Rivamare

• LOA: 11.88 m (39 ft)
• Beam: 3.5 m
• Draft: approx 1.2 m
• Engines: twin Volvo Penta D6, 400 hp each (sterndrive)
• Top speed: approx 38 knots
• Accommodation: one cabin, heads with shower, galley
• Construction: GRP hull with mahogany and stainless trim
• Launched: 2016, designed by Officina Italiana Design

A runabout you can weekend on

The Rivamare answers a question the smallest Rivas cannot, which is how to keep the runabout look while adding real accommodation. At 11.88 metres it has room for a cabin, a heads and a galley without losing the low sports profile. Riva launched it in June 2016 as a natural step up from the Aquariva. In the range it reads as the sociable weekend boat. It is the model most owners picture when they imagine using a Riva for real.

The layout keeps the open cockpit as the centre of gravity, with the cabin tucked forward under the foredeck. A couple can stay aboard overnight while the boat still behaves like a day cruiser. Beam is 3.5 metres, wide enough for comfortable seating without bulk. It suits owners who want to spend real time on the water. Two people can cruise for a night or two without ever feeling cramped.

Classic proportions, modern deck

Officina Italiana Design gave the Rivamare the family face, with a low bow, a curved windscreen and a long clean sheerline. A retractable hard top covers the cockpit and folds away to open the boat to the sky. The transom hides a garage for a tender. Details stay disciplined so the boat never looks fussy. The hard top lets the Rivamare work as an open boat in summer and a sheltered one in poor weather.

Mahogany trim and stainless steel run through the deck in the Riva manner. The hull is finished in the deep single colours the yard favours. Seen on the water it carries the same visual weight as its wooden ancestors. The modernity sits in the engineering more than the styling. From a distance it could pass for a much older Riva, which is exactly the intention.

A classic Riva runabout stretched just far enough to sleep two.

A cabin that earns its keep

Below deck the Rivamare offers a double cabin, a separate heads with a shower and a compact galley. It is small but properly finished, with leather and lacquered wood chosen to match the exterior. The space works for an overnight stay or a long lunch out of the sun. Natural light comes through hull and deck glazing. The finish below matches the deck so the boat feels of a piece throughout.

The cockpit above is the main living area, with seating that converts for sunbathing and dining. Riva keeps the helm clean and driver-focused. Stowage is worked into the furniture so surfaces stay clear. The whole boat is sized for a couple with occasional guests. Day guests fit easily, and the space still works once the crowd goes home.

Volvo power and an easy turn of speed

The Rivamare runs on twin Volvo Penta D6 diesels of 400 hp each, driving through sterndrives. Riva quotes a top speed close to 38 knots with a relaxed cruise in the low thirties. That is quick enough to feel sporting without demanding constant attention. The sterndrive package keeps the running gear compact and the ride efficient. Trim is easy to manage, so the boat gets onto the plane cleanly and holds it.

The GRP hull is tuned for stability at rest as much as pace under way. It settles quickly and sits level, which matters on a boat meant for swimming and lunch. Handling is light and predictable at speed. Riva has aimed for confidence over outright drama. The Rivamare is quick without ever feeling like it needs an expert at the wheel.

The accessible modern Riva

The Rivamare holds an important commercial place as one of the more attainable routes into a new Riva. It draws owners moving up from mainstream sports boats who want the marque and the finish. Many keep it on the Mediterranean or on large lakes for summer use. It is a boat bought to be driven often. For many it becomes the runabout that lives on a mooring all season.

Against rivals from other premium yards, the Rivamare sells on name and craftsmanship more than raw specification. Its size makes it easy to berth and handle without crew. That practicality widens its audience beyond collectors. For many owners it is a first Riva. It introduces the marque without the running costs of a crewed yacht.

Design

• Exterior: Officina Italiana Design (Mauro Micheli)
• Interior: Officina Italiana Design
• Naval architecture: Ferretti Group Engineering Department

Who it is for: A couple who want a Riva they can drive themselves and still stay aboard overnight, without stepping up to a crewed yacht.