Riva Aquarama

Last updated

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 Ferrari of the boat world. [1] The company was founded by Pietro Riva in 1842, and run by Carlo Riva through its 1969 sale to the American Whittaker Corporation.

Contents

Description

The steering wheel of a Super Aquarama Riva Wheel.JPG
The steering wheel of a Super Aquarama
The bows of several Riva Aquaramas and Aristons, an Aquarama in center Riva Aquaramas.JPG
The bows of several Riva Aquaramas and Aristons, an Aquarama in center

The most famous of Carlo Riva's designs, the Aquarama has gained over the decades a legendary nautical reputation. Its evocative name, derived in part from the widescreen Cinerama movie format popular in the early 1960s, echoed in its sweeping wrap-around windshield, conjures images from another time.

The Riva Aquarama's 8.02 - 8.78 metre [2] hull was sheathed in mahogany and varnished to accentuate the beauty of its natural wood grain. All versions were twin engined, with top speeds of 45/50 knots depending on engine choice. Power varied from 185 hp to 400 hp per engine, [3] delivered by Riva 'tuned' Cadillac and Chrysler models, among others. On top of the engine compartment was a cushioned sundeck. The boats also carried a convertible roof which retracted behind the rear seat and cockpit. A swim ladder was often mounted in the stern.

Model variants: 1960s and 1970s

The stern of a 1979 Aquarama Special, with swim step for easy access Riva 'Gorgeous' Stern.JPG
The stern of a 1979 Aquarama Special, with swim step for easy access

The Aquarama is a direct descendant of the Tritone, upon whose hull it was based. First built in 1962, it incorporated the open sunbathing area of the Tritone Aperto together with new features, including separate front seats and a central non-slip gangway which allowed easier water access at the stern.

Legacy

Jeremy Clarkson looked at the history of the Aquarama in his TV programme Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines , and later mentioned it in his book I Know You Got Soul . The boat also featured in the Top Gear 2013 DVD special The Perfect Road Trip in which presenter Jeremy Clarkson, whilst piloting the boat in Venice, described it as "the most beautiful thing ever made". The actress Charlize Theron piloted an Aquarama Super in 1993 in a spot for Martini & Rossi. Another Special piloted by Xenia Onatopp appears in the movie GoldenEye , and a Special is piloted by Vincent Cassel in the movie Ocean's Twelve . In 2011 the actor Jude Law piloted an Aquarama Special for the Dior 2011 campaign.

Monte Carlo Offshorer

Carlo Riva sold the shipyard to the American firm Whittaker, having produced more than 4,000 watercraft over the years. He appointed his brother-in-law Gino Gervasoni as CEO in 1971. The Riva family's history with the company ended in 1989 when Gervasoni left the business. [5]

After selling the Riva yard, Carlo Riva took part in the creation of the "Monte Carlo Offshorer" brand. In the 1970s, American raceboat designer Bob Hobbs, an advocate of stepped bottoms for offshore boats, [6] and engine expert Cal Connell designed a three-plane, two-step boat hull to show Riva. The function of the steps was to lower the speed at which the boat begins to plane, increasing its speed and efficiency. The cold-molded wooden prototype was built by a small boatyard in Miami, but it had serious problems with stability. After being shipped to Monaco, Riva modified the hull to improve its handling and then put the new model into production as the first stepped-hull speedboat series. [7]

The goal was to develop runabouts with the same strengths as the Super Aquarama in build quality, power and livability on board while handling better at sea.

Riva Aquariva

Aquariva continues the Aquarama heritage into the 2000s.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Offshore powerboat racing</span> Type of racing by ocean-going powerboats

Offshore powerboat racing is a type of racing by ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runabout (boat)</span> Boat type

A runabout is any small motorboat holding between four and eight people, well suited to moving about on the water. Characteristically between 20' and 35' in length, runabouts are used for pleasure activities like boating, fishing, and water skiing, as a ship's tender for larger vessels, or in racing. Some common runabout types are bow rider, center console, cuddy boat and walkaround. The world's largest runabout, Pardon Me, is 48 feet long and owned by the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorboat</span> Boat which is powered by an engine

A motorboat, speedboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamborghini Gallardo</span> Sports car produced by Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by the Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini from 2003 to 2013. It is Lamborghini's second car released under parent company Audi, and the best-selling model at the time with 14,022 built throughout its production run. Named after a famous breed of fighting bull, the V10 powered Gallardo has been Lamborghini's sales leader and stable-mate to a succession of V12 flagship models—first to the Murciélago, then to the Aventador, being the first entry-level Lamborghini in one-and-half decades. On 25 November 2013, the last Gallardo was rolled off the production line. The Gallardo was replaced by the Huracán in 2014.

Crusader was a jet-powered speed boat piloted by John Cobb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferruccio Lamborghini</span> Italian industrialist, founder of Automobili Lamborghini (1916–1993)

Ferruccio Lamborghini was an Italian automobile designer, soldier, inventor, mechanic, engineer, winemaker, industrialist, and businessman who created Lamborghini Trattori in 1948 and the Automobili Lamborghini in 1963, a maker of high-end sports cars in Sant'Agata Bolognese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris-Craft Boats</span> Historic boat manufacturer

RNLB <i>Thomas McCunn</i> (ON 759)

RNLB Thomas McCunn is a 45ft 6in Watson-class lifeboat stationed at Longhope in Orkney, Scotland, from January 1933 until April 1962. During which time she was launched on service 101 times and saved 308 lives. After Thomas McCunn left Longhope she was placed into the reserve fleet for ten years before being sold and used as a pleasure boat. In 2000 she was bought by Longhope Lifeboat Museum. The lifeboat is now at the centre of a display in the old slipway at Brims and is still launched on special occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yacht tender</span> Boat used for servicing larger racing or cruising pleasure craft

A yacht tender is a vessel used for servicing and providing support and entertainment to a private or charter yacht. They include utilitarian craft, powered by oar or outboard motor, and high-speed luxury craft, supporting superyachts, powered by inboard engines, some using water-jets. Some superyachts have a support vessel that follows them with bulky items that are not conveniently stowed aboard the main yacht, such as a helicopter, automobile or larger watercraft.

Fairey Marine Ltd, latterly known as FBM Marine, was a boat building company based on the River Hamble, Southampton, England. The company was created in the late 1940s by Sir Charles Richard Fairey and Fairey Aviation's managing director, Mr. Chichester-Smith. Both were avid sailing enthusiasts along with Chichester-Smith's good friend and former Olympic yachtsman, Charles Currey.

<i>Miss England I</i>

Miss England I was the first of a series of speedboats used by Henry Segrave and Kaye Don to contest world water speed records in the 1920s and 1930s.

Stevens Brothers Boat Builders and Designers company, an American boat designer, began in the back yard of brothers Theodore and Robert Stevens. Their boatbuilding firm in Stockton, California operated from 1902 to 1987. Over the years the company became famous for its elegantly designed pleasure craft, including sailboats, speedboats, cruisers and private yachts. Stevens Bros. also built many vessels for the U.S. military, especially during World War II. The company's first vessel was the sloop Dorothy, in 1902.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayea Boat & Aeroplane Works</span>

Mayea Boat & Aeroplane Works is an American wooden boat builder based in Michigan. The company was founded in 1911 by Louis T. Mayea and represents the oldest family-run custom mahogany speedboat builder/designer in the United States. While all other early wooden speedboat builders have changed owners, shut their doors, or turned to fiberglass construction, Mayea Boat & Aeroplane Works continues the wooden speedboat tradition with direct lineage to the company's founder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hacker-Craft</span> Boat manufacturing company

Hacker-Craft is the name given to boats built by The Hacker Boat Co. It is an American company, founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1908 by John Ludwig Hacker and is the oldest constructor of wooden motor boats in the world. The company moved operations to New York State in the 1970s and continues to produce hand-built boats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke Boats</span>

Duke Boats, Ltd was a manufacturer of wooden inboard runabouts located in Port Carling, Ontario founded in 1924.

Albatross Marine (1949–1966) was a British manufacturer of very light aluminium speedboats primarily used for Water skiing on lakes. The company was created by two English engineers, Peter Hives, and Archie Peace, in St. Olaves. Albatross marine has run from Bosham in West Sussex since 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamborghini Aventador</span> Sports car produced by Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Aventador is a mid-engine sports car produced by the Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini. In keeping with Lamborghini tradition, the Aventador is named after a Spanish fighting bull that fought in Zaragoza, Aragón, in 1993. The Aventador is the successor to the Murciélago and was made by hand in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance</span>

The Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance is an event held at Lake Tahoe yearly, and serves as one of the most prestigious judging events for classic wooden boats. The event, held over a two- to three-day span in August of every year, started in 1972 by wooden boat enthusiasts and experts of Lake Tahoe to judge boats much like in a car concours. Now officially hosted by the Tahoe Yacht Club, since 1994, the show has become a renowned event in the wooden boat world. Each year the show raises money for charitable donation, with $32,000 being donated in 2010, with total donations from 1994 to present have totaled over $200,000.

Trojan Yachts is (1949–1992) a US manufacturer of motorboats, with offices and production facilities in Lancaster Pennsylvania, Elkton Maryland and Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlo Riva</span> Italian motorboat designer

Carlo Riva was an Italian motorboat designer and builder, famed for his luxurious runabouts.

References

  1. "Riva Lamborghini |The Fastest Aquarama in the World". Riva Lamborghini. 2019. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021. In production from 1962 to 1996, the Aquarama was the most famous of Carlo Riva's luxury designs and has the reputation of the Ferrari of the boat world...
  2. "EEN DROOM WORDT WERKELIJKHEID | Beleef een heerlijke dag met de legendarische Riva Aquarama op het Noord Italiaanse Gardameer". rivacharter.com (in Dutch). Retrieved Sep 27, 2022.
  3. "Riva Historical Society". www.rivahistorical.org. Retrieved Sep 27, 2022.
  4. "Ferrucio Lamborghini's Riva Aquarama Restored". 16 October 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  5. Leriche, Maxime (19 January 2023). "Riva: luxurious and timeless Italian boats". BoatsNews.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023.
  6. Staff. "Rybo Runner (Prototype)". MotorBoating. No. September 1981. p. 73.
  7. Guetat, Gerald (22 May 2014). Spurr, Dan (ed.). "Rovings June/July Issue 149 - Professional BoatBuilder Magazine". www.proboat.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017.