TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN RIVA'S ISEO SUPER
The Riva Iseo Super is the latest expression of Italy's most celebrated boat builder, a 27-foot (8.24 m) runabout that unites more than 170 years of hand-craftsmanship with thoroughly modern performance engineering. Designed by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design, the Iseo Super enters the Riva line-up as a refined evolution of the classic Iseo, finished in an all-new Vulcan Grey hull and the brand's signature high-gloss mahogany decking built up with 24 coats of varnish.
What makes the Riva Iseo Super special?
Riva's design language has barely changed in half a century, yet every new model finds fresh ways to deepen it. On the Iseo Super, the polished stainless-steel details, the contrasting aquamarine waterline stripe and the sculpted mahogany transom are all present, but the proportions have been lengthened and the bow raised to improve sea-keeping in open water. The Vulcan Grey gel-coat is a departure from the brand's traditional darker hulls and reads as contemporary without abandoning the marque's DNA.
Powertrain options and performance figures
Three powertrain configurations cover a wide range of buyers. The headline petrol engine is a Volvo Penta V8 producing 355 hp, pushing the Iseo Super to a 41-knot top speed and a 36-knot cruise. A detuned 305 hp V8 version complies with the strict noise and exhaust regulations governing Lake Constance, making it the go-to choice for discerning buyers based in central Europe. A Volvo Penta D4-300A diesel rounds out the range, delivering 300 hp at 3,500 rpm via the brand's Aquamatic DP-1 Duoprop sterndrive. All three share identical hull lines and interior appointments, so the choice is purely about the waters you intend to navigate.
Interior: luxury meets practicality on the water
The cockpit has been redesigned to prioritise social space. The U-shaped sofa surrounds a central electrically operated table that stows flat at the touch of a button, freeing the entire aft deck for sunbathing. The helm station offers a nine-inch Volvo Penta chartplotter, digital engine instrumentation and the curved windscreen that has been a Riva hallmark since the 1950s. Upholstery is offered in waterproof Sky fabric and can be colour-matched to the hull. A manually operated bimini top protects the helm from above, and a sunpad over the engine room provides a private lounging area at anchor.
One genuinely novel feature is a new integrated boat cover system inspired by automotive convertible soft-tops, which wraps the entire cockpit in one controlled movement when the boat is moored. See the full specification at Riva's official Iseo Super page, and read Robb Report's sea trial of the Riva Iseo Super runabout for an independent on-water verdict.
Craftsmanship: the 24-coat mahogany tradition
Riva's mahogany finishing process remains one of the most labour-intensive in recreational boating. Craftsmen at the Sarnico yard apply 24 successive coats of varnish to the deck and transom panels, wet-sanding between each layer to eliminate imperfections before the next is applied. The result is the mirror-like depth of finish that distinguishes a Riva from every other wooden runabout on the water. Paired with hand-polished stainless steel fittings, the Iseo Super is as much a moving sculpture as a performance boat.
Photo: Riva Yacht
Discover luxury watercraft at TheArsenale
If the Iseo Super's blend of heritage and performance speaks to you, explore TheArsenale's curated boat collection for exceptional watercraft. The SAY29 Runabout Yacht and the Beau Lake Electric Runabout sit alongside the Italian tradition the Iseo Super belongs to, offering different takes on the same ethos: effortless elegance on the water.
