Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 vs Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 or the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 is the longer of the two at 56,6 feet overall. The Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 comes in at 27,0 feet, making it roughly 29,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 is rated to a maximum of 1 000 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 tops out at 350 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 is Coast Guard rated for 17 passengers, while the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 measures 186" wide, compared to 94" for the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 and Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 and the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 are built by Riva Yacht. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 vs Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978

Riva Yacht

Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017

2017

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Riva Yacht

Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978

1978

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 vs Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 vs Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 000 hp, the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 has a 650-hp advantage over the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978's 350-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 56,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail56.60 ft

Length overall - Detail27.00 ft

Length - Feet56.6

Length - Feet27

Length overall - Meters17.25

Length overall - Meters8.23

Length overall - Inches679

Length overall - Inches324

Beam15.50 ft

Beam7.80 ft

Beam - Meters4.72

Beam - Meters2.38

Beam - Inches186

Beam - Inches94

Draft [max] - Detail4.70 ft

Draft [max] - Detail2.60 ft

Draft [max] - Meters1.43

Draft [max] - Meters0.79

Draft [max] - Inches56

Draft [max] - Inches31

Displacement59524.00 lbs

Displacementnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal607.5

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters2299.64

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Engine makeMAN

Engine makenot available

Engine modelV8

Engine modelnot available

Horsepower1000 hp

Horsepower350 hp

Fuel typeDiesel

Engine 2 Engine MakeMAN

Engine 2 Engine Makenot available

Engine 2 Engine ModelV8

Engine 2 Engine Modelnot available

Engine 2 Horsepower1000 hp

Engine 2 Horsepower350 hp

Engine 2 Fuel TypeDiesel

Drive typenot available

Drive typeinboard

Engine 2 Drive Typenot available

Engine 2 Drive Typeinboard

Performance

Cruising speed28

Cruising speednot available

Cruising speed measureknots

Cruising speed measurenot available

Maximum speed34

Maximum speednot available

Maximum speed measureknots

Maximum speed measurenot available

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity6

Sleeping capacitynot available

Cabins3

Cabinsnot available

Head3

Headnot available

Water capacity14

Water capacitynot available

Boat typePower

Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 vs Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 or the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 is the longer of the two at 56,6 feet overall. The Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 comes in at 27,0 feet, making it roughly 29,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 is rated to a maximum of 1 000 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 tops out at 350 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 is Coast Guard rated for 17 passengers, while the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 measures 186" wide, compared to 94" for the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 and Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 and the Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 are built by Riva Yacht. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Riva Yacht 56 Rivale 2017 full specs ← Riva Yacht Monte Carlo 27 Offshorer 1978 full specs