Riva has had a long time to get it right. Founded over 177 years ago, and having collaborated with the same design team, Officina Italiana Design, for a quarter of a century, the Italian brand has winnowed down its vessels to the essence of elegance, style and performance. The 48-foot Dolceriva is the newest embodiment of that combination.
Riva says that this boat’s lines are meant to feel automotive—beefy and sleek—while the hullside windows coupled with an aggressively curved windshield keep the lines low profile for a sexy look at sea. The yacht’s exterior wood is high-gloss mahogany with 20 coats of varnish, punctuated by white maple seams. The result is a timeless look that cannot be confused with any other builder’s boats.
The Dolceriva also is built for onboard fun. Her entertainment spaces include the cockpit, which can accommodate eight people under an electrically foldable Bimini top. There, an L-shaped dining settee to port faces a straight, starboard-side settee. Forward of the starboard settee is a console with a refrigerator, icemaker, sink and stowage.
Forward of the cockpit, twin helm seats to either side of a companionway are for the captain and a mate. The helm has a Garmin EmpirBus monitoring system, which integrates monitoring and navigation equipment via a touchscreen display (a second display is optional).
To starboard of the wheel is a hatch that leads below. There, a lounge with a settee and a 43-inch TV provide indoor relaxation space. The master stateroom is forward with twin walk-in closets and other stowage. Aft, the boat can be ordered with layouts that include one or two twin berths (or an oversized lounge space). There is one head on board.
Out on the water with optional twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13s, the Dolceriva reportedly can hit the 40-knot mark on the pins while cruising happily at 35 knots. An optional joystick can aid when docking, rafting up or retrieving a lost hat from the drink.
With plenty of hard-earned knowledge packed into a relatively small platform, the Riva Dolceriva should make an excellent dayboat. And it seems safe to say that Riva has used its time wisely.
Take the next step: riva-yacht.com
