CRAFTSMANSHIP
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Above: General view of the RAM yard
Right: Carlo Riva, now 89, often visits RAM
opular wisdom recommends that you should always address yourself to God rather than to the Saints. Which is why, each year, 15 or so owners give their wooden Rivas the lavish care that can only be offered by the most specialised centre in the world, RAM, situated on the historic site of Riva’s original Sarnico boatyard and only a few metres away from the Ferretti Group’s present Riva brand buildings. Indeed, no other restoration workshop for classic Rivas can claim greater legitimacy in the trade as it was designed by Carlo Riva himself in 1956 to ensure the best care possible for his precious speedboats. And, as in Italy family traditions are stronger than elsewhere, RAM still belongs to the Riva dynasty and is headed today by Anselmo Vigani, Carlo Riva’s nephew, thus continuing a unique expertise gained from decades of experience. The centre covers or replicates all the techniques and procedures developed when today’s classics were still brand-new runabouts freshly ordered from the catalogue. We may have forgotten however that the creation of RAM – Revisione Assistenza Motoscafi – was a visionary concept in what was a mainly artisan-based field of motorboat production in the 1950s. In his ceaseless quest for excellence, Carlo Riva wanted the owners of his runabouts, but even more his dealers, to find in one place all the concentrated knowledge and expertise for the repair and maintenance of a Riva speedboat – right down to the smallest detail. Thus, trained in this veritable laboratory, all official Riva retailers would now use the same methods, standards and materials throughout the world, leaving their rich clients to the joys of driving ‘in white gloves’ as was the custom of the time. Today, after more than 50 years of success, the company continues faithfully to advance the work of the master. The site itself underwent a phase of renovation a few years ago to transform its few thousand square metres of buildings into a model clinic in which all production posts enjoy the best possible working conditions. As in any good nursing home, and before the prescription of the appropriate remedies, the visit
CLASSIC BOAT FEBRUARY 2012 87
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