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A 1968 Riva Aquarama Special, hull number 285, sold at auction in March 2025 for $1.42M. A new 2026 Aquariva Super delivered in Sarnico lists at €1.95M before extras. A used 2018 Rivamare 38 in good condition trades around €620K. A 110 Dolcevita built in 2021, lightly used, will close near €11.5M. Riva is the most stratified single-brand market in yachting, and where you spend matters more than which year you choose.
This guide covers the two markets in parallel. The vintage runabout market (Aquarama, Tritone, Ariston, Olympic) and the modern Ferretti-era Riva market (Iseo, Aquariva Super, Rivamare 38, El-Iseo, 56 Rivale, 76 Bahamas, 88 Folgore, 102 Corsaro, 110 Dolcevita, 130 Bellissima).
The vintage Riva market
Vintage Riva is a closed market with a small number of professional dealers and a much larger pool of private collector trades. Carlo Riva built the Aquarama between 1962 and 1996, with about 784 hulls produced. Earlier models, the Tritone, Ariston, and Olympic, are scarcer and more expensive on a per-hull basis.
Where the money sits in 2026.
Aquarama Special, restored, 1970s build year, $850K to $1.4M. The market peaked in 2022 at over $1.6M for top hulls and has softened modestly. Restoration provenance matters more than year. A Riva Historical Society certificate and a documented restoration at Cantiere di Sarnico or at Riva World Carlo Riva in Sarnico carries a 25% to 35% premium.
Tritone, 1950s, $400K to $750K. A smaller pool. Better restoration documentation harder to find.
Ariston, late 1950s through 1960s, $220K to $380K. Entry into vintage Riva ownership.
Olympic, 1969-1974, $180K to $290K. The most affordable serious vintage Riva.
What to avoid. A non-original engine swap (the original Cadillac, Riva-Crusader, or BPM units carry a premium even if you intend to use the yacht). A non-original hull color (vintage Riva colors were specified by year and model, and deviations cost on resale). A restoration by a yard not on the recognized list maintained by Riva World. A boat without a Riva Historical Society certificate.
The dealer you should call for a serious vintage purchase is Riva World Carlo Riva in Sarnico, who maintain the brand archives and broker the most consistently. For Lake Como and the Italian Lakes circuit, Cantiere Ernesto Riva (no relation to Carlo) maintains a strong inventory.
The modern Riva market
Modern Riva yachts are built at three sites. Sarnico (the small open boats up to 38ft). La Spezia (the 38ft to 76ft range). Ancona (76ft and above). All are owned by the Ferretti Group. The build quality is consistent across the range and consistent with peer brands at Ferretti's price level.
The modern range falls into three buyer profiles.
Day boats and open runabouts. Iseo (27ft), El-Iseo (electric Iseo, 27ft), Aquariva Super (33ft). These are status objects. New, they list at €450K to €2M. Used, in good condition, they hold 70% to 80% of new value through year five. The El-Iseo is the most depreciation-sensitive boat in the range and we would not buy it used in 2026 because battery refresh cost is currently uncertain. Wait two years on that one.
Sport coupes and small motoryachts. Rivamare 38, 56 Rivale, 66 Ribelle, 68 Diable, 76 Bahamas. These are the volume hulls. Used market is active. A 2020 56 Rivale in clean condition is €1.35M to €1.55M. A 2022 76 Bahamas is €4.6M to €5.4M.
Flagship range. 88 Folgore, 102 Corsaro, 110 Dolcevita, 130 Bellissima. These compete directly with Pershing, Sanlorenzo, and Sunseeker at the high end. We cover that comparison in Pershing yachts for sale. The Dolcevita 110 is the most refined product in this range and the one that holds value best.
Pricing in 2026
| Model | Year range | Asking range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iseo / Aquariva Super | 2018-2024 | €450K to €1.85M | Aquariva Super holds best in this band |
| Rivamare 38 | 2017-2023 | €580K to €920K | Steady market |
| 56 Rivale | 2018-2023 | €1.25M to €1.95M | Slow but solid |
| 76 Bahamas | 2020-2024 | €4.2M to €5.6M | Tightening |
| 88 Folgore | 2019-2024 | €7.5M to €11.2M | Hardest to find clean |
| 110 Dolcevita | 2020-2024 | €10.5M to €15.8M | Strong demand |
| 130 Bellissima | 2021-2024 | €17M to €24M | Limited transactions, prices firm |
The Italian VAT exposure on a used Riva varies depending on flag, where the yacht is delivered, and your residency. A second-hand Riva purchased VAT-paid in the EU carries a fully paid VAT certificate that should be confirmed by your broker before you make an offer. A Riva on a non-EU flag bought from Italy is a different transaction and needs a marine lawyer in Milan or Monaco.
Survey items that matter on a modern Riva
Riva carbon and laminate work is among the cleanest in the industry but five items come up repeatedly on surveys.
Gelcoat crazing on the Rivamare 38 hardtop, particularly the 2018-2020 hulls. Cosmetic, not structural, but expensive to address well.
Hydraulic helm noise on the 56 Rivale and 66 Ribelle. Pre-2021 hulls had a known pump issue, mostly fixed under warranty but check service records.
Teak deck wear at the cockpit drainage points. Riva teak is thinner than Hatteras or Sunseeker teak and wears earlier. Budget €35K to €60K for re-teak on a 76 Bahamas at the 10-year mark.
Surface drive seals on the 88 Folgore and 110 Dolcevita. The Arneson units fitted as standard are reliable but the seal service interval is shorter than buyers expect. A neglected seal service is €60K to €110K.
AV and navigation system on pre-2020 hulls. The earlier Naviop and Simrad integration was clean at delivery but firmware updates have been spotty. A current AV refresh is €40K to €120K depending on hull size.
What we would not buy
A 2017-2019 Rivamare 38 with the original soft furnishings still in place. The interior is the part of the yacht that ages fastest, and a refurbish (€55K to €90K) needs to be priced into your offer.
The El-Iseo, used, in 2026. The battery and motor technology are evolving fast, the residual value uncertainty is the highest in the Riva range, and the replacement battery cost has not yet been published. Buy the gasoline Iseo if you want a small open Riva today.
The 90 Argo, built 2015-2019. Production was short, parts availability is now patchy, and the model was effectively replaced by the 88 Folgore. Insurance carriers have started reflecting that in premiums.
If you want a sport coupe in the 70 to 90 foot range, the cleanest alternatives to a Riva 76 Bahamas are the Pershing 7X and the Sunseeker Predator 74. We prefer the Pershing for raw performance and the Riva for finish quality.
Brokers
Modern Riva is best handled through the Ferretti Group dealer network, with Allied Marine in the US, Riva World in Italy and Monaco, and Marine Italia for the Adriatic. Vintage Riva goes through Riva World or a small handful of specialist dealers in Lake Como and Sarnico. We would not buy a vintage Riva through a generalist brokerage. The pool of qualified eyes on these boats is small and you want one of them on your side of the table.
What to do next
If you are buying a vintage Riva, the next step is to email Riva World for a current inventory. If you are buying a modern Riva, send the listing to your preferred broker and ask for the build dossier and the service history. If you are deciding between Riva and another European builder in the same price band, read how to buy a yacht and Pershing yachts for sale before you commit.
Riva is a brand that rewards specific knowledge. The wrong Aquariva at the right price is still the wrong Aquariva. The right one is the most enjoyable small boat in yachting. That is the calibration to hold onto as you start shopping.