08 Aug The Riva Iseo Super
A MODERN CLASSIC FOR A NEW ERA
Introduced in 2011 and comprehensively evolved as the Iseo Super in 2025, the 27-foot Riva Iseo distills generations of design heritage into one of the most compact models in the modern Riva range.
Where the Aquarama came to embody the glamour of a particular era, the Iseo demonstrates how those same values can be translated for a contemporary generation. Elegant, athletic, and unmistakably Italian, it combines the visual language of Riva’s legendary wooden runabouts with modern materials, advanced engineering, and the versatility expected of a present-day luxury dayboat.
The original Iseo made its public debut in 2011, arriving at a time when Riva was expanding well beyond the wooden runabouts upon which its reputation had been built. The model’s name connected it directly to Lake Iseo and to the landscape in which the Riva story began. Its compact dimensions also represented a return to the intimate scale of the classic runabout—a boat intended to be enjoyed from the helm rather than merely admired from shore.
The Iseo was designed by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, founders of Officina Italiana Design, the studio responsible for Riva’s yachts for more than three decades. Working with the Ferretti Group’s engineering department, they created a boat that respected the proportions and visual discipline of earlier Rivas without becoming a reproduction of the past.
Traditional materials remain central to its identity. High-gloss striped mahogany covers the foredeck and stern platform, finished with 24 coats of varnish to achieve the depth and brilliance associated with the marque. Polished stainless-steel details, sculpted side grilles, and the signature aquamarine waterline provide carefully controlled accents, while the sweeping windscreen gives the boat a distinctly modern profile.
The arrival of the Iseo Super in 2025 refined that formula without changing its essential character. The windscreen was redesigned with the counter-curvature now associated with contemporary Riva models, giving the boat a more dynamic and assertive appearance. The helm was modernized around a centrally positioned navigation display, while the cockpit was reconfigured to create a larger and more inviting social space.
A U-shaped sofa surrounds an electric table that can be lowered and concealed beneath the cushions when not in use. Opposite the seating area, additional storage has been incorporated without compromising the clean geometry of the cockpit. A stowable bimini provides shade, while the broad aft sunpad preserves one of the most recognizable elements of the classic Mediterranean runabout.
Performance remains an important part of the experience, but, as with the Aquarama, speed is only one aspect of the boat’s appeal. The standard 300-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel is paired with a single Aquamatic Duoprop sterndrive, providing a cruising speed of 33 knots and a top speed of 38 knots. Optional petrol V8 power increases maximum speed to 41 knots.
The sterndrive installation preserves the Iseo’s shallow-water versatility and responsive handling, while modern autotrim and interceptor systems help maintain the boat’s running attitude. A hydraulic gearbox also reduces mechanical noise during shifting, reinforcing the sense of refinement that defines the entire Riva experience.
The Iseo occupies a distinctive position within the Riva range. It is equally at home as an independent dayboat, an elegant lake runabout, or a tender carried aboard a larger yacht. Its scale makes the boat approachable and easily managed, yet no aspect of its detailing feels diminished. The varnished mahogany, carefully fitted stainless steel, tailored upholstery, and sculpted hull surfaces receive the same attention associated with far larger Riva yachts.
The development of the full-electric El-Iseo and the subsequent introduction of the Iseo Super demonstrate the adaptability of the original design. The same platform can accommodate both traditional internal-combustion propulsion and a new generation of electric technology without surrendering the proportions or character that make the boat immediately recognizable.
That balance between continuity and evolution is central to Riva’s enduring identity. The Iseo does not attempt to recreate the Aquarama, nor does it rely upon nostalgia alone. Instead, it carries the values established by Carlo Riva—elegance, craftsmanship, performance, and unmistakable presence—into a new era.
The Riva Iseo Super is more than the smallest expression of the Riva lifestyle. It is proof that the essential character of the brand does not depend upon size. Whether viewed from the dock, driven across an open bay, or carried aboard a superyacht, the Iseo possesses the same quality that has defined the greatest Rivas: it transforms boating into an expression of design.
DIMENSIONS & CAPACITY
* Length Overall: 8.24 meters (27 feet)
* Hull Length: 8.21 meters (26 feet 11 inches)
* Width (Beam): 2.49 meters (8 feet 2 inches)
* Draft: 1.00 meter (3 feet 3 inches)
* Unladen Displacement: 3,100 kilograms (6,834 pounds)
* Laden Displacement: 4,010 kilograms (8,841 pounds)
* Passenger Capacity: Up to 6 people
* Fuel Capacity: 330 liters (87 US gallons)
* Freshwater Capacity: 80 liters (21 US gallons)
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
* Standard Engine: Single Volvo Penta D4-300A diesel
* Power: 300 hp
* Propulsion: Aquamatic DP-I Duoprop sterndrive
* Cruising Speed: 33 knots
* Top Speed: 38 knots
* Range at Cruising Speed: Approximately 240 nautical miles
* Optional Engine: Volvo Penta V8 350 CE petrol engine producing 355 hp
* Optional Performance: 36-knot cruising speed and 41-knot top speed
* Additional Option: Volvo Penta V8 300 CE petrol engine producing 305 hp
MATERIALS & DESIGN FEATURES
* Deck and Stern Platform: High-gloss striped mahogany finished with 24 coats of varnish
* Exterior Details: Polished stainless-steel side grilles and signature aquamarine waterline
* Windscreen: Renewed counter-curved design characteristic of contemporary Riva models
* Cockpit: U-shaped sofa with waterproof Sky upholstery and an electric up-down table concealed beneath the cushions
* Aft Deck: Broad upholstered sunpad positioned above the engine compartment
* Weather Protection: Stowable, manually operated bimini top
* Helm: Standard 9-inch Volvo Penta navigation display; optional 12-inch Böning digital display
* Running Systems: Sterndrive autotrim control and Zipwake interceptor system
