History Riva

After the First World War, Serafino Riva gave Riva products their final imprint and turned valuable crafts the yard is in a real fire, making it a step in history: production driven from transport to power, which at the moment still dawn. Between the 1920 and the 1930 Riva, through its racing yachts, gathered a large number of records and victories in national and international competitions. The 1950s were the years of Carlo Riva, who were driven by boundless passion for boats and the family business since he was a child. Riva had then become the synonym of elegance, status and perfection everywhere. Selected materials of the highest quality, meticulous care for the smallest details, unrivaled, years of expertise and craftsmanship. Riva's creations became the object of desire for the aristocracy, award-winning athletes, successful businessmen and movie stars.

The slogan of the yacht was launched with several key words: "Sun, sea, joie de vivre" The prototype was the mythical Lipicar no 1, the evolution of the Tritone 8.02 meters long, 2.62 meters wide, which able to sleep .. up to eight people, two moorings at the bow, two 185 hp Chris-Craft petrol engines, with a speed of 73 km / h The price: .. 10 million 800 thousand lira The year 1969 was a milestone in the history of the legendary brand: it was then that glass fiber production began The first two Riva models in composite material were born :. the day cruiser Bahia Mar 20 'and the cabin cruiser Sport Fisherman 25' The new material was studied for the first time by purchasing the hull from the Bertram. yard. The hull was then redesigned and both models were then finished with wooden details, in line with Riva's tradition. Between the 1970s and 1990s, more yachts were created, including the St. Tropez - which was produced until 1992 - and the Superamerica, the first large cabin cruiser, that was available on the market for more than 20 years. Despite the success met by fiber, Riva's production of wooden runabouts continued until 1996, when the last Aquarama Special (construction number 784) was built. In September 1969, Carlo Riva, frustrated by a tough union climate, sold the yard to the US company Whittaker, maintaining the role of chairman and general manager, from which he resigned in 1971. These roles are taken over by Gino Gervasoni, his partner since 1950. Developing old and new models, Riva's tradition continues. In 1989, a year after the English Group Vickers, whose brand Rolls Royce was a part also, had bought 100% of the shares of Riva, Gino Gervasoni, who married Carlo Riva's sister, left the yard after 41 years of activity. This is how the presence of the Riva family came to an end. In 1991 Riva presented the 58 'Bahamas at Genoa International Boat Show - it was the first yacht designed by Mauro Micheli.

The history Building on a legend The Riva shipyard was founded in 1842 on Lake Iseo, in Sarnico-Italy. It was a sudden and devastating storm - irreparably damaged the boats of the local fishermen, who had been shocked and helpless - that a young owner and craftsman who had just moved from Laglio, near Como, to a true wonder to perform and repair most of the crafts, thereby gaining the confidence of the local population. This was the beginning of the legend of Riva and that of a man, Pietro Riva, who - immediately after the move to Sarnico - became the master of his own destiny. This was the place where the first boats were signed by Riva and immediately stood out for their unrivaled style and personality. Riva quickly gained great respect and recognition; the yard also thrived thanks to the foresight of Ernesto Riva, who succeeded his father Pietro and introduced combustion engines on Riva boats. The era of the large cargo and passenger boats that started on the lake. After the First World War, Serafino Riva gave Riva products their final imprint and turned valuable crafts the yard is in a real fire, making it a step in history: production driven from transport to power, which at the moment still dawn. Between the 1920 and the 1930 Riva, through its racing yachts, gathered a large number of records and victories in national and international competitions. The 1950s were the years of Carlo Riva, who were driven by boundless passion for boats and the family business since he was a child. Riva had then become the synonym of elegance, status and perfection everywhere. Selected materials of the highest quality, meticulous care for the smallest details, unrivaled, years of expertise and craftsmanship. Riva's creations became the object of desire for the aristocracy, award-winning athletes, successful businessmen and movie stars.

Even today, these jewels preserve intact all the charm of that time, made of paparazzi, movie stars wearing foulards and glamorous umbrellas, celebrity love stories, luxurious and timeless elegance. In the decade of the Italian industrial revolution, dominated by the myth of speed and racing cars, l'Ingegnere, as Carlo Riva is called, felt the importance of this phenomenon and created a series of wooden yachts characterized by unique, unmistakable design features. One of them was the Ariston, of which Carlo Riva says it is "designed with love, born pure and strong as a pedigree horse, unbeatable! It was my Lord of the Sea". The Tritone followed (the first two-engine yacht), then the Sebino (which marked the beginning of the series production), and then the Florida, whose name is reminiscent of the American model, which was mainly in fashion in those years. In 1956 Riva began collaboration with designer and architect Giorgio Barilani, whose graphic and design activities for boat building were then exclusively devoted to Riva, where Barilani was the design manager between 1970 and 1996. In November 1962 the myth was born: it was called Aquarama . Since the presentation, at the third Milan International Boat Show, the Aquarama became the symbol of Riva par excellence, almost "a brand within the brand". The name of the hunt was inspired by the Cinerama system, the American experimental wide screens. The slogan of the yacht was launched with several key words: "Sun, sea, joie de vivre" The prototype was the mythical Lipicar no 1, the evolution of the Tritone 8.02 meters long, 2.62 meters wide, which able to sleep .. up to eight people, two moorings at the bow, two 185 hp Chris-Craft petrol engines, with a speed of 73 km / h The price: .. 10 million 800 thousand lira The year 1969 was a milestone in the history of the legendary brand: it was then that glass fiber production began The first two Riva models in composite material were born :. the day cruiser Bahia Mar 20 'and the cabin cruiser Sport Fisherman 25' The new material was studied for the first time by purchasing the hull from the Bertram. yard.

The hull was then redesigned and both models were then finished with wooden details, in line with Riva's tradition. Between the 1970s and 1990s, more yachts were created, including the St. Tropez - which was produced until 1992 - and the Superamerica, the first large cabin cruiser, that was available on the market for more than 20 years. Despite the success met by fiber, Riva's production of wooden runabouts continued until 1996, when the last Aquarama Special (construction number 784) was built. In September 1969, Carlo Riva, frustrated by a tough union climate, sold the yard to the US company Whittaker, maintaining the role of chairman and general manager, from which he resigned in 1971. These roles are taken over by Gino Gervasoni, his partner since 1950. Developing old and new models, Riva's tradition continues. In 1989, a year after the English Group Vickers, whose brand Rolls Royce was a part also, had bought 100% of the shares of Riva, Gino Gervasoni, who married Carlo Riva's sister, left the yard after 41 years of activity. This is how the presence of the Riva family came to an end. In 1991 Riva presented the 58 'Bahamas at Genoa International Boat Show - it was the first yacht designed by Mauro Micheli.