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Riva superamerica 42 sea handling

Discussion in 'Riva Yacht' started by Theodoros, Feb 5, 2017.

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  1. Theodoros

    Theodoros New Member

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    Hello, i am looking at a riva superamerica 42 to purchase. I wonder if someone would have any comments as regards the sea handling ability of this particular model of superamerica. I feel a bit worried by the fact that the boat has a modified deep V, which could translate in some difficulty in choppy sea conditions.
    Thank you.
  2. PhilippeDuval

    PhilippeDuval New Member

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    Hello Thedoros

    I am the owner of a Riva 42 Superamerica for some years. I live in France and the boat is moored in Camargue.
    When I bought it, the boat was in very sound condition but needed a complete "refreshing".
    Regarding the sea handling, I think it does very well up to 20 knots at 2300 Rpm : in fact my original Cummins engines VTA 370 have been detuned, I suppose, and I cannot reach upper speeds.( they should rev at 3000 rpm)
    This winter, the injection pumps/injectors are dismantled for inspection .
    Last week, at the Retromobile Classic Cars show in Paris, there was for the first time a Riva stand showing a restored Ariston and I met a former employee from Riva now working at Riva RAM : he knows very well all the Superamerica line , from the 42 to the 50 and he told me that the 42 was a little too short, the 45 being more stable at speed.
    Anyway, the quality of these boats is great and despite 44 years old my Superamerica is in better condition in many aspects than 10 or even 5 years old yachts I can see in the harbour.

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  3. Theodoros

    Theodoros New Member

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    Merci beaucoup pour votre réponse, peut être pourriez vous aussi m'indiquer si le bateau navigue sans taper dans le clapot mediteranéen, pex avec 3 ou 4 bf ?

    Merci encore
  4. PhilippeDuval

    PhilippeDuval New Member

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    Le bateau est amarré à Port Napoléon : golfe de Fos, Marseille, un secteur particulièrement exposé au Mistral et à une mer un peu agitée.
    Comme je l'ai dit, du fait du"bridage" des moteurs, je navigue entre 15 et 17 nds, 20 maxi.
    Le bateau est assez lourd pour sa taille par rapport aux unités actuelles de même longueur et il passe assez confortablement à ces allures.
    En revanche, comme me l'a dit le responsable de Riva Ram, qui a navigué sur tous les Superamerica, le 42 est un peu court de l'arrière : le cockpit mériterait 2/3 pieds de plus, à la fois pour gagner en espace de "réception" et pour stabiliser le bateau qui a tendance à se cabrer de l'avant à vive allure malgré les flaps. C'est pourquoi, à son sens, le 45 est plus confortable.
    Ceci dit, avec une unité de 1972 et ses moteurs d'origine, je n'envisage pas ( même avec les moteurs bien réglés) de naviguer à 25 nds : n'oublions pas la consommation de ces énormes Cummins !
  5. Theodoros

    Theodoros New Member

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    Merci pour votre aide. Si j'avance avec l'achat je publierai mes impressions et photos du bateau.
  6. John James

    John James New Member

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    Thank you. I am finalizing purchase of a 42. Can you send more pictures of your boat. I'm interested in your stern layout for gangway and dinghy placement. I addition, is the a website committed to accessories for Riva 42s? John. My email is REMOVED thank you
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 16, 2020
  7. leeky

    leeky Senior Member

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    I wouldn't count on a reply from PhilippeDuval. He hasn't logged on here since November 2018. However, if you google "Riva 42 Superamerica" and select "Images" at the top of the page, you'll get a bunch of pictures that might be of help to you. As far as a website for Riva 42 accessories, I am clueless; I can barely spell Riva 42. :)
  8. John James

    John James New Member

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    Understood. I have already done what you suggest. These ships are so rare that I am still trying to find as much as I can about them.
  9. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

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    The Riva 42 SuperAmerica as the Riva Ram man told Phillippe was reported a bit short, running a bit bow high in any speed. The boat has a sweet spot around 21/22 knots which tabs down rides a bit better.
    These Riva have a hull with Dave Napier influence and this was a time when both Riva and Bertram had the same owner i.e Whittaker.
    The SuperAmerica will be lengthened up to 50, totalling six models, 42, 45, 48 and three 50 variants. 50 Special with integrated radar arch, and 50 HP with Man 510hp and Cog moved a bit back.
    The hull will be again used in the 45 Coral produced from 87 to 89 in only eight units. The most sold SuperAmerica is the 42 model.
    The best SA hull is the 45 and 48, 50 is a bit wet due to it being a bit too long.
    I suggest people to try to find a decent 45 Coral due to its younger age, and some design details which make her look not that old while still having that classic Riva heritage.
  10. John James

    John James New Member

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    Thank you Liam!
  11. HJ M

    HJ M New Member

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    Dear John,

    we bought a Riva Coral 45 last year and drove it from Finland to the Dutch coastal waters. That was a spectacular trip, also with some serious challenging sea at times but the boat handles just perfect. In heavy sea with a lot of wind there is a lot of spray though, so I would advise to keep the windows shut from time to time ;-)

    we have been in love with the boat from the minute we payed eyes on it. There is simply no comparison if you are looking for a boat with class and character in this range. There is just nothing ordinary about it and we love the distinct 70’s and 80’s design vibe. Quality wise also it is built to last.

    Hope you find yours and will have the same joy we have with it!

    Best,

    Henk

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  12. John James

    John James New Member

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    Beautiful. I am under contract and hoping to close within next several weeks. Sea trials next week. How is your stern laid out. I will get a dinghy but dont want to block the name of the boat or have a dinghy hanging on davits in everyones face who is on my back deck. I also want to add a gangway.
  13. HJ M

    HJ M New Member

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    If you have the Dinghy in the davids it will block either the name or the view a bit, we usually have it all the way up for docking reasons but it has never felt as a burden.

    Our boat has the original gangway that is fixed in the flagpole hole and davids, that is not very convenient if you have use for it on regular base, but in the Northern Europe waters gangway’s are usually used as diving planks by the kids rather than for entering the boat. I guess if you fix one this will limit the possibility for hanging the dinghy, but maybe someone else can advise better.

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  14. John James

    John James New Member

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    Where did you order the couch in the stern from. It looks gorgeous and did you redo or recover the stern teak deck?
  15. HJ M

    HJ M New Member

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    The couch was done by a specialist in Finland by the previous owner (along with a matching lounge couch and drivers seats on the flybridge. The couch in the cockpit is a real plus, it seats 6 to 8 with ease and looks great.

    The teak deck was done last winter by our home yard (the same yard that did the complete restauraties of the Superamerica 50 that is currently for sale at Arie de Boom yachting in Port de la Rague). This Coral was not equipped with teak deck, but this realy compliments the cockpit so it was worth every penny ;-)
  16. John James

    John James New Member

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    Please send me pics of flybridge seating. Do you have a Sunpad on bow?
  17. HJ M

    HJ M New Member

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    The sunpad on the bow is still the original one. It concists of 3 pieces that fix together wit a velcro strip in between and press buttons on deck. I don’t have very well documented pictures of the flying bridge but these pictures should give you an idea..

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  18. John James

    John James New Member

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    Yeeeeees. Thank you!
  19. HJ M

    HJ M New Member

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    No problem. Keep us posted on your ventures!