The early 1990s saw Riva introduce the Riva Bahamas series. In the 60-foot range, they were open yachts. The Riva 86 Domino picked up that spirit several years ago. Early 2015 will see the next incarnation, the Riva 88 Miami. She’ll premiere as early as the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach. While she shares similarities with her siblings, the Riva 88 Miami differs significantly. She will have a patented movable hardtop that, as the video below reveals, should be intriguing.
The sleek looks of the Riva 88 Miami leave no doubt that she’s part of the Italian builder’s family. She’ll come with sunpads big enough for a party, like her same-size sibling. The Riva 88 Miami will also dedicate abundant space to open-air relaxation. But, “open” is the key word. Call her a dayboat on steroids, or whatever analogy comes to mind. The 87’6″ (26.7-meter) megayacht’s only enclosed spaces are below decks. The Riva 86 Domino, by comparison, has a three-sided enclosure for and fixed sundeck atop the main deck. The new model therefore packs a serious punch for buyers who want the wind in their hair.
But what about the hardtop? Riva’s management team likens it to that of the famed Lamborghini Gallardo convertible Spyder. Take a look at the foredeck in the rendering below. See the wood-trimmed, hatch-like item just aft of the sunpads? That becomes the hardtop, thanks to electro-hydraulic lifting arms that emerge from each side of the structure. It’s small enough that it sits just over the helm, leaving the rest of the Riva 88 Miami fully open. And, it reveals a foredeck cockpit perfect for cocktails, breakfast at anchor, and more.
The convertible top also serves another function, that being a bimini-like shade over the foredeck cockpit. This would occur when the Riva 88 Miami is at anchor. But, more noteworthy, the convertible top is engineered for motion even when the megayacht is at top speed. Riva says the two lifting arms keep it secure, as do latches in the windscreen and radar arch.
The Ferretti Group received a patent for the convertible top for the Riva 88 Miami. The mechanisms were developed in house with cooperation from Besenzoni, the Italian firm known for its gangways, davits, and more.
Of course, the below-decks area should also turn heads. A lounge/media room is open to the galley, which has a countertop doubling as a bar. A full-beam master lies down a few steps for more volume, too. Medium-tone elm wood is the primary material, evoking the era of the Riva Bahamas.
Images are better than words at conveying how exactly the hardtop converts, so watch the video. We also have a gallery of renderings of the Riva 88 Miami on the Megayacht News app. You can download the app for free from iTunes or Google Play.
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