

“Boat manufacturing on the Gold Coast is at a World class-level”.

Originally published as Queensland boat builder Riviera on track to smash sales record