Riva, the Lake Iseo Boatbuilder Behind the Aquarama

From Pietro's lakeside shop to Carlo's legend

Pietro Riva began building boats at Sarnico on the shore of Lake Iseo in 1842. His grandson Serafino turned the business into a builder of racing and pleasure boats in the 1930s, but it was Carlo Riva, from the 1950s onward, who made the name famous worldwide. Under Carlo, Riva runabouts became the boats of film stars, royalty and industrialists, with clients such as Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren and the Shah of Iran.

Carlo Riva sold the company in the early 1970s, and a succession of owners followed before Ferretti Group bought Riva in 2000. Today Riva is Ferretti's most prestigious brand, building fiberglass runabouts, open yachts and flybridge yachts from its yards in Sarnico and La Spezia.

Why the Aquarama still sets the standard

The Riva Aquarama, which we cover in depth, is the reason most Americans know the name. Introduced in the early 1960s and built into the 1990s, it combined a planked mahogany hull, deep varnish, twin inboard engines and a sunpad aft of the cockpit in a shape that still looks right today. It was built to order in small numbers, and surviving boats are cataloged and traced by enthusiasts.

That makes the Aquarama a collector's object more than a used boat. Prices depend on originality, hull number, engine type and restoration quality, and the best examples sell at levels comparable to classic sports cars. Restoration requires specialists, and Riva's own heritage department can certify history on some boats.

Modern Rivas, such as the Aquariva and Iseo runabouts and larger yachts like the Dolcevita and Folgore, translate the look into fiberglass with deep varnish-like finishes and polished stainless.

Owning a Riva in the US

Classic Rivas in the US live in a small, knowledgeable world of wooden boat restorers, concours events and lake communities. Modern Rivas are sold and serviced through Ferretti Group America and its dealers, with the strongest presence in South Florida.

• Commission a wooden boat specialist survey for any classic Riva, focusing on frames, bottom planking and keel.
• Ask for documentation of hull number and build history.
• Confirm whether original engines have been replaced and with what.
• Budget for annual varnish work, which is not optional on mahogany.
• On modern Rivas, check gelcoat and varnish-look finishes for UV damage.