RIVA AQUARAMA SPL WOOD BOAT

the iconic RIVA AQUARAMA
built from 1972 equipped with a pair of 350 hp v8s engines.
still the symbol of luxury in the nautical world.
This model is a RIVA Official Licencee product

The Aquarama was built in 1962 from the hull of the Tritone,
which was at the time the top large model of the whole Riva
production. Its name is due to the round windshield allowing
a wider version, similar to the Cinerama screens which were
very popular in the Sixties.
The first boat to thus named is the Tritone n˚214. The
Aquarama design is open, with a large sunbathing area.

The Aquarama was equipped with two engines, and in time it
grew larger and more powerful, and was fitted with a
propeller, which allowed it to exceed 40 knots. The final
models had 700HP on board.

Ongoing improvements are typical of Carlo Riva’s quest for
perfection. It would not be possible to understand the spirit
of the production at the shipyard, or the obsessive attention
paid to every step, were it not for Riva’s own passion.

Over the years there came to be 3 almost identical Aquarama
models, with a longer hull, and different deck and bottom.

In total 769 boats were built over the course of the
Aquarama’s long production run, which only came to an end
in 1996. This included 203 Super Aquaramas (built 1963-1971),
seven Aquarama Lungo (1972 only, and the longest at 8.7
metres), and 278 Aquarama Specials (1972-1996).

The 8 metre Aquarama was introduced in 1962 as a
development of the Riva’s Super Tritone design. Constructed
on special jigs, the hull planking consisted of three layers
of mahogany veneer, laid over the robust keel and frames.

Originally powered by two Chris Craft V8 engines, each
delivering 195hp. Later designs were increased to 8.25
metres to accommodate the larger and more powerful 220hp
engines, that are built to Riva’s own specifications. The
manufacturer claimed this gave a top speed of 40 knots, even
with a full compliment of 8 crew on board.

The most famous Carlo Riva’s designs, the Aquarama was
become, over time, more than just a boat. The undisputed
flagship of the range, it is celebrated as a nautical legend in
its own right, a superlative in beauty, craftsmanship and
performance that has rarely been surpassed both on and off
the water. Its evocative name perhaps assured its mythical
status, and is derived in part from the widescreen Cinerama
movie format, popular in the early 1960s, which is echoed by
the boat’s wide windshield.