The original Riva Iseo was first shown back at Cannes 2011, and like the larger Aquariva, it has earned its place as an enduring modern classic.
Around 70 of these beautiful sterndrive-propelled 27-footers have been delivered to date, but while its styling has barely changed over the past 13 years, the latest model packs a very different powertrain.
The El-Iseo isn't just Riva's first all-electric craft, it's the first battery-powered sports boat built by any of the long-established European boat yards. The big question is whether this is just an expensive toy built to satisfy a handful of wealthy clients or a genuine first step on the path to a greener future? We flew out to Italy to put it through its paces and see how it fares.
MUSICAL CONDUCTORS
The El-Iseo started life as an engineering prototype at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival, but this is the real deal, a full production-ready RCD-approved boat you can buy off the shelf, albeit at a suitably elevated price tag.
The El-Iseo is very similar to its petrol- or diesel-powered sisters, save for a revised windscreen, cockpit layout and what lies beneath the sunpad. The heart of the matter is a Parker GVM310 AC motor, rated for a continuous 250kW (335hp) and a temporary peak of 300kW (402hp). Then there's a sealed and liquid-cooled 800V 150kWh lithium battery bank, a salt water heat exchanger, a voltage regulator, an inverter, and plenty of heavy-duty insulation, wiring and hosing, as well as various fire and gas detection/extinguishing systems.
The battery pack consists of two independent banks, which means the failure of one doesn't stop the boat completely. The only familiar sight is the single Mercury Racing Bravo X3R sterndrive leg bolted to the transom.
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Lofoten or Bust- Part 4- Grandezza owner Per Harrtoft heads back to Sweden after an epic 3500nm adventure deep into the Arctic Circle to visit the mythical Lofoten islands
After ten memorable days in the Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway, we are on our way back south towards Sweden. We have already made it as far as Trondheim, a charming place even if it was raining so hard we had to cycle round the city centre clutching umbrellas. But now we are back on board Deamare, our Grandezza 40 Fly, eating up the miles at a steady 31 knots.
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As the name suggests it's a means of having your boat moved professionally from one location to another. It might be as simple as hiring someone to tow your RIB a few miles down the road or as complex as shipping a superyacht halfway around the world.
HANDLE A SINGLE SHAFTDRIVE BOAT PART 1
Single shaftdrive boats are relatively rare these days but the reduced costs of buying, servicing and fuelling such a simple but reliable drivetrain does mean they are making a bit of a comeback.
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Can XO's all-new aluminium flagship really make it big in the Med?
BUYING OUR FIRST CLASSIC
Instead of whiling away their retirement playing bowls, Rob and Shona Adams decided to invest their time and money in a classic Silver gentleman's yacht. Would the gamble pay off?
PRINCESS S65
Torn between the V and F Class flagships? The new S65 might be the boat you've been waiting for...
