Classic_Boat_2016-09

CLASSIC BOAT SEPTEMBER 2016 77

Classnotes

BY VANESSA BIRD

I

f there is one boat that oozes

elegance and style it is the Riva

Aquarama. The epitome of Italian

bravura, the Riva Aquarama has for

54 years captivated audiences around

the world with a unique blend of

good looks and impressive handling.

Considered by many to be the Ferrari

of the marine world, the Riva

Aquarama was the pinnacle of Riva’s

production of wooden runabouts,

and a design that many agree was

granted classic status from the very

moment it was launched.

Yet, while its looks are undeniably

its fi rst attraction, not to mention the

exquisite craftsmanship that goes into

its production, it is the Riva’s handling

and performance that have set it far

above the rest of its contemporaries.

Capable of speeds in excess of 44

knots, the twin-engined Riva

Aquarama, with its shark-like prow,

pronounced fl are forward and

tumblehome aft, is a fast sportsboat,

and one that is quick to plane.

The Riva story is well documented,

beginning in 1842 when Pietro Riva

established a boatyard repairing fi shing

boats on Lake d’Iseo, but it was his

great-grandson that propelled the

yard to legendary status, by

overseeing the introduction of leisure

runabouts.

The Riva Aquarama was launched

in 1962, as a development of the

Super Tritone and was inspired by the

Chris-Craft runabouts of the 1950s.

Construction was three layers of

6mm (¼in) African mahogany

veneers – the fi rst two double

diagonal, and the third fore-and-aft

• glued with Aerodux resorcinol glue
  and through-fastened to the 2^3 / 8 in by
  13 / 16 in (60x30mm) Columbian pine
  frames with bronze screws. The hulls

took around 20 to 25 days to

complete, while the fi t-out and

fi nishing took around 100.

Everything on the Aquaramas, bar

the heads and bilge pumps, were

bespoke to Riva and the quality of

fi t-out and fi nishing was second to

none. The layout provided twin seats

up forward, with more seating aft, to

accommodate a total of up to eight

passengers. Under the foredeck were a

pair of V berths that could be

converted into a double, while the aft

deck over the engine hatches, could

be used as a sun lounger. A convertible

roof slots in behind the rear seat.

The original engines were twin

185bhp V8 engines from Chris-Craft

but the Aquarama was later increased

in length to accommodate larger V8s,

built to Riva’s spec and delivering up

to 320bhp. This version, known as

the Super Aquarama, was built until

1971, and 203 were launched, before

it was superseded by the Aquarama

Lungo in 1972, of which seven were

built. The Aquarama Special was

launched the same year, and saw

designer Giorgio Barilani modify the

transom stern to incorporate a step to

allow easier access on board.

The Special became the most

successful marque, with 278 built,

and the only wooden production

runabout to survive the introduction

of GRP to the brand after Whittaker

Corporation took over Riva in 1969.

Production ceased in 1996, yet they

remain highly prized, with many of

the 769 boats immaculate and

commanding high prices.

THE NAME

‘Aquarama’, a made-up word

implying ‘view from the water’, was

inspired by the Cinerama process

popular in America in the early 1960s.

CHRIS-CRAFT ENGINES

In the late 1950s, Carlo Riva visited

Chris-Craft in America and

managed to secure a deal to buy V8

engines from the company for use

on his runabouts. Chris-Craft agreed

on the basis that Carlo would

purchase a minimum of 50, but with

insuffi cient funds to acquire so

many Carlo is said to have been

economical with the truth regarding

Italian import law, stating that only

six – the number he could aff ord –

could be imported at one time.

FAMOUS OWNERS

The Aquarama is one of the most

iconic designs ever produced,

beloved of royalty, fi lm stars and

politicians alike. Famous owners have

included Peter Sellers, Anita Ekberg,

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor,

Brigitte Bardot, Ingrid Bergman and

Aristotle Onassis. Marilyn Monroe

was frequently photographed aboard

Rivas, and they were popular with

royalty, too, including Princess

Margaret, Prince Rainier of Monaco,

and HRH King Hussein of Jordan.

AQUARAMAS ON SCREEN

Riva Aquaramas have appeared in

numerous advertising campaigns,

including Martini & Rossi and Dior,

as well as several Hollywood fi lms,

such as Ocean’s Twelve and

GoldenEye. In 2013 Ferrucio

Lamborghini commissioned Dutch

Riva to restore his Riva Aquarama,

Lamborghini. Built in 1968, hull

number 278 was fi tted with

marinised twin 350bhp 4.0 V12

Lamborghini engines from the

Lamborghini 350GT, and was the

fastest Aquarama ever built.

CB ARCHIVES

SPECIFICATIONS

RIVA AQUARAMA

SPECIAL

LOA

28ft 8in

(8.7m)

BEAM

8ft 6in

(2.6m)

DRAUGHT

2ft (0.6m)

FUEL

CAPACITY

127 gallons

(755 litres)

ENGINES

2 x Riva 350hp

V8 petrol

Riva Aquarama

Vanessa’s book Classic

Classes comprises 140

of the most enduring

keelboat and dinghy

classes. Available at

£17.99, bloomsbury.com

Above:

Ferruccio

Lamborghini’s

own Riva

Aquarama was

built in 1968 and

is fi tted with

twin 350bhp

4.0 V12

Lamborghini

engines from

the Lamborghini

350GT

Next month

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