Pershing vs Riva comes up at every boat show: two Italian Ferretti Group sport yachts offered with twin MAN V12 1550s. The 6X is built to be the fastest boat in the anchorage; the Diable the most beautiful.
The bottom line
Pershing 6X
Speed and a more compact footprint
48 knots top and 40 cruise on surface drives, in a 62'2" boat with a 4'9" draft.
Riva 68' Diable
Style, volume and range
67'10" with a 17'4" beam, 1,004 gallons of fuel and an optional MAN V12 1650 upgrade (40 knots top).
Photos side by side
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Pershing 6X
10 photosPhotos © Pershing / Ferretti Group, from pershing-yacht.com.
Riva 68' Diable
10 photosPhotos © Riva / Ferretti Group, from riva-yacht.com.
Why this pair
Both are Italian open sport yachts from the Ferretti Group, with three guest cabins plus crew and twin MAN V12 1550s. The Riva is about six feet longer.
Specs side by side
Published by the builders. Numbers in brackets link to the source for each figure.
| Spec | Pershing 6X | Riva 68' Diable |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 62'2" / 18.94 m[1]Hull 60'8" / 18.48 m | 67'10" / 20.67 m[4]Hull 65'10" / 20.06 m |
| Beam | 15'9" / 4.80 m[1] | 17'4" / 5.29 m[4] |
| Draft | 4'9" / 1.45 m[1] | 5'10" / 1.78 m[4] |
| Displacement | 74,957 lb / 34,000 kg[1]Unladen. 88,185 lb / 40,000 kg laden | 81,571 lb / 37,000 kg[4][6]Unladen. 97,003 lb / 44,000 kg laden. Riva's 2021 launch brochure listed 38 t / 45 t |
| Fuel | 845 US gal / 3,200 L[1] | 1,004 US gal / 3,800 L[4] |
| Fresh water | 195 US gal / 740 L[1] | 159 US gal / 600 L[4] |
| Engines | 2 × MAN V12 1550 (1,550 mhp each)[1][2]Surface drives (Top System) | 2 × MAN V12 1550 (standard)[4][5]Optional 2 × MAN V12 1650 |
| Top speed | 48 knots[1] | 37 knots (1550) / 40 knots (1650)[4] |
| Cruise speed | 40 knots[1][2]Launch release said "about 42 knots" | 33 knots (1550) / 34 knots (1650)[4] |
| Range at cruise | 280 nm[1] | 260 nm (1550) / 250 nm (1650)[4] |
| Cabins / heads | 3 cabins + 1 crew (standard)[1][2]First hull had 3 bathrooms. US version has 2 cabins plus a lounge | 3 cabins + 1 crew[4][5]Each guest cabin has its own bathroom |
| Designer | Fulvio De Simoni[3]With Ferretti Group Engineering | Officina Italiana Design (Mauro Micheli, Sergio Beretta)[5]With Ferretti Group Engineering |
| Builder | Pershing (Ferretti Group), Italy[1][3] | Riva (Ferretti Group), Italy[4][5] |
- Length overall
- Displacement
- Engines
- Cruise speed
- Cabins / heads
- Designer
- Riva 68' DiableOfficina Italiana Design (Mauro Micheli, Sergio Beretta)[5]With Ferretti Group Engineering
Speeds are the builders' estimates in standard condition. Riva states that its figures assume a 1/3 liquid load, a clean hull and good weather. Your boat's options, load and bottom condition will change them.
Design
- Pershing 6X: "bold and defiant" in Pershing's words. X Generation lines, big hull windows and side wings, designed by Fulvio De Simoni.
- Riva 68' Diable: Riva's "style manifesto", designed by Mauro Micheli's Officina Italiana Design.
- Both were developed with Ferretti Group Engineering and the Product Strategy Committee led by Piero Ferrari.
Layout
- Pershing main deck: helm at the center (twin 19-inch displays on hull one), cockpit dining for up to eight and a large aft sunpad.
- Pershing below: full-beam owner's suite, VIP forward (bed angled at 45°), starboard guest cabin and crew cabin. The US version has two cabins plus a living area; ask which a boat has.
- Riva main deck: a hardtop that hides the tech and shelters helm and dining, with a sunroof opening forward and aft. Powered bimini, two aft sunpads, big bow lounge.
- Riva below: three cabins sleep six around an open galley and dinette: midship master, twin to port and VIP forward, each with its own bathroom, plus a crew cabin.
Performance
- Pershing: surface drives, 48 knots top and 40 cruise, 280 nm at cruise. The launch release said "about 42 knots" cruise; the current spec table says 40.
- Riva: heavier (81,571 vs 74,957 lb unladen). 37 top / 33 cruise with the 1550s, 40 / 34 with optional MAN V12 1650s. 260 nm (1550) or 250 nm (1650) at cruise from 1,004 gallons.
- In practice: the 6X is made for long runs at 40 knots; the Diable for arriving relaxed and looking the part.
Build and engineering
- Pershing: Easy Set propulsion management and steer-by-wire (Top System, Onyx and Xenta), Simrad Command navigation and an optional surface-drive joystick. Surface drives need an experienced hand in tight marinas, so include docking in the sea trial.
- Riva: warped hull with spray rails and aft deadrise. The varnish, stainless and upholstery finish is the draw, and it rewards good maintenance, so check it at survey.
Ownership and resale
- Captain: most owners in this class use a part-time or full-time captain.
- Engines: the MAN V12s need specialist service. Ask for the service history and the hours on each engine.
- Dockage: the Riva is wider (17'4" vs 15'9") and draws more (5'10" vs 4'9").
- Insurance: performance boats get extra underwriter scrutiny; get quotes early.
- Resale: hours and service, finish condition, US vs European spec and updates move value most. A US-spec boat with documented MAN service sells easiest in Florida.
Browse Pershing and Riva listings, or start with a free yacht valuation.
Common questions
›Is the Pershing 6X faster than the Riva 68' Diable?
On published figures, yes: Pershing quotes 48 knots top and 40 cruise with twin MAN V12 1550s. Riva quotes 37 knots top with the same engines, or 40 with the optional MAN V12 1650s.
›Are Pershing and Riva built by the same company?
Both are Ferretti Group brands, developed with the group's engineering department but styled by different designers: Fulvio De Simoni (6X) and Officina Italiana Design (Diable).
Specifications are as published by Pershing and Riva at the time of writing and can change between model years and options. Always confirm the specification of a particular yacht during survey and sea trial. New-boat pricing isn't shown here; ask me for current figures on any model.
Sources
- Pershing: Pershing 6X (model page and tech specs)
- Pershing: New Pershing 6X, born to win every challenge (launch release)
- Pershing: New Pershing 6X, bold by nature
- Riva: Riva 68' Diable (model page and specifications)
- Riva: 68' Diable, the new temptation from Riva (launch release)
- Riva 68' Diable brochure, 2021 (Ferretti Group, PDF)
