Riva built its reputation on elegant runabout boats that remain iconic to this day. Taking a look at the Rivamare, it is difficult to qualify it as a runabout, but it ticks all the boxes. An open motor yacht that fuses dayboat elegance with yacht-quality craftsmanship and performance.
At nearly 12 meters in length, this sleek, high-performance vessel elevates the runabout concept beyond its origins, blending the sensual curves and mahogany heritage of Riva’s iconic models with the amenities and capabilities expected by today’s discerning owner.
Launched in 2016, the Rivamare continues the design legacy of the Aquarama and Aquariva, delivering a vessel equally suited to glamorous harbor hops, exhilarating sea runs, or refined overnight escapes. It carries the DNA of a classic runabout but stretches the definition with a full cabin, enclosed head, and cruising range designed for more than just a sprint along the coast.
For those who own a superyacht, cruising on a lake, navigating narrow inland waterways, or docking in smaller harbors is often impractical or impossible. This is where the Rivamare shines. Its size, agility, and elegance make it a perfect standalone vessel that doesn’t deviate too much from the opulent comfort of the larger vessel. This makes it an ideal tender for a trip to town during an extended cruise.
Timeless Design and Heritage
Described by Riva as “a jewel in the Riva crown,” the Rivamare recalls the golden age of Mediterranean boating. Its sweeping profile, stainless steel detailing, and varnished mahogany accents nod to its predecessors, while the double-curved windscreen and sculpted foredeck add a contemporary edge.
Performance and Specification
Beneath its polished exterior, the Rivamare is powered by twin Volvo Penta D6-400 engines, delivering a top speed of 40 knots and a cruising speed of around 31 knots. At 11.88 meters in length with a beam of 3.5 meters, it weighs about 11.5 tons fully loaded. The 1,000-liter fuel capacity gives it an approximate cruising range of 280 nautical miles, offering ample reach for weekend voyages.
The Rivamare also impresses with its layout and onboard features. An open-air lounge aft, a spacious sunpad, and hidden SeaBob storage. Below deck, a climate-controlled cabin features a convertible berth, a compact galley, and a private head with shower, making this boat a rare blend of performance and practicality in its class.
Rivamare Compared to the Aquarama
The Aquarama, the most iconic Riva of all time, was a hand-built, varnished-mahogany masterpiece produced between 1962 and 1996. It was a purist’s runabout, fast, glamorous, and open from bow to stern. The Rivamare inherits its silhouette and spirit, but replaces vintage wooden hulls with advanced GRP construction. It also adds real overnight usability with modern electronics, climate control, and integrated safety features.
Rivamare Compared to the Aquariva Super
While the Aquariva Super offers pure, nostalgic open-boat charm with a 10.07-meter hull and a compact cuddy cabin, the Rivamare moves into more versatile territory. It is longer, broader, and heavier, and it offers a full cabin with greater livability. The Aquariva is the spiritual successor to the Aquarama, maintaining traditional aesthetics with twin Yanmar engines and a top speed of just over 41 knots. The Rivamare, though nearly as fast, is focused more on refinement, onboard comfort, and advanced onboard systems.
Who It’s For
The Rivamare is ideal for those who want timeless design, head-turning aesthetics, and real-world usability, without stepping into the realm of larger yachts. For superyacht owners, it offers something uniquely practical - freedom to explore inland lakes, shallow coastal waters, and compact marinas where their mothership simply cannot go.
