2807 Riviera

The Carver 2807 Riviera is an express-style cruiser whose unusual aft-cabin layout struck a responsive chord with a good many boaters in the 1980s. There are only a handful of cruisers under 30 feet with two staterooms (the Albin 27 comes to mind), and not everyone will be satisfied with the 2807's cramped accommodations. Heavily built on a solid fiberglass hull with a wide 11-foot beam, the best part about this boat is her open-air center cockpit with its wraparound windshield. Visibility from the semi-enclosed helm is not always the best, but the side windshields offer some protection from the weather and seating for six is provided around the dinette table and jump seat. When the weather turns really sour owners can snap on the camper-style canvas enclosure panels and keep on going. Below, the galley is forward and shares cabin space with the convertible dinette and the enclosed head/shower. Aft, the full-width guest stateroom can sleep three in very tight (claustrophobic) quarters. A swim platform and radar arch were standard, and most were sold with a bow pulpit. A seriously hard ride in a chop, twin 220hp gas engines cruise the Riviera at 16–18 knots (mid 20s wide open).