The Legend of Riva

A classic Riva boat is a design icon, a moving sculpture in wood, chrome and glass that commands attention wherever it goes.  Add to this a long list of famous owners and an association with exotic Mediterranean locations such as Monaco and San Tropez, and it is no wonder that the Riva name has, over time, become a legend.

The legend owes its existence to the determination and artistry of one man, Carlo Riva [pictured left].  The fourth generation of his family to build boats on the shores of Lago d’Iseo in northern Italy, it was his vision and drive that transformed the family firm into a world-class boatyard, as renowned as Rolls-Royce in its own way.  He was the architect of the nautical icon we now celebrate, at one time as chief designer as well as engineer, salesman and many other roles besides.  And it was his uncompromising commitment to quality that ensured that so many of the boats survive.  More about his and his firm’s story can be found in our history section.

Today a classic Riva is not only an object of desire but a unique slice of nautical heritage, encapsulating as it does the style, wealth and extravagance of the fifties and sixties jet-set – a time when most could still only dream of owning a car, let alone foreign travel and expensive boats.  Nobody is sure how many of the 4,000 or so wooden boats built survive, although the Riva Historical Society is the custodian of the International Riva Historical Registry which aims to catalogue surviving boats.