Riva boats: An Italian "Cadillac on the water"

During Italy's post-war boom years, Riva's glamorous wooden boats were the pinnacle of "la dolce vita" - the Ferraris of motorboats, owned by movie stars, tycoons and royalty. Correspondent Seth Doane takes a spin on the water in a classic Riva; checks out a new edition of the famed Aquarama boat; and learns how the company is working to keep Riva's spirit alive.
#riva #rivaboat #italy
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[@daenas]

Kardashians will NEVER reach the level of the sophistication and class of Sophia Loren....

[@toddgaak422]

Amen. This story was tainted by including them!

[@blackbroadwayandbeyond]

100%. That statement alone was like blasphemy.

[@RHTeebs]

Gorgeous boat. Italians truly know how to make machinery look beautiful.

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

italians make good boat builders otherwise the county will say riva arriva Verderche (good bye heres your italian boot (shaped like the boot of the italian peninsular) upstate new york has over 1000 lakes. i bet there are good boat builders. along the connecticut river in thetford vermont there is a boat builder or at least there was a sign for boat builder and a sailboat was in the front yard. i have seen a wooden boat that my neighbor was working on he was going to fix it and launch it in silver lake a person made lake that is above a flooded peat bog with a now underwater train. the lake spans part of meriden and berlin in connecticut usa. i earned a gift from a gentleman named larry. it was a boat built by cabinet builders and he enjoyed motoring his private wooden vessel. he listed free boat and i called about it. if you listen to the david ball song riding with private malone. it is old enough to be a classic about an old Chevrolet. my version is about a boat that was named victory after the usa and allies had a naval victory in the pacific theater in WWII. I suspect it is a good plywood boat that was kept outside and the skins suffered under tarps and time and moisture from god sending rain and snow and sunshine. the back or keel suffered rot and it is broke. larry suggested i wanted to but it in the lake get a barge to put under it and float her again. i said that i would love to have his pride and joy. he was going to transport the victory to my wife's homestead in berlin with. lake frontage. in days past there were docks that went out far into lake because it is a very shallow on our side of the lake. my late wife's grand parents had a small boat rental operation it might have been around 1936 and by 1949 the property was divided close to half the youngest daughter got the homestead that less than a hundred feet from the lake. and the oldest daughter got land that she and her husband and his young autistic son built a house/home out of recycled building materials on a shoe string budget in 1949. ( a home is where the heart is. and that requires tlc tender loving care and family values.) more sometime later.

[@phmwu7368]

Beauty first, functionality second and reliability ? ? ? 😂🤣

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

@@phmwu7368 and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. and with a flip of and old adage one person's treasure is a another persons junk/garbage/trash. one item and different people and different choices or different perspectives😁

[@Vylkeer]

@@phmwu7368 Again with this reliability thing. Some people think Italian products are about to explode or something. If you're so fixated on reliability get German stuff but then don't complain about their lack of appeal and soul. Also, they can fail too from time to time.

[@oo7qboatjamesbondexperienc40]

@@Vylkeer Right . Do all of you know most parts of german stuffs are MADE IN ITALY ? Do you know 80% BEST of everything - from a spoon to a space satellit - are made in Italy ? just search about and learn .

[@SarahRenz59]

Even the wake pattern is gorgeous. I love the Italians' philosophy of surrounding oneself with beauty and their resultant emphasis on great design. It's a joy to see such great craftsmanship.

[@chrisfriends7911]

looks like a Chris Craft boat. This channel has never heard of it apparently.

[@skyak4493]

@@chrisfriends7911 The Italians do a better job of maintaining their boats, brands, and legends.

[@joejacko1587]

i'll take light fiber glass over a log thank you

[@pedrozurita6846]

That little wooden masterpiece of a Riva is the boat that I think about when I think about real "nothing to worry about" wealth.

[@melbaker9495]

Watching them on Lake Como this Spring was a real treat. The style of those wondeful boats against the backdrop of the Italian villas and those lovely northern lakes.

[@brewmorgan8942]

A trip to Italy will be absolutely fun......

[@4seeableTV]

But then the Kardashian's showed up and ruined everything.

[@estiempo9267]

Truly works of art

[@Nighthawk-8050]

A Riva to me is a floating work of art. Masterpiece !

[@Pembrey33]

“It’s a bloody difficult job, I can assure you” 👍 Too good 👍 I can sense the belief and the love ❤️

[@larrysouthern5098]

Beautiful boats and craftsmanship... .they are like works of art on the water!!!

[@chrisfinch8637]

Now it’s about time I ride one of those, one of these days. It’s Italian boats like these that look so fancy and look so smooth sailing.

[@stevefoster4326]

I have a 1964 Imperial Ghia (1 of 10) built in Turin: amazing style and craftsmanship.

[@JamesSmith-wp4um]

I saw a '58 Ghia Imperial Crown get destroyed in a demolition derby race back around 1971

[@intuitive7274]

Absolutely correct

[@Loulovesspeed]

I have a wonderful 30" wooden model of this same Riva craft with exquisite wood, chrome metal fittings and soft upholstery. It's not the real life Riva, but is is a stunning detailed model of one! Ferruccio Lamborghini had Riva build him a custom version powered by 2 of his 300HP V12 engines. It has to be valued at well over $1M. A marvelous water craft that shows what fine Italian artisans are capable of creating!

[@bengone3349]

I love first class boats, because they are very recognizable. This story gave me goose bumps!

[@hummersd]

Love it! While I know I would never own a Riva boat or yacht, it’ll be a goal to ride in one the next time I’m in Italy. Love all your segments, Seth! What a dream job!

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

it ain't a job it is adventure but do not tell the bean counters at cbs or paramount because they may stop paying him.

[@zabrak999]

Keeping an attention to detail for the classic boats has gotta be good for company morale, too 👍

[@af4od02]

I am definitely going to have to up my game. Next time I go fishing in my Ranger Bass Boat, I am going to wear Ray Ban Sunglasses, my favorite sport coat, a fresh starched shirt with neck tie and matching pocket square. Those Riva’s are beautiful.

[@rayt8819]

Be sure to navigate close by to rowboats while kicking up a wake.

[@ericduffield524]

Bellissimo! and Seth's Italian is good 😊

[@Vylkeer]

Rivas really are the crown jewel of Italian naval craftmanship. Timeless motorboats. Ferretti Group, which also owns Riva, is maybe the largest and most vibrant of Italian nautical companies, and they have a portfolio of wonderful shipyards. A noteworthy of them being Itama, imo. Thanks for this piece.

[@judiesuh6858]

Thx for the background story~ what beautiful wooden 🚢🛥👍👏

[@bertram46]

Sad what they did when they owned Bertram. Glad they sold that name

[@angelopatsalis4133]

Great story and wonderful views of the lake. Thank you.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing. She, the Riva Brand and company look really beautiful.

[@curtisdaniel9294]

Great Story. And always good to see/hear Seth. Thanks to CBS!

[@Laissez_Faire]

Italians do know beauty and I do appreciate Italian woman 😆

[@yvonneplant9434]

They do! I've only been there once but it was unforgettable. Their sense of style! You see it immediately.

[@RomyMacias]

Happy Sunday! Greetings from Querétaro, México. 🙃

[@bertram46]

I owned a Riva Rivarama 44. Though it can't come close to the character of the wooden Rivas of yesteryear, it was still of the highest quality and attention to detail. And, of'course you pay for it. It's like owning a Patek Philippe wrist watch. A work of nautical grace and art......

[@Sheracross]

Beautiful boat

[@reneemoreno8030]

They are beautiful and a collector's dream. I have always covered one for their sleek and classy look. Fortunate enough to enter Venice on one...incredible. Bravo

[@shelbynamels973]

I really shudder to think what you covered it with. the mind reels.

[@helipeek2736]

A Riva is hardly a Cadillac, because it’s; elegant, stylish, purposeful, hand crafted and appears to go round corners.

[@MrMlbfan6]

Riva always stand out

[@kamuelalee]

A beautiful boat!

[@billj9838]

The American version of these boats is Chris Craft. I haven’t seen one in more than a decade. Yesterday there were two on trailers parked in my neighborhood. The most Chris Crafts I’ve ever seen in one place was Lake Tahoe California.

[@marzsit9833]

chris craft, century, gar wood, hacker craft are all very similar boats to a riva.

[@Loulovesspeed]

@Bill J - The Lake George, NY Antique and Classic Boat Show provides a great display of many beautiful antique wood boats, Chris Craft, Elco, Garwood, and others including Riva. It's a fantastic display of the most beautiful wood crafts ever made.

[@brewmorgan8942]

Master Craftsmenship.

[@intuitive7274]

In a word. ITALIANO

[@deerhoda7574]

Gorgeous!

[@Antiprotone]

4. Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness. Chang-Tzu La felicità sta nell’assenza della lotta per la felicità.

[@ooyginyardel4835]

Italians truly know art and beauty. That’s why they lost the war; they had to remove the guns from their tanks and battleships because they interfered with the lines.

[@artworld9799]

Cadillac on water, very beautiful

[@pandoraspocks4102]

Just gorgeous

[@johnbraggins3294]

Riva make the best boats by far.

[@roniquebreauxjordan1302]

Beautiful

[@bubbasl1355]

Wooden boat culture is alive and well in the USA!

[@franciscovarela7127]

"Alive" yes. "Well", I would say it survives in spite of the economics of wooden boat building/ownership/maintenance.

[@bubbasl1355]

@@franciscovarela7127 we have many boats on the water... my '63 Century Resorter 19 lives in Northern CA and it is a pleasure...used 12 months a year,,,preventative maintenance is key. #notatrailerqueen

[@ag-bk5wf]

Beautiful boats!!

[@quickcurechef5373]

Uh oh😧 i can feel my heart😨 i think i'm in love 🤯😍🙃

[@svamandolin3546]

Cherubini makes a stylish cruiser like this. EIther on my wishlist.

[@DETROIT1948]

Cool 😎

[@Gr8Layks]

I like my wooden _Chris*Craft_ & _Lyman_ … all the fun and some of the beauty for a tiny fraction of the price of Riva.

[@scoutandscooter]

This boat even exceeds a bespoke... name it - Deusenberg, RR, Bentley, Ferrari, Lambo, on and on. Oh, and I need a villa on the lake.

[@aah4587]

Did you really compare the Riva to a Cadillac 😖 .. it’s the Ferrari of boats not Cadillac ..

[@ooyginyardel4835]

I noticed that also. Perhaps he was condescending to his perception of American sensibilities. An error on his part.

[@mitchburk5112]

The top dog was the Lamborgini Aquarama powered by twin 12 cylinder Lamborgini powerplants.

[@smctrout4423]

That was a one-off for Ferruccio Lamborghini. Riva substituted Lamborghini engines for the stock V-8s.

[@LlyleHunter]

Tova boats are insanely heavy in each of their size categories and absolutely delicious.

[@Loulovesspeed]

Tova??

[@mgithaiga1]

I wanna ride one of those someday.

[@colingarner6175]

When you say Cadillac you insult the boat . You should have said Rolls Royce for comparison .

[@throughmyeyes9940]

remember, that guy's company make beautiful boats as well, so maybe he feels his boats are the RR of the water

[@TVC15185]

Cadillacs of the 30s to early 60s were the standard of the world. Even the Italian who probably never drove a Cadillac knows that.

[@bertram46]

Old Cadillacs from the 50s and before yes.

[@michaelmode]

WOW!

[@Antiprotone]

5. There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way. Christopher Morley

[@rover-t]

Ribs is the most beautiful boats. They can only be compared with a classic Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini

[@jfayiii]

Kardashians are the new Sophia Loren. Times are changing. I finally get it. Roman Empire to Dark Ages.

[@na__na__iro8528]

RIVAかっこいいですね！

[@mml1224]

i wonder what is the toyota camry of the riva?

[@selftrue670]

Bayliner

[@Spicy-spaghetti]

Does anybody know where I could purchase the classic Riva Boats 1960s-1990s?

[@jtstacey83]

Sad they left out Chris Craft, who once had several popular wooden speed boats still highly prized.

[@samanthab1923]

What kind is foot did Gianni& Aunti c

[@daveklein2826]

They didn't leave anything out iy was a news piece on Riva

[@bertram46]

I grew up on Chris Craft Constellations The highest quality boats of the day. But certainly not a Riva or a Garwood

[@steveconn]

I found Dickie Greenleaf's body in one once.

[@mikemiller8982]

You're so talented.

[@roniquebreauxjordan1302]

Amazing s story! #VisitItaly

[@roberthepburn7461]

It's a disservice to Sophia Loren to say that the Kardashians are the modern day Sophia Loren's Sophia Loren was class and beauty and grace the Kardashians are TV hos

[@TheBTG88]

I prefer the original (since 1908) mahogany boats - Hacker-Craft. Still made today In Lake George, NY.

[@lewstone5430]

_But, it’s not Italian!_

[@Nighthawk-8050]

Yeah but it's not a Riva

[@TheBTG88]

@@Nighthawk-8050 I see that as a positive.

[@TheBTG88]

@@lewstone5430 But it does have more style!

[@yolandaward141]

OH MY HOW BEAUTIFUL JUST BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL. 🍸🍾💋

[@phmwu7368]

RIVA great craftsmanship legendary wooden boats, but anno 2022 many prefer a Cranchi E26 classic cruiser 🤔

[@matthewcubbon1264]

Give me a wood boat over a super yacht any day

[@ferngully5324]

75% of their business is SUPER YACHTS??? And therein lies what has happened to the world. Greed all around. So much for saving the planet/environment. I was smiling at the story and the beauty of italy and the boat until he made that statement and then I felt ill with the reality of what that means. Well, everything dies out eventually. Humans are no exception. Especially when we’re doing it to ourselves. Ciao!

[@samanthab1923]

What kind of boat was used in Venice in Indiana Jones 3

[@jimardizoni3453]

When I hit the lottery, I'll give em a call

[@CapnBlood]

Seth and La Dolce Vita 4:58

[@adusabubeker2611]

THANKS MOUMITA RAHMAN SON OF FATHER MY SPOUSE I LOVE YOU

[@meta4282]

I prefer the 10.5 Titian Tender

[@colingarner6175]

When you say Cadillac I think you mean rolls

[@user-hv1kz6px8m]

Очень красивый аппарат.

[@Pembrey33]

Ariva👍

[@polygamous1]

I would say an Italian RR on the water

[@ss_whole]

You never said how many were produced.

[@mililaniman]

I would like to go fishing on a Riva boat.

[@Nighthawk-8050]

Are you kidding i would like to live in one gorgeous boat

[@daveklein2826]

stupid comment

[@RNicolasRuvalcaba]

Funny, that's my wife's maiden name but she's from El Salvador..

[@pitts3219]

Wearing a suit…… First Class

[@adamwort7160]

If you could combine ferrari rolls royce & Aston Martin Ud stil be only halfway there Quoted from Jeremy clarkson

[@u.s.militia7682]

Not for sale? Everything is for sale.

[@wilhamcobly3805]

I would say Rolls Royce, not Cadillac, since it has its engines.

[@franciscovarela7127]

"Cadillac on the water" Calling this boat a "Cadillac" does this beautiful boat a grave disservice.

[@ag-bk5wf]

He means the cadillaic term of the 1960s.

[@stoundingresults]

What about Christ Craft?

[@daveklein2826]

What about it? This was a news piece about Riva

[@attenzioneallontanarsidall7940]

how strange, the Americans who don't play the mandolin in the background when it comes to Italy! Have the Americans evolved?

[@624radicalham]

Your comment makes no sense. Perhaps you need to learn ENGLISH before taking a shot at America. Scrivi più chiaramente e spiega cosa intendi cara principessa

[@u_t_d_s_h-1_a]

Riva boats are good, most boats of the size shown have steerings on the left.

[@kayemtee5312]

That’s the difference between Italy and the US. He promises they will never make another Riva, but on Lake George, New York, Hacker as been building new replicas of their 1920s and 1930s boats for well heeled clients for the last forty or so years.

[@FishFreddie]

Nice... but if you know the price of them... most of the people are done.

[@ZacLowing]

Why did she say set sail, when there is no sail?

[@marzsit9833]

landlubbers..

[@donaldbanner2185]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm? Cadillac....... means Check Engine Light................always in the shop!

[@daveklein2826]

LIAR

[@hinthegroove9740]

They’re not in a drought there now?

[@melbaker9495]

The northern lakss are fine, maybe a little lower but Lake Como for instance is as deep as Lake Tahoe in California.

[@daveklein2826]

no

[@ronaldlucero4258]

PAPERWORK

[@GladiatoreXD]

Never a title was more incorrect! Maybe she meant an Italian Rolls on the water, Cadillac…no way, sorry!

[@wotan10950]

Italy’s addiction to beauty? I just returned from Milan, and saw a display with Donatella Versace. I told the tour guide, “Quel è proprio brutta!” She agreed.

[@dragonmartijn]

Donatella isn't the real Versace.

[@phmwu7368]

21st century celebrities cannot be compared to the 1950s & 1960s 1:57 says enough 🤣😅😂🤣

[@andreatanzi3191]

The comparison with a Cadillac is misleading, Bentley is rather more appropriate (..)

[@user-pk7xo8bb2v]

Do NOT compare Riva with Cadillac.... Riva is art, a Cadillac is just a car that looks fancy trying very hard to hide very bad enginering

[@shelbynamels973]

sure, you could have a fiberglass boat for a lot less, but ...

[@lemmykilmister873]

🌊🌊🚤 😎👍🏻

[@adamwort7160]

Cadillac this isn't the sopranos