Riva Boat Project V8 Volvo Penta

RIVA Bertram Bahia Mar 20 This legendary boat is the first model of Riva manufactured from fibreglass. Introduced in 1970 and only 136 ever made. Anyone who knows these boats will be familiar with the handmade Italian quality. The weight and quality of the fittings is unlike anything a modern boat can offer. Please see, for example, the genuine ceramic sea toilet.

Engine is not original - it is a Volvo Penta AQ211A. This is the right weight and power for the hull. It has a Volvo 290DP duo prop with the stunning chrome props you see in the pictures. The engine runs beautifully and i can therefore show the hydraulic steering and the gearbox all working nicely. The paint is poor.

It deserves much better. The seats are a modern affair from a Rinker. I include the original Riva seats but they need recovering. The interior has been striped out ready for a complete refit. I kept everything I took out so the cloths can be used as templates for the new materials.

The shelves and any wooden panels i removed are dry stored and perfectly fit to be put back into the boat. This boat could be put in the water and used - but it would really benefit from the care and attention of an enthusiast. It deserves to be bought back to its former glory. Trailer included. I used it recently to successfully drive 100 miles.

Clearly this is a significant purchase. Inspection before purchasing is highly recommended.