Sarnico, October 21, 2025 – This is the boat that inherited the legacy of the legendary Aquarama, becoming the most storied model in the range with more than 300 units produced in over 20 years.
The Aquariva, a symbol of Riva’s contemporary spirit, writes a new chapter in the history booksand becomes Special, an honour previously bestowed only on the Aquarama.
True to the proportions and harmonious lines that made the boat so famous, the Aquariva Special – witha length overall of 10.07 m (33 ft 0 in) and a maximum beam of 2.80 m (9 ft 2 in) – interacts withthe brand’s current stylistic hallmarks to achieve a perfect balance between the heritage of theoriginal model and the contemporary design that characterises more recent Rivas.The subtle touches that define the new aesthetic of the Aquariva Special are by Mauro Micheli andSergio Beretta, founders of Officina Italiana Design – the studio that has been designing all Riva boatson an exclusive basis for over 30 years – working in partnership with the Strategic Product Committeeled by Piero Ferrari and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department.
One of the most important new features is the windscreen, which has been completely redesigned togive the boat’s silhouette a more modern and streamlined look.
The stern swim platform also has awider and more ergonomic design, featuring steps with a new curvature to offer guests even morecomfort and make it easier to enter and leave the water.
The handrail and mooring cleat pay tribute tothe previous version, the Aquariva Super, while the mahogany fascia is now fibreglass and the samecolour chosen by the owner for the hull, as are the large sunpad and the air intake grilles.
One of the standout features at the bow is the new design of the navigation lights and casing, whichAquariva Special shares with Riva Anniversario – the limited edition created in 2022 to celebrate 180years since the brand’s foundation – while the deck is perfectly smooth again, without the traditionalskylights reminiscent of the Aquarama, creating an even more pared-down look.
The cockpit area is designed as an elegant lounge on the water that blends comfort and conviviality witha sense of refinement.
The large U-shaped sofa – upholstered in Sky fabric the same colour as the hull –embraces the central space, creating a welcoming area that can be transformed according to the time ofday by means of a centrally positioned table, also available with an up-down mechanism, used toconvert the dining area seating up to eight into a private and protected additional sunbathing area.
Shelter from the sun is provided by a bimini top operated by an electro-hydraulic mechanism housed inthe sofa backrest.
Moving forward, the driving seat is on the port side, with a practical service cabinet to starboardcontaining a sink, a fridge and a work top, perfect for making cocktails and snacks.
The dashboard payshomage to tradition and is available in an analogue version, as well as in a digital version with up totwo Boening displays and an integrated navigation system.
The boat can also be equipped with a joystickfor even more intuitive control during mooring operations.
A major innovation is the option to fit the Aquariva Special with a Seakeeper NG6 to eliminate roll,ensuring absolute comfort both under way and at anchor.
The installation of this advanced system ismade possible by the decision to introduce infusion hull lamination in place of the manual process,significantly reducing the weight of the boat without affecting its structural rigidity.
This makes it feasibleto install a gyroscopic stabilizer – usually a very heavy option – without affecting the boat’s trim orperformance.
To stabilise the boat when under way, Aquariva Special is now fitted with Humphreeinterceptors in place of the flaps on the previous version.
Performance-wise, Aquariva Special has the same verve as always and is fitted with two 370 HPYANMAR 8LV engines paired with electronically controlled two-speed gearboxes, driving the boatto a top speed of 40.5 knots and a cruising speed of 36 knots while unleashing the pleasure of Riva’ssignature cruising style.
The new Aquariva Special was given her premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 in a PetrolBlue livery, the iconic colour of the range and a particular favourite with Riva owners.
