Riva Yachts: how one Italian family created a nautical legend

By paula reynolds | May 2, 2021

riva yacht wikipedia

Sophia Loren had one. So did Anita Eckberg and Sean Connery…as did violet-eyed Liz. Brigitte  Bardot’s had zebra print seats, and even George Bush was often spotted in his, breaking waves in the Hamptons. They’ve always been the nautical epitome of cool — and we’re not talking about the owners, but of the craft… the 100% Italian built Riva yacht .

Sleek, sexy, oh-so Italian…these streamlined vessels are known throughout the nautical world for their extraordinary quality, unforgettable design, and well…for having a suave factor that would be off the charts if suave charts existed. Even if you’re not familiar with the name, Riva yachts might hold a spot in your subconscious. Just for a second, visualize a bevy of the rich and famous motor-boating across an Italian lake, Prosecco in hand, or maybe a pulse pounding James Bond clip, our hero soaring over breaking waves as he escapes the ire of his latest nemesis. Odds are your imagination included a Riva built boat.

The Riva name is synonymous with luxury and glamour in the boat world, a brand that defies being classified as “just” a watercraft. It might even be more of a zeitgeist of ideology, of concept, of beauty,  a melding of style and function that make Riva one of the most desirable yacht names around.

riva yacht wikipedia

It’s a remarkable story of serendipity and talent that led to the birth of Riva boats. While Carlo Riva (1922-2017) is considered the father of classic contemporary Riva watercraft, had it not been for a run of bad weather on the banks of Lake Iseo in 1842, Sophia would’ve had to settle for a much less classy ride over her Italian lakes.

Heavy rains pummeled the small lakeside town of Sarnico , forcing the River Oglio from its banks. As flooding torrents scoured the village, they carried with them the small fleet of fishing vessels, tumbled about like children’s toys. The humble boats experienced severe damage; immediate help was needed and found through the expertise of a young boatwright by the name of Pietro Riva . Newly arrived from Laglio, Riva quickly set to work repairing and refitting the vessels with skill and quality. His craftsmanship earned the village’s admiration and trust, and eventually Riva opened his own shipyard on the Sarnico shoreline. Pietro’s early production featured quality battel da pesca (fishing boats) and canotto da passeggio (pleasure craft) to suit the needs of the locals, but as his young family grew, so did his vision for his small company.

Pietro’s mastery of boatbuilding was the beginning of a legendary line of shipwrights. His son Ernesto introduced power combustion engines, a forward-thinking step that brought the latest mechanical innovations to the business. His insight introduced not only speedier transportation of goods over the lakes, but the launch of nautical tourism, as well. Ernesto’s own motorboat prototype was a success…and a lot of fun; why not offer tourists the chance to experience the wind, waves, and sights that he was enjoying?  

riva yacht wikipedia

Riva’s visionary heritage continued when Ernesto’s son Serafino took the helm, bringing a major shift to the boatyard. It was after World War I and Italy was ready for distraction. Capitalizing on this, Serafino built and promoted high speed pleasure boats. Equipped for speed and agility, Riva power boats became the hot rod of the Italian lakes. Serafino’s designs quickly set the standard for the popular sport of speedboat racing in the 1920s and 1930s. Riva’s successful incorporation of efficient design and high-powered engines earned fame through multiple wins and titles in Italy and around the world.

“I want to build boats my own way I told my father…I started production in 1950 with six months of testing…It was the happiest day of my life.” ~ Carlo Riva

It wasn’t until Carlo Riva , son of Serafino, took the helm of Riva, however, that the seismic shift in production — and notoriety — began. With the skill, training, DNA, and drive of the Riva dynasty under his skin, Carlo revolutionized Riva design. After some serious head-butting with his father Serafino — who saw no need to change the line’s traditional success —  Carlo succeeded in forging ahead with his vision for a sleek, immaculately built boat featuring flawless functionality and glamorous visual appeal:  the nautical version of Italian flair and desirability. A new manufacturing facility was constructed in 1954 on the shores of Lake Iseo fusing state-of-the art innovation with Riva’s famed tradition for minute attention to detail and quality. Carlo’s vision set into motion Riva’s golden age of luxury watercraft; Riva yachts quickly became the coveted status symbol for those with an eye for ultimate fashion and function.  

riva yacht wikipedia

The breakthrough, however, that imbedded the iconic Riva style in modern awareness came about in 1962 with the launch of the Acquarama. Using the design protocol of his highly popular Tritone , Carlo reimagined the boat to feature roomier passenger space, a sun deck that seemed to beg for bathing beauties, and other innovations that set precedents in the boating world. His signature feature of turquoise blue upholstery with a matching wheel was the cherry on top. Named #1 of the Top 100 Best Boats Ever by “Motorboat & Yachting Magazine” and “Most beautiful boat in the World” by the International Press, this “Ferrari of the boat world” still quickens the pulse in many whenever she shows up in movies or commercials — or lakeside if you’re lucky enough to witness one slicing through the blue.

Carlo sold his company to an American firm in 1969 yet remained active for several more years. A succession of non-Italian owners finally came full circle in 2000 when the Italian Ferretti Group purchased Riva Yachts. Active in production today, Carlo’s imprint remains strong within the company, evident through the breath-taking style, consummate quality, and suave elegance permeating every Riva boat from cruiser to mega-yacht.

Riva Yachts, a name synonymous with Italian flair and elegance, remains one of the most coveted brands today. Even if owning one is out of reach, it’s possible to get up close and personal with a visit to the Riva Yacht factory in Sarnico. Standing next to Ernesto’s first motorboat, or perhaps feeling your pulse quicken as you admire the Aquarama #784, the last classic model off the production line in 1996, can quicken the pulse of any fan of the beauty of Italian design and innovation. Carlo’s spirit is alive and well on the shores of his beloved Sarnico.

“… Designed with love, pure and strong like a pedigree horse. Unforgettable!” ~ Carlo Riva 

Sophia Loren ne aveva uno. Anche Anita Eckberg e Sean Connery… come anche Liz dagli occhi viola. Quello di Brigitte Bardot aveva sedili zebrati, e persino George Bush è stato spesso visto a bordo del suo, mentre navigava negli Hamptons. Sono sempre stati l’epitome nautica del cool – e non stiamo parlando dei proprietari, ma dell’imbarcazione… lo yacht Riva costruito al 100% in Italia. Eleganti, sexy, così italiani… queste imbarcazioni aerodinamiche sono conosciute in tutto il mondo nautico per la loro straordinaria qualità, il design indimenticabile, e beh… per avere un fattore di soavità che sarebbe fuori dalle classifiche se esistessero classifiche di soavità. Anche se il nome non vi è familiare, gli yacht Riva potrebbero avere un posto nel vostro subconscio. Solo per un secondo, visualizzate un gruppo di ricchi e famosi che navigano a motore su un lago italiano, Prosecco alla mano, o magari un filmato di James Bond, con il nostro eroe che si libra sulle onde che si infrangono mentre sfugge all’ira della sua ultima nemesi. È probabile che la vostra immaginazione includa una barca costruita da Riva. Il nome Riva è sinonimo di lusso e glamour nel mondo delle barche, un marchio che sfida la classificazione di “semplice” imbarcazione. Potrebbe anche essere più dello spirito del tempo, dell’ideologia, del concetto, della bellezza, una fusione di stile e funzione che rendono Riva uno dei nomi più desiderabili di yacht. È una straordinaria storia di serendipità e talento quella che ha portato alla nascita delle barche Riva. Mentre Carlo Riva (1922-2017) è considerato il padre dei classici motoscafi Riva contemporanei, se non fosse stato per un periodo di maltempo sulle rive del lago d’Iseo nel 1842, Sophia avrebbe dovuto accontentarsi di un giro molto meno elegante sui laghi italiani. Forti piogge colpirono la piccola città lacustre di Sarnico, facendo uscire dalle sponde il fiume Oglio. Mentre i torrenti inondavano il villaggio, portarono con sé la piccola flotta di pescherecci, trascinati come giocattoli per bambini. Le umili barche subirono gravi danni; fu necessario un aiuto immediato, che fu trovato grazie alla competenza di un giovane maestro d’ascia di nome Pietro Riva. Appena arrivato da Laglio, Riva si mise subito al lavoro per riparare e sistemare le barche con abilità e qualità. La sua abilità artigianale guadagnò l’ammirazione e la fiducia del villaggio, e alla fine Riva aprì il suo cantiere navale sulla costa di Sarnico. La produzione iniziale di Pietro comprendeva battelli da pesca e canotti da passeggio di qualità per soddisfare le esigenze della gente del posto, ma quando la sua giovane famiglia crebbe, crebbe anche la visione della sua piccola azienda. La maestria di Pietro nella costruzione di barche fu l’inizio di una linea leggendaria di maestri d’ascia. Suo figlio Ernesto introdusse i motori a combustione, un passo lungimirante che portò le ultime innovazioni meccaniche al business. La sua intuizione introdusse non solo un trasporto più veloce delle merci sui laghi, ma anche il lancio del turismo nautico. Il prototipo di motoscafo di Ernesto fu un successo… e molto divertente: perché non offrire ai turisti la possibilità di sperimentare il vento, le onde e i panorami di cui lui godeva? L’eredità visionaria di Riva continuò quando il figlio di Ernesto, Serafino, prese il timone, portando un grande cambiamento nel cantiere. Era il primo dopoguerra e l’Italia era pronta a distrarsi. Capitalizzando questo cambiamento, Serafino costruì e promosse barche da diporto ad alta velocità. Equipaggiate per la velocità e l’agilità, le barche a motore Riva divennero l’hot rod dei laghi italiani. I progetti di Serafino stabilirono rapidamente lo standard per il popolare sport delle gare di motoscafi negli anni ’20 e ’30. La riuscita incorporazione da parte di Riva di un design efficiente e di motori ad alta potenza si guadagnò la fama attraverso molteplici vittorie e titoli in Italia e nel mondo. “Voglio costruire barche a modo mio, dissi a mio padre… Ho iniziato la produzione nel 1950 con sei mesi di prove… È stato il giorno più felice della mia vita”. ~ Carlo Riva Fu solo quando Carlo Riva, figlio di Serafino, prese il timone della Riva, però, che iniziò la svolta decisiva nella produzione – e nella notorietà. Con l’abilità, la formazione, il DNA e la grinta della dinastia Riva nella pelle, Carlo rivoluzionò il design Riva. Dopo qualche scontro con il padre Serafino – che non vedeva la necessità di cambiare il tradizionale successo della linea – Carlo riuscì a portare avanti la sua visione di una barca elegante, costruita in modo impeccabile e con un appeal visivo glamour: la versione nautica del fascino italiano e della desiderabilità. Nel 1954 fu costruito un nuovo stabilimento di produzione sulle rive del lago d’Iseo, fondendo l’innovazione allo stato dell’arte con la famosa tradizione Riva di attenzione al dettaglio e alla qualità. La visione di Carlo mise in moto l’età dell’oro delle imbarcazioni di lusso Riva; gli yacht Riva divennero rapidamente l’ambito status symbol per coloro che erano attenti alla moda e alla funzionalità. La svolta, tuttavia, che incastrò l’iconico stile Riva nella consapevolezza moderna avvenne nel 1962 con il lancio dell’Acquarama. Usando il protocollo di design del suo popolarissimo Tritone, Carlo reimmaginò la barca con uno spazio più ampio per i passeggeri, un ponte sole che sembrava implorare bellezze da bagno, e altre innovazioni che stabilirono dei precedenti nel mondo della nautica. La sua firma, tappezzeria blu turchese con una ruota abbinata, fu la ciliegina sulla torta. Nominata n. 1 fra le 100 migliori barche di sempre dalla rivista “Motorboat & Yachting Magazine” e “la più bella barca del mondo” dalla stampa internazionale, questa “Ferrari del mondo delle barche” fa ancora battere forte il cuore a molti ogni volta che appare nei film o nelle pubblicità – o in riva al lago se si è abbastanza fortunati da vederne una che sfreccia nel blu. Carlo vendette la sua compagnia a un’azienda americana nel 1969, ma rimase attivo ancora per diversi anni. Una successione di proprietari non italiani ha finalmente chiuso il cerchio nel 2000, quando il Gruppo Ferretti, italiano, ha acquistato Riva Yachts. Attivo oggi nella produzione, l’impronta di Carlo rimane forte all’interno dell’azienda, evidente attraverso lo stile mozzafiato, la qualità tradizionale e la soave eleganza che permea ogni barca Riva, dal cruiser al mega-yacht. Riva Yachts, sinonimo di fascino ed eleganza italiana, rimane uno dei marchi più ambiti oggi. Anche se possederne uno non è alla portata di tutti, è possibile avvicinarsi a questo marchio con una visita alla fabbrica Riva Yachts di Sarnico. Stare accanto al primo motoscafo di Ernesto, o magari sentire le pulsazioni accelerare mentre si ammira l’Aquarama #784, l’ultimo modello classico uscito dalla linea di produzione nel 1996, può emozionare qualsiasi fan della bellezza del design e dell’innovazione italiana. Lo spirito di Carlo è vivo e vegeto sulle rive della sua amata Sarnico. “…Progettata con amore, pura e forte come un cavallo di razza. Indimenticabile!” ~ Carlo Riva

riva yacht wikipedia

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riva yacht wikipedia

Riva Yachts’ History

Riva Yachts’ history dates back to 1842, when young craftsman Pietro Riva arrived on the shores of Lake d’Iseo to repair fishing boats damaged in a storm. Commissions to build boats quickly followed, and the Italian boatbuilding dynasty that would become Riva Yachts was established. From that tiny shipyard in the town of Sarnico, Italy, Riva Yachts has risen to international prominence as a builder of stylish, elegant vessels that feature state-of-the-art design and advanced performance capabilities. Over the years, Riva Yachts’ exclusive customer list has included kings, sultans, emperors, entrepreneurs, and celebrities from around the world. Riva currently flourishes as part of the Ferretti Group’s portfolio of prestigious luxury motor yachts builders, specializing in open and flybridge motor yachts ranging from a 27-ft. runabout to a luxurious 122-ft. megayacht.

Riva Yachts

Ernesto Riva succeeded his father Pietro, moving the shipyard forward by introducing internal combustion engines on Riva boats. Ernesto’s son Serafino switched the company to building speedboats for the newly popular sport of motorboat racing. Serafino Riva built Riva boats’ reputation as outstanding racing boats by piloting Riva boats to success in many of the top motorboat races of the nineteen twenties and thirties. Riva boats’ reign as the most famous mahogany runabouts in the world was well-established by the mid-thirties, before the looming Second World War stopped Italian motorboat racing and slowed production of Riva’s elegant racers.

Serafino Riva’s son Carlos took over the yard in 1949, transforming the family firm into a renowned builder of exceptional luxury motor yachts. He worked tirelessly to turn the company into the beloved nautical icon it is today, becoming the unquestioned chief architect of Riva Yacht’s success by serving as chief designer, engineer, salesman, and other company roles as needed. Carlos’ uncompromising commitment to quality infused the firm as he built the Riva brand into the yacht of choice for the elite of the world, including royalty, business executives, and screen stars. Over 170 years have passed since a simple carpenter named Riva began building boats in a tiny wooden hut on the shores of Lake d’Iseo. In that time Riva Yachts has become the celebrated iconic brand of the Ferretti Group, shining as an enduring symbol of excellence that represents the best traditions of yachting.

Discover the thrill of owning the unmatchable quality of a Riva Yacht. Atlantic Yacht & Ship has several Riva Yachts from which to choose, including Ego, a 68’ preowned Riva Yacht for sale. This 2008 beauty is in excellent condition, with only 600 hours on her MANs 1550Hp motors. Featuring 3 staterooms and the classic Riva Cream Hull, this preowned Riva yacht is loaded with accessories and extras including underwater lights. An Avon 320 Tender Hydrojet is included in the sale, at the asking price of 1 650 000 € EUR. For more information, call Mark Meyer at 305-677-9137 or email him at [email protected] .

Preowned 68’  Riva Yacht

Feed your need for speed with Dana, a 68’ Riva Ego Super for sale. Launched in 2012, this vessel cuts through the waves at 35 knots, topping out at 39 knots. With a sexy profile that turns heads everywhere she goes, Dana offers all the comforts of home in her luxurious 3-stateroom layout. Bring all offers for this 2012 68’ Riva Yacht priced to sell with an asking price of 2 000 000 € EUR. Contact Joe Marino at 954-328-2059 or email him at [email protected] for more information.

68’ Riva Ego Super

If you are looking at yachts for sale , or thinking about  selling your yacht , it is always wise to have an experienced broker representing your interests throughout the deal. Contact  Atlantic Yacht & Ship  at 954.921.1500 or  click here .

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Riva's Early Years - More Than 170 Years of History

Jul 15, 2021

Riva-Yacht-Sarnico-Shipyard-1903

RIVA'S EARLY YEARS

More than 170 years ago, the Riva family of woodworking craftsmen began building what are now iconic, classically designed boats. The legacy continues today as the line has grown from elegant wooden vessels to a diverse line of luxury fiberglass pleasure boats and yachts.

The Riva Yachts history began in 1842 when Pietro Riva, a 20-year-old carpenter, left Sarnico, Italy to repair boats at Lake Iseo. His exceptional woodworking skills on a severely damaged boat led to additional work in the region to repair and build new boats .

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As he completed orders for fishing and row boats, his business and his family grew. He and his wife, Lucrezia Taroni, had five children: Angelo, Francesco, Ernesto, Erminia and Luigi. The middle child, Ernesto, grew up to learn his father’s trade and join him as a skilled carpenter.

With great foresight, Ernesto believed that future boaters would want bigger boats equipped with engines. To meet that vision, he developed and manufactured larger vessels, and as his hunch proved correct, he built his first motorboat.

Success for the father and son’s expanding business soon necessitated they build a new boatyard. Expansion continued as Ernesto built his own boat, named Sarnico in honor of the family heritage and began the first motorized tourist boat trips on Lake Iseo.

The future of the family business was again secured when Ernesto Riva married Carolina Malighetti and the couple had six children: Francesco, Angelo, Serafino, Mauro, Anna, and Pierina. Middle son Serafino took over the business when Ernesto Riva died in a shipyard accident during a large boat launch in 1907. With a new member of the Riva family at the helm, the company focus again veered - this time from transportation to recreational boats as the availability of small inboard and outboard engines increased.

RACING WITH RIVA - LEISURE AND SPEED RAMP UP IN THE 1920s

Image 0382:

When the nautical industry saw a sales boom, Serafino Riva capitalized on public interest by building racing motorboats. Serafino raced his Rivas, and early in the fairly new sport, he exceeded 24 km/h in an outboard speedboat in the Spring of 1912. Riva racing boats continued to be top competitors throughout the 1920s and prominent exposure during events helped to expand the leisure-craft market worldwide.

The family line was destined to continue, at least by marriage, when Serafino married Irma Bocchi and had three children: Carlo, Dafne (who married Gino Gervason who eventually joins Riva), and Marilena.

RACING IN THE 1930s AND 40s WITH RIVA

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The Riva name continued to capture headlines during the 1920s and 30s. Prominent in the media were famous friends and competitors, Serafino Riva and Giuseppe Guerini. Each raced in Riva boats with the same outboard engines. Riva boats continued to be popular in the racing sport until political events leading up to World War II caused racing to be suspended in Italy.

During the war, production slowed but never ceased at the Riva facility. Many famous racers competed in Rivas including:

  • Dino Sestini
  • Carlo Pagliano, who set an endurance record in 1938 of more than four hours in an outboard Riva boat with a 250cc engine, with an average speed of 58.54 km/h
  • Speedboat racer Count Metello Rossi di Montelera ran Ronzino to win as an Italian champion in 1935 with a 1500cc engine
  • Serafino Riva won the Pavia-Venice in a Riva boat

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Riva’s First Superyacht

  • By Diane M. Byrne
  • Updated: July 28, 2020

Riva Superyacht

In the early 1950s, a young man enthralled with his father’s boatbuilding company took over the family business. As sometimes happens when new generations step in, he wasn’t content to do the same thing his father, or his grandfather, had done. Strong ambition persuaded him to design and build pleasure boats, as opposed to the racing and commercial boats of the shipyard’s past. What’s more, he continuously wanted to outdo himself, focusing on creating motoryachts that were more than boats, as well as status symbols.

Riva Superyacht

While the young Carlo Riva succeeded in all of this after taking the helm of Riva, there’s perhaps no better example of his driving ambition than the period from the mid-1960s into the 1970s, when he launched three limited series of motoryachts.

Not only were their steel hulls a marked change from the glistening mahogany of their sisterships, they were also far larger. The Atlantic series, at 88 feet, and the Caravelle series, at 74 feet, were astoundingly large for their eras. Between their style and the fact that they were faster than many other yachts at the time, they helped Riva find several clients.

More than 50 years later, the spirit of these series lives on with the Riva 50-Meter. It’s the first model in the Riva Superyachts Division and the second Riva constructed entirely of aluminum. At 160 feet, 9 inches length overall, she’s larger than any previous launch from the boatbuilder, but she upholds many of the same principles her predecessors established.

“She is full of personality, exactly like any other Riva yacht,” says Sergio Beretta, CEO and co-founder of Officina Italiana Design, the studio responsible for every modern-era Riva. “It is essentially a true connoisseur’s boat. In a nutshell, it is chic, and that is the whole logic behind it.”

Mauro Micheli, chief designer and co-founder of Officina Italiana Design, agrees. “It is certainly a boat with a very different character to its siblings” because of the LOA and four decks, he explains, “but references to Riva’s signature styling are a constant.”

That styling is well-known and detailed. For instance, Hull No. 1, Race, shows off varnished mahogany and stainless-steel handrails, complementing the metallic painted surfaces. Even the yacht’s wing stations have these handrail details. The richness of the high-gloss wood serves as a reminder that “artisanal craftsmanship is at the very core of each project,” Micheli asserts. “The handrails are the fil rouge [French for common thread] of the yacht.”

Riva Superyacht

Further to the styling’s influences, Micheli mentions the Caravelle line, conceived in 1964. Its uncluttered, simple elegance inspired the team working on the 50-Meter. Though more angular than today’s yachts, the Caravelle had long lines and a proud bow—two timeless characteristics.

“They are the kind of lines that don’t necessarily set out to dazzle but still capture attention with their sheer simplicity,” Micheli says.

Riva Superyacht

For the Riva 50-Meter, the studio focused on classic yet sleek lines. “Race has a great personality,” he says. “She has three straight lines that define each level. The design is clean. We refuse overworked, elaborate and redundant lines.”

Riva Superyacht

Amid these lines are some of the owner’s particular requests. “He wanted lots of light and to enjoy the external panoramas,” Micheli says. While every Riva—indeed, every large yacht—these days incorporates large glass ports, Race’s owner felt it was especially important for the 50-Meter to have them, notably along the main and upper decks. Additionally, in an interesting twist on an indoor-outdoor area, the covered alfresco dining area aft on the upper deck has slide-open glass to each side.

In terms of the open alfresco areas, meanwhile, the owner wanted a front-row seat for when he was approaching shorelines. This explains why Race has cozy seating and viewing spots at the bow and up on the sun deck. Yet another request outside, for similar reasons: a walk-around hot tub and sun pads aft on the upper deck. The owner envisioned standing back here as Race entered a marina and tied up stern-to.

Inside is a relatively customary arrangement, with accommodations for 10 to 12 guests in five staterooms: a main-deck master and four guest staterooms below. However, the owner did request that the galley go belowdecks, with a dumbwaiter connecting it to each of the upper levels. The relocation of the galley permitted more room for the master stateroom.

With Hull No. 2 in the 50-Meter series under construction, Riva is poised to make its mark in the superyacht sector. Larger models are coming too, with the biggest being the 90-Meter (295 feet).

And while Carlo Riva didn’t live to see the 50-Meter launch, having died at age 95 in 2017, there’s no doubt he’d be proud. “The first time that engineer Carlo Riva saw the renderings of the first Riva 50-Meter mega-yacht, he said, ‘I’d like to try and cruise on her,’” Micheli recalls.

Perhaps the once-determined heir to the family business is doing that in spirit.

Take the next step: riva-yacht.com

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riva yacht wikipedia

A closer look at the history of Riva

Riva is one of the most famous yachting brands in the world, best known for its iconic series, such as the 100′ Corsaro and the 110′ Dolcevita that capture the Italian style of yachting the good life goes hand in hand with. However, in spite of Riva’s success not many people know the history behind this iconic shipyard – even though the Italian brand has been building ships for more than 170 years. Here we take a closer look at how the company came to be one of the most recognised brands in the industry today.

Riva in 1842

Riva was founded back in 1842 on Lake Iseo, in Sarnico-Italy following a sudden storm. Local fishermen were shocked when they saw the damage caused to their fleet and banded together to convince a young shipbuilder to repair their vessels. The craftsman, who had recently moved to the region from Laglio, was none other than Pietro Riva. After winning the trust and respect of the locals once he fixed their boats, he began his shipyard, Riva. The first boats made by Riva were launched in the region on the lake and the shipyard rapidly established a reputation thanks to its stylish and high-quality boats. The shipyard continued to flourish under the guidance of Ernesto Riva, Pietro’s son, who introduced internal combustion engines on Riva boats, paving the way for passenger boats and large cargo to cruise the lake.

Riva in the 1930s / 1940s

However, it was not until after World War I that Riva became the brand we know today, when Serafino Riva, Ernesto Riva’s third-born son, began imprinting Riva products. This marked a turning point in the shipyard’s history, as Riva also started moving away from the production of transportation vessels to power boating. Serafino Riva focused on building motor power boats, promoting leisure crafts at speedboat races. Riva went on to make a number of racing yachts between the 1920s and 1930s, which set a number of records in both international and national competitions, capturing the attention of the entire boating industry.

Riva in the 1930s / 1940s

Later on in the 1950s, Carlo Riva, son of Serafino Riva, elevated the shipyard’s reputation even further by only using materials of the highest quality for its vessels, taking care of the smallest detail and focusing on Riva’s expertise and craftsmanship. Riva’s vessels quickly became objects of luxury and desire for the successful and wealthy and the shipyard started working with designer and architect Giorgio Barilani in 1956. Carlo Riva also foresaw the importance of speed and agility in the industry, driven by the Italian industrial revolution, and created a series of wooden yachts which were characterised by one-of-a-kind design features. These included the Ariston, the Tritone (the first two-engine yacht), the Sebino (which marked the beginning of series production), and the Florida.

Anita Ekberg onboard a Riva in the 50s or 60s

Awarded the prestigious Pioneer of Boating award by Ucina two times, Carlo Riva has been praised by many for inventing, developing, drawing and creating Italian Style motorboats. Throughout the 1950s Riva became widely known for the elegance of form, excellent safety features and mahogany racing boats. But, it was in November 1962 that the real legend behind Riva was born: the Aquarama. Presented at the third International Nautical Fair in Milan, the yacht quickly became a symbol of Riva’s excellence. The name of the vessel was inspired by the Cinerama system, the American experimental wide screens and its slogan featured keywords like: “Sun, sea, joie de vivre!” Aquarama’s prototype was the Lipicar no.1, the successor to the Tritone, measuring 8.02 metres in length and 2.62 metres wide, powered by twin 185 hp Chris-Craft engines, with a speed of 73 km/h.

Riva Aquarama

Five years later in 1969, Riva hit another milestone – the start of its fibreglass production. Riva unveiled its first two models crafted from composite material, the day cruiser Bahia Mar 20’ and the cabin cruiser Sport Fisherman 25’. Both models feature wooden details, in line with the brand’s traditional style. However, in spite of the success of its fibreglass models, Riva’s production of wooden runabouts continues until 1996, which is when the last Aquarama Special, hull 784, was built. In September of the same year, 1969, Carlo Riva sold the shipyard to an American company, Whittaker, but maintained the role of Chairman and General Manager, until his resignation in 1971. These roles were then taken on by his partner, Gino Gervasoni.

Riva in 1962

In 1989, twenty years later, English Group Vickers purchased 100% of the shares of Riva and one year later Gino Gervasoni left the shipyard after 41 years, marking the end of the Riva family presence within the Italian company. Nevertheless, the shipyard continues to maintain the values ingrained into the company by the founding family to this day.

In 1991 Riva showcased the 58’ Bahamas at Genoa International Boat Show, the first yacht designed by Mauro Micheli. Nine years later Riva returned to its Italian roots when the Ferretti Group acquired the shipyard on May 1, 2000, from British finance firm Stellican-Investment Bank. Norberto Ferretti took charge of the company and developed a plan to relaunch both the brand as well as its product, focusing on quality, design and style.

Riva 110 Dolcevita profile

Now, more than 175 years since its foundation, Riva continues to flourish, building larger and more extensive superyachts than ever before. The ongoing success of the Italian shipyard is attributed to many factors, in particular, its passion for developing quality, stylish and elegant vessels. A Riva yacht is always instantly recognizable, as the shipyards roots are intertwined with tradition, innovation and love for crafting unique motorboats. Today, the unmistakable fleet Riva includes the flagship series 110’ Dolcevita, 100’ Corsaro, 88’ Florida, 88’ Domino Super, 76’ Perseo, 76’ Bahamas, 66’ Ribelle, 63’ Virtus, 56’ Rivale, Rivamare, Aquariva Super and Iseo.

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Notizie e curiosità

A short history of riva boats.

Riva boats are synonymous with elegance, style, and the ultimate comfort – and it’s been like this for decades. When you want something exquisite, well designed, reliable, and durable, Riva is the go-to line of boats and yachts.

It all began in the town of Sarnico

The beginnings of the Riva brand take us back to the year of 1842, in the town of Sarnico, at the shores of Lake Iseo . A big, unexpected storm came down on this small fishing place, and the damage done to the fishing boats was enormous.

It was then that the fisherman urged a newcomer to the town to help them get back on track. The man had recently come to Lake Iseo, from Laglio. He was a shipbuilder, and his name was Pietro Riva.

Pietro agreed to help the local fisherman, and he repaired the boats. But he didn’t stop there. Soon after helping the locals, he went on to build his shipyard and launched the first boats in the waters of Lake Iseo.

A new shipyard business

Not long after he started his new shipyard business, Pietro Riva became well known for his high-quality boats . Pietro’s son developed the company further by introducing engines with internal combustion. More success lay ahead.

In the 1920s, the Riva company started becoming what we now think of it. A synonym for utmost comfort and pure craftsmanship. The third-born son of Ernesto Riva, Serafino, decided to focus more on powerboats and started promoting Riva products at speedboat races, to solidify the brand.

In the following decades, the company became more prominent in the boating world and famous for its beautifully crafted boats and yachts .

Craftsmanship and passion for a new generation of Riva yachts

There came a time for the fourth generation of Riva builders. Serafino’s son, Carlo, realized the importance of paying attention to even the smallest of details . He wanted the design of Riva boats to be crafted beyond anything that the company had done up to that point.

The times were quickly changing, and Carlo wanted the Riva brand to stay ahead in the race for speed boats and yachts. In 1956, he began working with the architect and designer, Giorgio Barilani.

This collaboration soon ushered in a whole new generation of Riva yachts that were known and praised for their beautiful design and features. Those four most famous yachts are the Ariston , the Tritone (which was the first yacht with two engines), the Florida and the Sebino .

But Carlo Riva didn’t want to invest only in luxurious yachts, as he knew that Riva was just as synonymous with speedboats. So he went on to develop a new, Italian style of motorboats .

Design, excellence and style

The 1950s was a time of significant improvement and innovation, but the start of the following decade brought about a breakthrough. In 1962, one of the most famous Riva boats was created. Its name was the Aquarama , and it soon became a hallmark of Riva design, excellence and style.

In 1969, Riva revealed the Bahia Mar 20’ and the Sport Fisherman 25’, the first composite-material models . Yet wooden models remained the most popular and continued being made well into the ‘90s.

A tradition that will continue to flourish

The year 1969 saw another major change. Carlo Riva sold the shipyard to an international company, the Ferretti Group, but remained at the head as General manager until his resignation a few years later. However, the brand Riva continued developing and flourishing. Riva boats still have their unique design, familiar traits, reliability, and a tradition of over a century and a half .

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Race: Inside Riva's First 50 Metre Superyacht

This 50-metre Riva takes the storied brand into a whole new size bracket. Carlo Riva would have been proud, says Risa Merl

When the Riva 50 Metri made her public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019, the name emblazoned on her transom – Race – gave a hint as to who her owner was. And in case there was any doubt, the treasure trove of Ferrari memorabilia on board and a very unusual automotive-inspired bridge made it crystal clear.

As a board member, chairman of product development and 13.2 per cent stakeholder in the Ferretti Group , parent company of Riva, Piero Ferrari’s choice of builder is unsurprising. But this famous engineer’s passion for the brand is genuinely infectious. “Riva details are distinct from any other yacht,” he enthuses.

At 49.9 metres,  Race  is the largest-ever Riva yacht, proudly previewed in June 2019 at Venice’s Arsenal, during an exclusive client event. She’s also the first to emerge from the  Riva Superyachts Division , which was established in 2014 at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, where its CRN, Custom Line and Pershing superyachts are built. The name Riva most vividly evokes the sexy runabouts that made the brand famous in the 1960s and 70s. But Carlo Riva always envisioned a place for larger Riva boats, as seen in his collaboration with De Vries ( Feadship ) and later CRN on the 24-metre Riva Caravelle series, and his personal yacht, 30.5-metre  Vespucci , which was delivered in 1978 and relaunched in 2018 after a thorough refit.

Two exterior styles, each drawing inspiration from classic Rivas, are offered on the same technical platforms in the Riva Superyachts series, in 50-, 60-, 70- and 95-metre sizes. This first design is inspired by the 1964 Riva Caravelle series. The second option is sportier, with rounded lines and a more aggressive profile, taken from the Riva coupé yachts and seen on the current Riva 76 Perseo and 88 Domino Super.

The Riva 50 Metri’s exterior and interior were created by  Officina Italiana Design  in concert with Riva’s in-house team. “Race takes inspiration from the Caravelle, which was a true masterpiece conceived by Carlo Riva,” says Sergio Beretta, CEO of Officina Italiana Design, which he founded with chief designer Mauro Micheli. “The challenge was to innovate without forgetting the DNA of the Riva brand.”

In essence,  Race  is a highly modernised take on the classic Caravelle. Both yachts feature parallelogram windows, as well as forward-sloping lines that give the impression of movement. During the Monaco show,  Race  had an enviable position at the very end of Jetée Lucciana, so you could admire her silver hull and clean and simple lines. “ Race  has a great personality,” says Micheli. “She has three straight lines that define each level. The design is clean, and we stayed away from overworked, elaborate or redundant lines and shapes, both in the exterior and the interior.”

The exterior paint job is cool grey with a muted 20 per cent gloss finish, so as to avoid reflections seeping inside from her large windows. “The owner wanted lots of light and panoramic views,” says Beretta. “As with any other Riva yacht, we have paid great attention to the use of glass that gives light to the interior and puts the owner in contact with the surrounding nature.” Emphasis has also been given to external living spaces. According to Micheli, Ferrari wanted to have cosy spaces outside – like the forward deck lounge – where he could enjoy the yacht while under way.

Ferrari was hands-on in every aspect of the build. “We worked with the owner from the start,” says Stefano de Vivo, the Ferretti Group’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We decided each detail with him, and he was involved in the project from the first day of thinking about the layout until the decision of the position of the plates at the end. This yacht is very much a part of him.” Ferrari’s previous boat was a Custom Line Navetta 37 motor yacht, and he also has a Riva 76 Bahamas.

One of the first things that de Vivo points out is the use of lightweight materials derived from the aviation industry: a sandwiched panel made of fibreglass and Nomex – the latter is also used in Formula One cars. A veneer goes over the top to give the look of wood, but it’s much lighter.

This veneer is found on all exterior panels, ceilings and the built-in exterior furniture. “By decreasing the weight, you have much better results in terms of fuel consumption,” says de Vivo. “At 14 knots,  Race  burns 300 litres per hour with the engines and generators on. It’s a very good result for us.” Powered by twin 1,360hp MTU 8V 4000 M63 diesel engines, this full-displacement yacht in aluminium alloy reaches a top speed of 15 knots and has a cruising range of 3,500 nautical miles at 11 knots.

It was also vital that the first Riva 50 have the essence of an iconic Riva. This translated to an obsession with the material selection and a bevy of little details – even the stainless-steel drains on the deck are emblazoned with the Riva logo written in miniature. Custom doorknobs, similar to those seen on the Riva Dolcevita, were moulded to fit the owner’s hand perfectly.

Race  has a holistic design, the same materials used inside and out to create a sense of harmony. Exterior features are brought inside, such as the teak decking of a classic Riva, which is found in the dayhead and the corridor leading to the bridge. All the materials used are familiar to the Riva family lineage – rich mahogany, gleaming stainless steel and lots of leather. A darker tone of mahogany was chosen to specifically mimic the colour used on the Aquariva models.

The interior of  Race  is modern, masculine and distinctively Riva. There isn’t a dizzying array of materials; instead the design team concentrated on a uniform colour palette of grey and white, accentuated by mahogany, stainless steel, white statuario marble with grey veining and an abundance of glass, like the glass-framed main stairwell. Narrow strips of mahogany on the ceilings in the saloons and cabins add dimension and hide the air-conditioning output, as the air filters out between the wooden slats. These slats are carried throughout the boat, from the main saloon to the hallways and the guest cabins.

The dining room has a soft grey carpet, and a pantry directly off this space hosts a dumb waiter serving three decks from the lower deck galley. “Following the owner’s wishes, the galley is situated on the lower deck – this is just one of the layout options of the Riva 50,” says Micheli. “This allowed us to obtain more space on the main deck and create a unique master suite.”

Moving the galley allows the entire forward main deck to be laid out to fit an owner’s needs. Ferrari opted for a media room just before the master. Videoworks designed the entertainment system, which is outfitted with James speakers. This cosy spot is a shrine to all things Ferrari, including a painting of the owner’s car and Formula 1 memorabilia signed by the winning drivers.

A glass wall separates the media room from the hallway, and an electric curtain in a silver metallic finish can close off this space for privacy. With an en suite off the media room, it can be converted to an additional guest suite, bringing the overall accommodation capacity up to 12. Though Ferrari usually has only four to six guests on board, it is good to know for a future Riva 50 Metri owner that this is possible. Below decks are four guest cabins – three doubles and one twin. The materials are the same that you would find in the owner’s area, with a prevalence of leather and grey tones. “We wanted the design to flow seamlessly everywhere,” says de Vivo.

The interior volumes were arranged to allow Race to come in just under 500GT. Some compromises had to be made, as in the upper saloon, which is a bit smaller than you’d typically find on a 50-metre yacht. Instead of being full-beam, the designers opted for walk-around decks outside.

In order to make the space feel larger, windows inside the upper saloon descend on either side and the aft doors open fully, letting a breeze come through and creating an indoor/outdoor living area. The controls for the windows are toggle switches, like those found on old Rivas such as Vespucci.

The upper aft deck dining table, which seats 10, is made of Corian, just like a table you’d find on a smaller Riva. “Corian is coming back in fashion – it’s easier to clean and you can polish it in case of scratches,” says de Vivo. The mesh chairs by Dedon are ergonomically designed and so comfortable – you might sit down at dinner and never want to get up. But the sundeck beckons you to lounge for a post-dinner drink with loftier views. It is covered by a carbon-fibre hardtop with a forward angle, matching the geometry of the exterior. The stylish lounge chairs are crafted from mahogany bases with leather straps that raise or lower the back. Even in these tiny details the Riva lineage is clear.

That goes for the bridge as well, where wood floors were chosen to match a classic Riva. “This is a technical area, but we think of it as a guest area,” says de Vivo. “So the finishes and quality of the interior are the same.” The steering wheel is a work of art, custom made and formed from a single piece of titanium. “The price of the boat includes everything but the wheel,” he jokes. But it’s the helm seat that really catches the eye. It is not your usual captain’s chair, but a genuine driver’s seat from a Ferrari California. It had to be augmented so it could work on board a yacht.

“It was a big challenge really because chairs coming from Ferrari cars work differently – you need a key for the electric mechanism of the chair to work, otherwise you can’t move or adjust it,” says de Vivo. “So we had to customise it before installing it – and it took us a lot of time!”

Wing stations are found on either side of the bridge, and there is a forward lounge area where the owner can sit and watch the yacht come into port, staying out of the way of the crew. The sunpads here, which rise via a hydraulic lift, conceal water toys. Of these, the “Ferrari-red” jet ski does not exactly match the cool silver tones of Race. “It would make more sense to have the jet ski in grey, but he didn’t want to repaint it,” says de Vivo. “So we built this to hide the jet ski.”

A seven-metre tender is held below in the garage, which has a shell door for launching. When it is launched, the space is transformed into a beach club with loose furnishings. There is enough space for the area to be used as a gym even when under way with the tender inside.

The second Riva 50 Metri is currently in build at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, with delivery slated for early 2021, before the summer season. According to Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi, seeing the Riva Superyachts Division come to life was a dream of Carlo Riva.

“I’d like to try and cruise on her,” Riva said when he first saw the renderings of the 50-metre yacht that would become Race. He was taken by the boat’s simple yet elegant lines, says Micheli. Sadly, Carlo Riva passed away before Race was launched and did not get to see her completed. But his dream of the Riva brand growing, literally and figuratively, has certainly been realised.

All photography courtesy of Alberto Cocchi

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How the Riva Aquarama Became the World’s Most Iconic Powerboat

The elegant mahogany design was an instant hit among ceos, royalty and movie stars when it launched in 1962., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories, taking a bow: how yacht makers are rethinking the rear end.

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Carlo originally wanted to call the new boat the Admiral but settled on a more futuristic name, Aquarama, after the trendy panoramic film technique Cinerama, which utilized three adjoining screens. The boat’s beautiful mahogany hull, with its sweeping, one-piece windshield and center sun pad, became a status symbol almost immediately after the Aquarama launched in 1962—no doubt helped by the fact that the boat was not only sexy but also fast and functional, powered by 185 hp Chris-Craft engines and able to hit a top speed of 45 mph. 

The first Aquaramas were an instant hit among CEOs, royalty and movie stars, even priced as much as a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud , the most expensive car in Italy at the time. Sophia Loren purchased hull number three, and soon Rex Harrison, King Hussein of Jordan and Brigitte Bardot and her third husband, the German baron and playboy Gunther Sachs, were all owners as well. By 1965, the Riva Aquarama was considered the world’s most desirable motorboat. 

Beginning stages of Riva Aquarama build

Its unmistakable shape became a centerpiece of Monaco ’s harbor. “My father [Prince Rainier III] saw Mr. Riva as quite a businessman and engineer,” says Prince Albert II of Monaco. “And the Aquarama, of course, became the mythical symbol of the Riva adventure. It was so visible in Monaco [that] it became closely linked with our maritime presence.” The Monaco Yacht Club even created the Riva Aquarama Lounge, the only room named after a boat in the entire Lord Norman Foster–designed facility. 

Fittingly, the Aquarama has always drawn more comparisons to couture and high culture than other machines. Carlo referred to the chrome fittings—including the bowsprit, nicknamed the crocodile’s grin for its distinctive shape—as the boat’s “jewelry,” while Augusto Savoldi, who began his apprenticeship at age 16 on the first Aquarama, recalls the master carpenters treating the original richly grained Honduran Cedar console like “a piece of art.” Carlo’s daughter Lia, meanwhile, remembers her father saying the engines’ melodic rumbling was “not noise; it’s music.” Perhaps the best barometer of the Aquarama’s iconic status is its consistently high resale value. Prices for historically correct restorations, depending on model and series, range between $400,000 and $800,000, with the record price, for the second-to-last-built Aquarama Special, standing at $1.15 million—still, perhaps, a small price to pay for history’s purest distillation of la dolce vita. 

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The Riva fleet: 8 to 54 metres of pure seduction

Riva is simply the best-known nautical brand in the world. All the craft, from the 27-foot Iseo up to the imposing megayachts, are marvels of unmistakable detail. These are the fruits of well over a century of experience, where glorious Italian craft tradition meets cutting-edge technology. Riva is the emblem of a modern, sophisticated elegance expressed in an exquisite combination of ultramodern design and a judicious use of the finest woods, from mahogany to streaked, in an endless variety of colours and grains. Riva has been playing a leading role for over 60 years not only in the yachting arena but in the world of cinema too, creating stirring sensations and often stealing the show from top international stars in films too numerous to mention.

riva yacht wikipedia

For a sublime example of this production expertise, take the painting and varnishing of the woodwork. This still follows Carlo Riva’s original method, involving 24 coats lovingly applied by hand to protect the wood from salt-water ruin and leave it with a perfect shiny finish. Likewise, the screws are still all precisely positioned in the same direction, heads painted to match the colour of the hull.

The Riva range vaunts a comprehensive array of sizes and types, with fibreglass yachts from 8 to 33 metres, including open, sportfly and flybridge models. With a dedicated team at the Superyacht Yard in Ancona, the new Riva Superyachts division designs, develops and builds displacement megayachts from 50 up to 90 metres in length.

The Riva boats: from 8 to 50 metres of seductive appeal

Riva is the best-known nautical brand in the world: when there’s a boat in a film or TV advert, it’s sure to be a Riva, whether in classic or contemporary guise. All the craft, from the 27-foot Iseo up to the light-alloy megayachts, are marvels of unmistakable detail, the fruit of well over a century of experience, where glorious Italian craft tradition meets cutting-edge technology. And they are also icons of style, with a judicious use of the finest woods from mahogany to streaked in an endless variety of colours and grains.

riva yacht wikipedia

La gamma Riva è estremamente ampia sia per dimensione che per tipologia, con yacht in vetroresina che vanno da 8 a 33 metri, open, sportfly e flybridge. La nuova "Riva Superyachts Division", il cui team dedicato opera nella Super Yacht Yard di Ancona, progetta, sviluppa e costruisce mega yacht dislocanti, dai 50 fino a 90 metri di lunghezza.

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riva yacht wikipedia

Ferretti S.p.A.

Tax code and VAT no. 04485970968 Registered Office Via Irma Bandiera, 62 – 47841 Cattolica (RN) Italy REA no. RN 296608 - Companies Register no. 04485970968 Share capital € 338.482.654,00 fully paid-up PEC: [email protected]

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The story of classic Riva yachts go right back to 1842 , when a young Pietro Riva began repairing and building yachts on Lake Iseo in northern Italy. But it was his great-grandson, the legendary  Carlo Riva , who had the vision to create a range of wooden-hulled speedboats that were to become the epitome of the jet-set era of the 1950s and 1960s.

Carlo Riva was inspired by the products of the American yacht builder Chris-Craft, for which he was an agent, and he used Chris-Craft and Chrysler engines in his classic Riva yachts. We trace the history of the most popular classic Rivas, and round up a few of the most memorable Rivas of all time…

This sporty Riva classic yacht was equally well suited for a day of sunbathing or watersports.

riva yacht wikipedia

Featuring a large, sunken sun deck and often seen towing water-skiers, this sporty Riva classic yacht was equally well suited for a day of sunbathing or watersports. The Riva Florida is propelled by a single engine and ranged from 5.59 metres to 6.27 metres in her Super Florida size. Though she was built in Italy, like her brethren, her sun-loving demeanour earned her the moniker of the US “Sunshine State” and was named after Florida as at the time it was the place most closely linked with the sport of waterskiing. In her time in build, 426 Florida Rivas were delivered, including 711 of the bigger and more powerful Super Florida models.

Only one left from 40 boats

riva yacht wikipedia

Corsaro (1946-55): Only one yacht is thought to survive from the 40-strong pack of the first range of classic Riva yachts. The two-seater Corsaro Riva series was designed by Carlo Riva, based on the AR Sport motor boat. Production started on 1950, and the series ranged in length from 4.8 to 5.65 metres LOA and she was fitted with various engines.

Perhaps the best-known by sight classic Riva yacht.

riva yacht wikipedia

Certainly one of the most popular, is the Ariston, which was built for nearly 25 years. The single-engine Ariston measures 6.7 meters and features a distinctive rounded stern and wooden sax board. There were 823 Riva Ariston yachts built and another 189 Super Aristons delivered.

The first twin-engine classic Riva yacht

the-tritone-is-one-of-the-most-classic-riva-speedboats

The first twin-engine classic range Riva yacht was the Tritone, in build from 1950-1966. While 221 of the standard Tritone version were delivered, far fewer of the far more desired Super Tritone came into being, with only 21 hitting the water. At nearly eight metres LOA, the Super Tritone was a long, powerful version of Riva’s Tritone, its biggest thus far. The Super Tritone is valued at €200,000-€300,000.

  • Tritone Special

The rarest Riva speedboat

ribot-iii-is-one-of-the-rarest-riva-speedboats

Riva owners may commonly have been rich and famous, but it was rare to get special treatment; however, Carlo Riva broke his rule in the case of the Como industrialist, champion sailor and Riva patron, Achille Roncoroni. In 1960, Roncoroni persuaded the company to build him a one-off version of the Tritone Special model classic Riva yacht. He wanted the best, fastest and largest Riva ever. What he got was an 8.3 metre wood-clad wonder powered by two high-performance, marinised Cadillac Eldorado V8 engines, each producing 325hp to push the boat to a stunning 60mph. The unique interior had red, white and blue front seats that could be laid flat to let occupants sunbathe away from prying eyes. The dashboard featured sparkling, chrome bezel instruments befitting the Cadillac-powered Special.

Roncoroni used the boat,  Ribot III , mostly on Como, and kept her until 1970 before selling her on to the second owner who has owned this classic Riva ever since. And, true to his word, Carlo Riva ensured  Ribot III  remained a one-off, even turning down a request for a similar craft from King Hussein of Jordan.

The most expensive classic Riva yacht

the-riva-aquarama-is-one-of-the-worlds-most-expensive-classic-speedboats

The original Riva Aquarama line was delivered from 1962 to 1972. This included first classic Riva Aquarama yacht, of which 288 were sold, and the Super Aquarama, with 203 splashing. The Aquarama Special then emerged, running from 1972 to 1996 with 278 boats built.

The most expensive classic Riva ever built was probably an Aquarama, which crossed the block at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida, back in 2011, for an impressive $975,000. Bidders from around the world competed to own the boat, which was considered extra special, because it was the last of the original, wooden-hulled Rivas to be sold to the public. Hull No 774 was completed in 1996 and delivered new to the founding family of the giant Sony Corporation on 23 December 1998.

Surely the ultimate Christmas present, it was one of six “End of the Era” commemorative editions produced. Its owners, however, clocked up fewer than 20 hours aboard her in 12 years, with their most ambitious voyage being a return trip across Lake Garda for lunch.

The celebrity’s choice of Riva

riva yacht wikipedia

The Riva Junior was the late 1960s replacement for the basic Riva Florida. At 5.6 metres, the classic Riva yacht model Junior found fame as the choice of the celebrity set such as Brigitte Bardot and Peter Sellers. The Riva Junior is valued at €30,000-€40,000.

The modern classic Riva speedboat

riva yacht wikipedia

Despite the move into fibreglass — and now superyacht-size yachts even — Riva’s current owner, the Ferretti Group, is still passionate about preserving the essence of classic Riva yachts in its new runabouts. In 2001, a year after Ferretti Group purchased Riva, the Aquariva was launched. This 11-metre yacht was specifically designed as a successor to the inimitable Aquarama. Though built in GRP, her sweet exterior lines and wood detail harken back to the days of a bygone era when the first classic Rivas plied the waters.

The newest Riva speedboat

the-rivamare-super-yacht-tender-was-designed-by-ferretti-group-and-officina-italiana

Launched in June 2016, the Rivamare is the newest addition to the Riva collection. Despite her effortlessly classic styling, the 11.88 meter Rivamare is packed with modern technology, such as underwater lighting, air conditioning, an electro-hydraulic bimini shade and a Seakeeper NG5 stabilizer.

  • classic boat
  • Riva yachts

Douglas Hensman

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COMMENTS

  1. Riva Aquarama

    The Riva Aquarama is a luxury wooden runabout built by Italian yachtbuilder Riva.Production of it and its derivatives (the Lungo, Super, and Special) ran from 1962 until 1996. The hull was based on the Riva Tritone, an earlier model speedboat by Riva, which in turn was inspired by the American mahogany Chris-Craft runabouts. The boat's speed, beauty, and craftsmanship earned it praise as the ...

  2. A contemporary legend. Join the myth

    The Riva yard in Sarnico:the timeless atelier. The production yard in Sarnico near Bergamo opened in 1842 on Lake Iseo deep in the Franciacorta area and remains the heartbeat of the Riva story today. This is where it is all made and always has been - from the legendary wooden hulls of the past to the modern 27- to 68-foot yachts.

  3. A new Journey with my Riva

    Yachts. In a variety of different lengths and models with a shared spirit of performance, safety and exclusive style, the Riva range expresses the soul of this legendary brand to sublime effect. The boats are available in open, sportfly and flybridge styles from 8 to 54 metres in length. SPORTFLY.

  4. Riva Yachts: how one Italian family created a nautical legend

    Riva Yachts, a name synonymous with Italian flair and elegance, remains one of the most coveted brands today. Even if owning one is out of reach, it's possible to get up close and personal with a visit to the Riva Yacht factory in Sarnico. Standing next to Ernesto's first motorboat, or perhaps feeling your pulse quicken as you admire the ...

  5. Riva Yachts' History

    Riva Yachts' history dates back to 1842, when young craftsman Pietro Riva arrived on the shores of Lake d'Iseo to repair fishing boats damaged in a storm. Commissions to build boats quickly followed, and the Italian boatbuilding dynasty that would become Riva Yachts was established. From that tiny shipyard in the town of Sarnico, Italy ...

  6. The Riva Aquarama Is Still the the Most Beautiful Runabout Ever Made

    Galassi, who had wanted an Aquarama as a child, believes that the Aquarama is the most perfect design ever. "The sound of the engines, the wood, the beautiful sweep of the hull, the performance ...

  7. How the Riva Aquarama became the world's most iconic powerboat

    By 1965, the Riva Aquarama was considered the world's most desirable motorboat. Its unmistakable shape became a centerpiece of Monaco's harbor. "My father [Prince Rainier III] saw Mr. Riva as quite a businessman and engineer," says Prince Albert II of Monaco. "And the Aquarama, of course, became the mythical symbol of the Riva adventure.

  8. Riva's Early Years

    More than 170 years ago, the Riva family of woodworking craftsmen began building what are now iconic, classically designed boats. The legacy continues today as the line has grown from elegant wooden vessels to a diverse line of luxury fiberglass pleasure boats and yachts. The Riva Yachts history began in 1842 when Pietro Riva, a 20-year-old ...

  9. Riva's First Superyacht

    And while Carlo Riva didn't live to see the 50-Meter launch, having died at age 95 in 2017, there's no doubt he'd be proud. "The first time that engineer Carlo Riva saw the renderings of the first Riva 50-Meter mega-yacht, he said, 'I'd like to try and cruise on her,'" Micheli recalls.

  10. A closer look at the history of Riva

    A Riva yacht is always instantly recognizable, as the shipyards roots are intertwined with tradition, innovation and love for crafting unique motorboats. Today, the unmistakable fleet Riva includes the flagship series 110' Dolcevita, 100' Corsaro, 88' Florida, 88' Domino Super, 76' Perseo, 76' Bahamas, 66' Ribelle, 63' Virtus ...

  11. The most classic Riva launches of all time

    1. Tritone. The first twin-engine classic range Riva yacht was the Tritone, in build from 1950-1966. While 221 of the standard Tritone version were delivered, far fewer of the far more desired Super Tritone came into being, with only 21 hitting the water. At nearly eight metres LOA, the Super Tritone was a long, powerful version of Riva's ...

  12. A short history of Riva boats » Bellini Nautica

    The times were quickly changing, and Carlo wanted the Riva brand to stay ahead in the race for speed boats and yachts. In 1956, he began working with the architect and designer, Giorgio Barilani. This collaboration soon ushered in a whole new generation of Riva yachts that were known and praised for their beautiful design and features.

  13. Reinventing Iconic: On Board the Riva 110 Dolcevita

    The question was, as Riva moved into building fibreglass motor yachts in the 2000s, could the style, grace - and success - of a classic Riva ever be replicated on a larger scale? The builder's latest fibreglass flagship, the 33.5 metre 110' Dolcevita, is specifically designed in the hopes of answering this query with a resounding yes.

  14. Race: Inside Riva's First 50 Metre Superyacht

    At 49.9 metres, Race is the largest-ever Riva yacht, proudly previewed in June 2019 at Venice's Arsenal, during an exclusive client event.She's also the first to emerge from the Riva Superyachts Division, which was established in 2014 at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, where its CRN, Custom Line and Pershing superyachts are built.

  15. How the Riva Aquarama Became the World's Most Iconic Powerboat

    By 1965, the Riva Aquarama was considered the world's most desirable motorboat. Its unmistakable shape became a centerpiece of Monaco 's harbor. "My father [Prince Rainier III] saw Mr. Riva ...

  16. Classic Riva Aquarama is still the the most beautiful runabout ever

    The Riva Aquarama is one of those. Carlo Riva's creation, celebrating the 60th anniversary of its launch in August, was an instant hit when it arrived in 1962. ... where you can find the greatest news from Boating, Sailing, Yachts, Events, Water sports, Technology to the best Companies in the sector, Ports, Marinas and the unrivaled Life ...

  17. Riva Yacht

    Riva is the oldest and most iconic shipyard in the world, incredibly well known for its tradition and innovation: the brand has also played a starring role in the film industry for over 60 years ...

  18. The best-known nautical brand in the world

    The Riva range vaunts a comprehensive array of sizes and types, with fibreglass yachts from 8 to 33 metres, including open, sportfly and flybridge models. With a dedicated team at the Superyacht Yard in Ancona, the new Riva Superyachts division designs, develops and builds displacement megayachts from 50 up to 90 metres in length.

  19. The most classic Riva launches of all time

    The story of classic Riva yachts go right back to 1842, when a young Pietro Riva began repairing and building yachts on Lake Iseo in northern Italy.But it was his great-grandson, the legendary Carlo Riva, who had the vision to create a range of wooden-hulled speedboats that were to become the epitome of the jet-set era of the 1950s and 1960s. Carlo Riva was inspired by the products of the ...

  20. Models

    Seven examples of this elegant deep-sea motor yacht were built in Holland to Riva design and specification, plus an eighth built to order after it had been decided to end production. ... the Ariston is the only model that was present in the boatyard's price list throughout Carlo Riva's management, but was subject to continual updating ...

  21. Riva (cantiere navale)

    Storia. Il cantiere nasce per opera del maestro d'ascia Pietro Riva nel 1842 a Sarnico, sulla sponda occidentale del Lago d'Iseo.. 1880: Ernesto Riva introduce il motore a scoppio.. 1912: il primo maggio Serafino Riva, su uno scafo da corsa spinto da un motore fuoribordo prodotto da una ditta di Genova, supera i 24 km all'ora.. 1922: il 24 febbraio nasce Carlo Riva.