Riva Restoration 1960 Riva Ariston

Macatawa Bay Boat Works Restoration

updated: November 30, 2007

1960 Riva Ariston

A complete and total show restoration!

In its current condition, the boat has been stripped of the hardware, motor, interior and finish. We have rolled the boat over and removed the bottom to assess the condition of the structural members. We have new bottom, hull sides and deck directly from Riva which was shipped from Italy in a large container. These will be fastened to the frame and finished to Riva quality and specifications. The original engine has been completely and professionally restored.

Original dash and the meticulous factory wiring that Riva is famous for.

When finished, the boat will also have a new interior kit, all rechromed hardware, and will be complete with all the Riva parts and accessories, just as it came from the factory.

The roll over in progress, carefully ...

MBBW has removed the bottom, cleaned up the hull frames and inspected for damage. Structurally, the hull is quite sound.

View of the Stem

Interior view of the hull frames

Starboard hull side removed and frames exposed.

The new hullsides, directly from Riva, await installation. They still have the factory shrink wrap in place.

All frames are cleaned, scraped and sanded in preparation for repair and painting...

We dry fit hull sides and trim to final size

The interior side of the hull sides were sealed for protection, the location of the frames were determined and screw holes pre drilled. The area where the sides will contact the frames, chines and shear were masked off prior to painting to allow for better adherence of 3M-5200 adhesive.

We paint the interior of each hull side prior to installation

We also paint the hull frame work prior to hull side installation when access is easy.

One of the prep and painted sides ready for installation.

With a great deal of clamps, screws and some 3M-5200, the starboard side is installed.

Both sides screwed in place and glued to the frames with 3M-5200, the screw holes are bunged over with bungs made in shop to match hullside wood as close as possible.

We carefully use a chisel to cut each bung down to almost flush with the hull side. It will be sanded to the same height as the hull, and spot stained as needed to color match the surrounding wood.

A new transom was laminated in house with three ply mahogany.

The finished laminated transom pictured below, the back side pre painted and ready to be permanently attached to the framework.

Time to roll the boat over for the new bottom installation.

Leveled up and plum on the floor.

New 10-ply forward bottom panels were made in shop using the hull framework as a form.

Pictured above is the finished forward panel sealed with scarf joint.

Bottom panels being installed.

Painting the bottom the correct Riva red aft and gloss white forward

Roll back over upright for the final time, we start the removal of the old decking, king plank and covering boards, a new laminated sub king plank was made to replace the cracked original constructed by Riva of pine. Original deck frames look good.