Motor Boat & Yachting - July 2018

BOAT MASTER FINDME A USED...

Does a boat have to be old to be

a classic? Or can classic status be

conferred upon it by dint of heritage,

style and sheer class? I move that

it can and I present exhibit A, the

Riva Aquariva. If it’s true that money

talks but wealth whispers, the

Aquariva must be nigh on inaudible.

It murmurs about heritage, riffing

off the original ’60s Riva Aquarama

beloved of ’60s movie stars like

Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers.

As for the style and sheer class of

the thing – well, it speaks for itself.

INTERIOR

It might be 33ft long but it’s

unashamedly a dayboat. There is

a cabin under that gorgeous teak-

laid foredeck, but it’s little more than

a beautifully appointed cuddy with

just enough room for two to lie down,

and a loo under the bed in the centre.

EXTERIOR

Outside is where it’s all about, soaking

up the sunshine and the adulation

in equal measure. A huge swoop

of U-shaped seating wraps around

a central pedestal that acts as a small

table and a convenient grabrail. Up

ahead is a large double seat at the

helm and back aft, a recessed sunpad

tops the engines. If it all gets too

much, a concealed bimini top rises

electrically to provide some shade.

PERFORMANCE

Providing the go to match the show

are two Yanmar 6LYA STP 375hp

turbo diesel engines married to twin-

speed gearboxes. Shove the delicate

stainless-steel column-mounted

throttles to the stops and about 11

seconds later you’ll be doing 40 knots

with another 2 or 3 knots still to go.

SEAKEEPING

Put the helm down at speed and

the proper straight shaftdrives

and rudders (rather than outdrives

hanging off the back) offer the kind

of graceful curves entirely in keeping

with the boat’s effortless style –

this is no point ’n shoot RIB. It’ll

power through the rough stuff

without shaking the martini too.

2002 £249,950

DATA FILE

Length 33ft 0in (10.0m)

Beam 9ft 2in (2.8m)

Draught 3ft 1in (1.0m)

Displacement 5.5 tonnes

Fuel capacity

105 gallons (480 litres)

Engines Twin Yanmar

6LYA STP 375hp diesel

FOR SALE Boats.co.uk.

http://www.boats.co.uk

Riva Aquariva

There are roomier

33-footers

Aquatic art



RATING

MY CHOICE The Philips 50 is the epitome of classic:

rock-solid wooden build, statesmanlike looks, tremendous

period accommodation and even a bath. What more could you

possibly want? Well, a little more speed perhaps, something that the smaller

but equally elegant and equally nostalgic Monaco 38 provides. But the

Project 31 demonstrates that you don’t need wooden construction or a huge

budget to go boating in a bona fide classic – as the genesis of Princess Yachts,

it’s a boat that earns its classic tag yet is a usefully practical and affordable

river runner. But sod the cost. Sod the age too, the Riva Aquariva might be

modern in both years and materials but just look at it! That’s a solid-gold

classic right there and is my choice this month. Nick Burnham

The helm would be

at home on ’60s

Cadillac convertible

It’s all about

the cockpit

The badge tells

you all you need

to know