Rio Sport Coupé 56, a boat to “uncover”

The new Rio Sport Coupé 56 is a 18-meter versatile and customizable yacht. The first unit has just been launched and is cruising with its owner in the waters of Maine, USA.

So the new open hardtop by Rio Yachts is popular in the home of lobster and trawler boats. Could it be the advanced interior design, or the high level of customization? In any case Rio Sport Coupé 56 can face a wide and diversified spectrum of markets and geographical areas.

It is not just for that “Made in Italy” touch, in terms of aesthetic refinement and quality of materials, but also – we stress once again – for its interior layout. Let’s start with the main deck: both the cockpit and – surprisingly, in a way – the galley are rather versatile.

The galley can become a new area of conviviality for guests.

As for the cockpit, the chance of having it fully closed or open, thanks to a glass door, may not be previously unseen, but still it’s not that common on an 18-meter yacht.

Beyond this, what catches the attention on the new Rio Sport Coupé 56 is the details, such as the “extra large” opening of the superstructure’s roof, or the chance of also opening the side sections of the windows, which makes the salon almost like the one of a classic express cruiser without the hardtop.

The hard top itself is built in crystal and enhances the feeling of being open-air, even when the room is totally closed.

A futuristic console

You stand at the helm, and you will enjoy the latest electronics, in particular from Garmin Marine due to the partnership between the two companies.

The dashboard boasts two 12-inch multi-function touchscreens, from which the driver can manage all the instruments on board, such as cameras, autopilot, echosounder, radar and GPS – just to name the main ones.

I now want to point out another peculiarity: the dashboard itself, which is kinda floating in the air. This gives a strong aesthetic charachterization even to technical compartment, but at the same time it allows to widen the airiness of the underlying space (which, in this case, is the galley).

Versatility that meets different tastes

As we mentioned, the galley itself plays an important role on board Rio Sport Coupé 56, because it is on a lower level than the aft living room: in this way, it’s an independent room as on superyachts, but at the same time it is part of an open space with the rest of the yacht.

This solution perfectly complies with American taste, where open spaces are favourites, but still doesn’t forget the European (and Mediterranean in particular) way of dividing the space.

Another one-fits-all solution is in the cockpit: it’s perfect for Americans thanks to the huge C-shaped dinette running from the transom to the saloon entrance. So, where’s the solarium? Just tilt down the aft backseat and there you have a sun bed, so boaters from the Med are happy as well.

Uncommonly, the submersible swim platform is really large, and the area can also be featured with a hidden grill facing back.

Two lower layouts

Below deck the new Rio Sport Coupé 56 offers different options, with two or three cabins and two heads. Then again, you can choose whether to have a crew cabin renouncing the garage for the tender.

The master room is located amidships and takes the whole beam of the yacht, with the bed placed sideways. The cabin also sports a tea-for-two with armchairs and table.

The owner’s bathroom is spread over the entire width of the hull, standing between the cabin and the engine room: in this way it also contributes to better noise-insulating the cabin itself.

The VIP to bow doesn’t falls short in terms of space. Here too, the long portholes let the light flood in, while the bathroom has a double door. Because, beside working as a day toilet, it can also serve the third cabin, in case the layout option is the one which drops the lower dinette for another room with two, L-placed bunks.

Spider 40, intrepid reliability. The test of the new open from Rio Yachts

The interiors are by Marino Alfani, in collaboration with the technical office of Rio Yachts, but the manufacturer goes further and offers a high level of interior customization.

Each owner has a rather wide choice of materials and furnishing solutions, and can be supported by a team of professionals.

What about performance? We haven’t tested it yet, so we trust the shipyard: thirty-five knots of top speed have been reached thanks to the twin 800hp Mans. Now, Rio 56 is already in the USA, cruising the cold and beautiful waters of Maine.

The numbers of Rio Sport Coupé 56

  • Length overall …………… 17.55 m
  • (57ft 7in)
  • Beam …………… 4.65 m (15ft 3in)
  • Draft …………… 0.76 m (2ft 6in)
  • Dry displacement …………… 25.000 Kg
  • Engines …………… 2×800 hp Man
  • Fuel reserve …………… 2250 l
  • (594 US gal)
  • Fresh water reserve …………… 740 l
  • (195 US gal))
  • Passengers …………… 16
  • Berths …………… 4/6 + 1
  • Heads …………… 2+1
  • CE design category …………… B

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