Riva: the benchmark brand for luxury motor boats

The history of the brandA true symbol of performance and refinement, the family-run company Riva was founded in 1842 on Lake Iseo, in Sarnico, Italy. Almost 100 years later, the family shipyard was taken over by the engineer Carlo Riva, who was responsible for the myth surrounding the brand's boats. A timeless brand, evoking excellence and refinement, Riva remains a manufacturer of prestigious motor boats.Riva first built its legend by manufacturing models with varnished mahogany hulls and powerful engines. Its unique and inimitable expertise has earned it success with its many boatsCarlo Riva, director of the Sarnico shipyard until 1971, was inspired in particular by the "runabout/roadster" boats he saw in the United States when designing luxurious pleasure boats. His aim was to attract a wealthy clientele and focus on the high end by using noble materials such as mahogany, chrome and leather.Elegant lines, a perfect finish and impressive marine performance have earned the brand's boats the reputation of being the «Ferrari of the seas». The designer and architect Giorgio Barilani, who began working for Riva in 1956, also contributed greatly to the brand's success. Indeed, we owe to him, among other things, the emblematic twin-engine Riva Aquarama, described as the «Rolls-Royce of the sea» or even the «Stradivarius of boating».The different shipyardsRiva now has 3 shipyards. The Sarnico shipyard, a timeless workshop, continues to be at the heart of Riva's history. Located in the Franciacorta region of Italy, it opened its doors in 1842 on Lake Iseo. This is where it all began and where the brand's legendary wooden hulls have evolved from boats to modern yachts. The shipyard at La Spezia, the future of the brand, is Riva's new strategic center. Built over several years, it was opened in 2004 to increase the brand's production capacity and then to expand their range. Today, the La Spezia shipyard has become the brand's center of advanced technology. The Ancona shipyard is the headquarters of the new Riva Superyachts division. It is also, and above all, one of the largest shipbuilding facilities in Europe, with a surface area of almost 80,000 square meters. Home to an engineering and design team, the shipyard collaborates with one of the most famous Italian designers, Mauro Micheli and his company, Officina Italiana Design, which designs the entire Riva fleetBought by the Ferretti group in the early 2000s, the brand completely converted to the manufacture of luxury yachts, while continuing to renovate its older models. At that time, Ferretti was considered the world leader in boating, renowned for its exceptional, avant-garde yachts. A few years later, Riva was taken over by the Chinese group Weichai Power. The brand then turned to a new line of production, luxury yachts with a more aerodynamic design. Having lost none of its magic aura, Riva is still causing a sensation, with the Domino 86, Duchessa 92, Rivarama Super, SportRiva 56 and Vertigo 63 ranges.