Riva Story - Riva Club Sweden

Riva Story
As said, Serafino's big interest and passion came to be the speed boats. Over the years he
refined their design, reaching ever higher speeds. In the 30's his Riva Boats dominates racing
competitions in Italy.
1936, when Carlo was 14 years old, he had already breathed the atmosphere at the yard for
several years and begins gradually to sketch his own boats. At the library he borrows U.S.
boating magazines and soon become a Chris Craft enthusiast. After completing his engineering
studies in Cremona Carlo starts to work with his father as an engineer at the yard.
1939 Riva receives an order for six patrol boats to be used by the Italian defence in the ongoing
war in Ethiopia. At the same time Serafino becomes seriously ill and Carlo is forced to take over
the responsibility for design and construction of the boats.
During this work, when completely identical boats was to be produced, Carlo came for the first
time to consider the possibility to build boats in Italy, like the the Americans already did, in a
series production where all parts were uniform and interchangeable between boats of the same
series.
The patrol boats are finished in 1940 and presented in the harbor outside the yard. They soon
led to new orders from interested customers, but the war in Europe is imminent and fuel
shortage soon make the use of motor boats impossible.
During the years of war business almost stopped and Carlo himself was called in for military
service. Back at the yard in 1943, he realized that there was no money for development of new
models.
1 / 11
Riva Story
In
was
yard.
creating
1946,
now
Carlo
when
vital
also
image.
to
the
had
show
war
ayard
up
fixed
was
at
finally
the
idea
boat
since
over,
show
many
everything
in
years
Milan
began
back
to
to
the
return
the
importance
continued
to
more
of
normal
existence
advertising
conditions.
of
the
and
It
Well
had
house
for
aware
ofcountermove
the
the
hotel
that
Lombardi
his
room
father
in
family
Milan
would
who
to
never
print
was
his
give
the
own
Johnson
him
brochure.
money
outboard
for
The
this
agent
nights
purpose,
in
was
Italy.
he
instead
used
the
spent
money
at
Despite
gives
idea,
that
avoided.
way,
and
the
the
yard
he
wants
efforts
said,
international
to
cost
of
expand
Carlo
and
the
revenue
the
reputation,
yard,
yard
will
mainly
rationalize
but
be
very
possible
becomes
production
little
to
money.
aconfirm
predict
producer
and
Carlo
and
focus
of
has
unforeseen
racing
on
aleasure
series-built
completely
boats
expenses
again.
boats.
different
This
can
Inhe
be
Serafino
serious
leads
have
bowed
to
threat
an
Riva
increasing
on
did
to
his
their
not
knees
line
main
number
up
before
supplier
on
of
these
his
disputes
of
father
ideas
fast
between
racing
and
and
asked
his
boats
father
speedboat
him
atof
and
affordable
to
kill
son.
customers
him
At
with
prices.
one
an
sees
point
The
empty
Carlo
Carlo
disagreement
bottle!
as
should
athe
Carlo's
making
extensively
sure
in
that
trade
the
shows
is
toRiva-stern
advertise
is
and
busy
create
with
even
good
no
more
time
relations
left
for
building
the
with
series
the
cheap
produced
boat
racers.
magazines.
He
participate
boats,
thus
in
Against
own
the
drawing
50s
all
would
odds
tablet.
Serafino
come
This
to
results
shows
be
called
in
his
one
"Corsaro".
son
of
an
his
ever
most
increasing
innovative
confidence
designs,
the
and
AR
give
series,
Carlo
that
his
later
very
With
and
deck
hull
this
sides
boat
transom.
the
and
iconic
a
smoothly
rounded
is
introduced,
transition
between
with
strongly
the
three
negative
surfaces
angle
of
of
the
the
hull
transom
side,
This
eventually
design
isCarlos
istime
named
also
found
in
the
AU
series,
which
will
later
evaluate
the
BM
series,
which
ARISTON
in
the
early
50's.
In
Given
out.
February
the
responsibilities
1949
Carlo
ofends
aafraid
family,
Licia
Vigani,
he
ato
girl
start
that
his
own
spent
time
and
since
prepares
childhood.
to
move
and
At
six-month
sceptical
business.
the
build
same
to
his
The
trial
own
period
solution
Serafino
shed.
ideas
asismarries
head
and
to
let
of
Carlo
up
the
in
toyard,
run
hospital
getwant
his
involved
which
own
and
later
business
is
inforced
ishe
extended
son's
intoashipyard
abandon
future,
rented
toin1with
as
space
year.
work.
he
Serafino
thinks,
behind
Carlo
costly
is
the
isgiven
still
yarda
Carlo,
manufacturer.
millions.
with
Now
no
he
major
Through
can
savings
finance
his
merchandise
of
his
his
own
activities.
turns
he
gets
to
his
a price
loan
ofThe
3
Cavalier
million
Lira
Beretta,
and
a
the
bank
famous
credit
weapon
ofinand
2
One
sales
of
go
his
down
first
and
financial
he
gets
decisions
more
space
isown,
to
double
for
the
modern
series
the
racing
pleasure
boats.
By
crafts.
this
move
racing
From
enhance
now
production
on,
he
has
and
taken
quality
aout
course
had
only
that
just
hehis
won't
begun.
letfriend
go.
work
to
continuously
improve
time
In
yard.
1950
for
By
the
Carlo's
hard
Milan
work
money
boat
13-14
show.
runs
hours
after
per
day
investing
he
manage
the
borrowed
anyhow
capital
tobuilt
build
insix
the
different
expansion
boats
of just
the
It isCarlo
slept
year
said
before,
he
inhome
Lombardi's
biuld
that
took
Carlo
and
the
sells
and
warehouse
54
hisboats,
future
aJohnson
brother
Grand
new
record
in
Hotel
outboards.
law
for
in
Gino
the
Milan
Gervasoni,
yard.
His
during
hard
day
work
who
time,
give
joined
while
results
atcompany
and
night
during
they
the
the
This
built
for
the
boats
trend
is
abest
name
continued
water
with
ofcustomers
Lago
the
the
year
introduction
d'Iseo.
and
ofAriston
in
the
1952,
model
for
"Sebino".
the
first
time,
Its
named
Carlo
give
byisthe
one
ancient
of after
his
name
series
by
One
of
the
and
Gino
known
Gervasoni
Riva
models,
toofafter
ato
cinema
the
in
Milano
(initially
with
the
only
same
called
name.
"BM"),
named
a
visit
2 / 11
Riva Story
Carlo
entirely
year
special
inwill
cease
1954.
ones.
focused
the
Until
production
on
then,
standard
only
of
models.
single
all
racing
engine
Production
boats
boats
ina200
1953
increases
were
and
built,
inand
except
theare
pass
coming
for
some
years
then
prototypes
the
100
production
boats
and
a is
just
From
lengthened
1954
the
great
the
to
almost
Riva
lakes.
Tritone,
8years
metres.
based
Now
on
Carlo
the
model
has
boat
BQ,
is
good
introduced
enough
with
for
use
twin
at
engines
the
sea
and
and
not
1957in
differences
boats
another
be
up
a
very
14
and
years
down,
successful
ahead.
that
the
year,
production
with
nearly
will
stay
boats
at
during
built.
the
This
heydays
ismore
the
level,
of
with
wooden
only
small
During
glass
last
mahogany
fibre
these
reinforced
glorious
leaves
boats
the
takes
just
yard
over
over,
in
4000
1996.
only
boats
few
wooden
are
built.
boats
A
few
years
built
later,
sporadically.
when
the
The
era
very
of
Throughout
improve
Everything
a
designated
labelled
green marked
in
and
this
in
for
his
streamline
the
way.
the
period
mahogany
yard
Ariston
was
asthe
the
model.
color
plank
series
yard
coded
that
All
owner
production.
templates,
lay
and
and
in linked
store
manager
For
special
for
example,
to drying
a specific
Carlo
toolsyou
he
and
develope
task
had
would
construction
a
orspecial
boat
know
his almost
model.
that
mania
plans
itmanic
was
Iffor
were
youcolor.
urge
found
alsoto
Even
type
they
ofthe
wasn't
work,
workers
just
like
drifting
the
had
color
around...
shop.
coded
This
overalls
also
associated
Carlo
with
to
akeep
specific
track
boat
ofthe
people
model
and
orengines
a make
specific
surea
He
blinking.
took
pride
He
never
inled
delivery
had
to
on
pay
time,
aupsingle
and
accepted
penalty!
up500
to
$engines,
100
per
day
of
delay
without
full
His
his
boats.
year.
greatest
This
fear
was
to paint
his
that
build
something
of
a like
warehouse
aenabled
strikepenalties
in
that
theheld
U.S.
would
stop
more
flow
than
of
needed
for
The Riva's and celebrities. The world's most recognized and
spread brand on water.
3 / 11
Riva Story
Even
but
more
before
locally
Carlos
and
time
mainly
asan
the
in increasingly
northern
headalong
of Italy.
thewith
yard
many
boatscame
were to
ordered
by
famous
people,
success
In
Carlos
the
early
design
and
50's,
power.
and
driven
reputation,
by
Riva,
growing
Rolls
celebrity
Royce,
culture,
and
be the
perhaps
absolute
thanks
proof
toof
The number
sports
heroes
of
and
kings,
playboys
sheiks,
in
princes
general
and
who
princesses,
owned
aand
Riva
successful
isand
almost
industrialists,
countless.
actors,
singers,
Anita
Peter
were
exceeds
countless.
Ekberg
Sellers
the
price
to
obviously
just
Many
of
name
the
boats
had
boat!
aSuper
her
few.
were
own
The
shipped
Riva
number
with
by
air
of
zebra
boats
and
striped
sometimes
that
were
outfit.
shipped
the
Likewise,
cost to
ofThe
the
transportation
Brigitte
Middle
Bardot
East
and
Philipson
Some
Swedish
new
buyers
who
Riva's
bought
ofalso
that
their
came
time
was
to
Sweden
the
Aquarama's
publisher
and
the
in
Mr.
importer
66
Bonnier
67.
NK
Kristensson.
the
Mercedes
importer
most
well
Mr.
known
Design, even of the smallest details.
What marks a Riva more than anything else, in my personal opinion, is Carlo Rivas absolute
sense of beautiful design combined with functionality.
It's only when one begins to examine a Riva in every detail that you realize the effort that has
gone into every detail. Not a single fitting on a Riva is a standard product.
Everything is custom designed! Even small details like cable holders in rubber was produced in
4 / 11
Riva Story
a dozen different sizes and fitted with the Riva logo, probably because no standard product
good enough was available.
Innovative Technology.
When it came to finding solutions worthy of his boats Carlo never waived any costs. At an early
stage all Riva's got a steering box, just as a car, with a long rod all the way through to the
rudder. Maybe not a new invention, since it had been used in American boats for many years,
but it gave an easy and absolutely backlash-free control, though it was an expensive solution.
Carlo was probably one of the first to introduce a porcelain WC in the cabin of a small runabout
with the Tritone model. The spring assisted anchor line drum, introduced with the Aquarama in
1962, was 20 years later introduced like a novelty in Sweden, but without the spring that rolled
the rope back...
5 / 11
Riva Story
From 1956 some models are fitted with a real cabriolet hood as on the contemporary American
cars. In 15 seconds you have a perfect roof and unused it's hidden under the cushions behind
the rear seat. Not many years ago the boat magazines celebrated the Finnish boat builder
Fiskars when they introduced a simple "hood garage" behind the rear seat for the "Buster"
boats...
A Riva is never lifted in slings on the outside, as all boats have built-in lifting eyes for crane
lifting. All Riva's have also a special cradle that provides a perfect relief of the hull during
transport and storage on land.
6 / 11
Riva Story
Cantieri Riva reaches its peak.
In 1969 the yard is at its peak and sales reaches 256 boats during the year. At same time storm
clouds is piling up at the horizon. A general left wind in Europe at this time results in increased
activity by the worker union's and in the autumn many small strikes occurs.
Carlo took these strikes as a personal insult, because he felt that he always had had a personal
and good relation to all his employees. Although Carlo accepts the demands of the unions', and
even offers to pay more than they ask for, strikes continue to cripple the yard now and then.
In due time Carlo had enough. One morning he pick up the phone and calls the head of the
Whittaker corp. in Los Angeles, who showed interest to buy a part of the Riva yard some years
back. Carlo's message is clear and simple: Buy all or nothing!
2 weeks later the deal is completed and Carlo Riva is no longer the owner of Cantieri Riva.
Carlo was now appointed as the CEO of the yard. The first fibre glass boats, based on U.S.
Bertram boats, are introduced in the model program. Wooden boats are still built, but sales and
production falls rapidly after 1972. Gradually, Carlo and the yard will separate more and more.
He was now working mostly with the design and sales of larger yachts, and had in 1971 started
up his own design agency "Carlo Riva Yachting Corporation". At the same time he was busy
taking care of his other businesses, like RAM (a special service and restoration yard for the
Riva's), the harbor in Rappallo and Monaco Boat Service. In 1972 he finally leaves Cantieri Riva
and hands over his office to his brother in law Gino Gervasoni.
7 / 11
Riva Story
owners.
the
industry
Ferretti
most
Probably
group.
group,
successful
because
the
owner
years
of
of
was
the
a number
very
over
strong
and
of
the
large
brand,
yard
yards
the
had
and
yard
atostormy
recently
survived
future
bought
and
ahead
ismid
by
now
with
a
Chinese
asome
division
many
new
of
Today's
Riva's
and
function
have
production
been
assold
a direct
launched
consists
inheritance
inmainly
recent
ofyears.
larger
the
classical
The
yachts
latest
Aquarama.
from
one
50
issurvive
feet
the
and
Riva
up,
"Iseo"
although
with
size,
looks
retro
last
The
ones
model
were
Aquarama
in 1996.
Special
was
the
only
wooden
boat
into
the
90's
and
the
Carlos legacy lives on in the family.
RAM (Revisione Assistenza Motoscafi) in Sarnico was founded by Carlo Riva already in 1957
and was one of several service yards with explicitly focus on the Riva boats. He believed that
the world's best boat also should have the world's best service!
RAM, which is located next to the Riva yard, is now run by a close relative and is today
considered as the world's best restoration yard for the classic Riva boats.
The port of Rapallo, built by Carlo Riva in the early 70's when he had left the yard, bears his
name: "Porto Carlo Riva".
Monaco Boat Service, which is still one of the largest Riva dealers and started by Carlo in the
8 / 11
Riva Story
60's, is now run by his daughter Lia and her husband.
A boat for enthusiasts!
In Sweden we have an unusual amount of classical Riva boats, especially if you consider our
small population and the somewhat chilly climate... The reasons are many, but an important one
is that Swedes always have been interested in boats. Our inheritance goes back to the Vikings
and today we have one boat on every seven Swedes, compared to one boat on every 50
Germans for example.
Except for a few one, most Riva boats came to Sweden in the late 70's and the following
decade. At that time the rather old and used Riva's were cheap, and probably sold in favor of a
new boat in the revolutionary material Glass fibre Reinforced Plastic... Many of the boats were
in poor condition, but luckily there were a number of enthusiasts who saw the beauty and value
of the boats. This instinct saved a number of Riva's from being wrecked.
Riva Historical Society and the Riva Clubs.
In 1993 the Swedish Riva Club was formed as one of the first in the world. A couple of years
later Riva Historical Society (RHS) was founded by some fans in Milan, not far from the Riva
9 / 11
Riva Story
hometown Sarnico at Lake Iseo.
Among the founders were the architect Piero Gibbelini, Carlo Riva himself, and many
enthusiasts from all around the world. One of those was Per Wadström, one of the founders of
the Swedish club and now the Vice President of Riva Historical Society.
One of RHS main tasks is to find and register all classic Riva boats that still exist. The
organisation also arrange one or more meetings each year and publish the annual Riva
calendar and the quarterly magazine "vivariva". In addition a yearly course, "Riva Judges", is
held in springtime.
The course aim is to spread the knowledge about the original Riva's, their building technique
and original appearance in order to keep the boats in the state as they left the yard half a
century ago.
Associated with RHS is currently 12 Riva clubs from different countries in Europe and the
United States. Our Swedish club is one of the oldest and currently has about 50 members with
as many boats. In total there are about 750 members affiliated to the RHS through their clubs.
The exchange between the different clubs are important. At our annual Swedish meeting
usually about half of the boats and the participants come from other European clubs. Some
pictures from our Swedish meetings can be found in our gallery.
10 / 11
Riva Story
Perhaps
increased
as
aof
by
alot
3-400%.
result
of
the
RHS
last
and
10-15
the
years.
work
At
of
the
same
clubs,
time
the
price
interest
for for
these
old
boats
Riva's
have
have
The
also
across
you
waste
result
a want
new
aand
Riva
your
market
this
atover
money...
adevelopment
great
for
fake
price!
Riva's,
Ifsites
is
you
that
sold
want
more
toyou
unsuspecting
to"wrecks"
be
sure,
join
buyers
a the
RHS
out
who
associated
of barns
think
they
for
Riva
restoration,
have
club
come
before
but
If
you
to
read
more
about
Carlo
Rivas
legendary
boats
you
should
also
visit
the
RHS
website
other
related
web
that
canlocal
findappears
in
our
Link
gallery.
Arriva!
Olle Erlandsson
President of Riva Club Sweden
Ref: Facts and pictures mainly from the books "Riva the Myth, Carlo the Legend I - IV" by Piero
Gibbelini, President of Riva Historical Society (RHS).
11 / 11