![]() ![]() ![]() I know it’s over-hyping it, but I have to say my day aboard Gala-probably because I knew so much about Aquarama’s history-was one of my most memorable days on the water after 30 years of testing boats.īeyond the beautiful, varnished wood and chrome work, features like the bow anchor locker, with a clever self-retrieving anchor system, and the soft canvas top had a huge spring inside to make it easy to raise and lower the canvas when it started to rain. I had the helm a few hours but let the captain dock it, as the mahogany finish was flawless and I didn’t want to leave any scratches. There was a sense of grace and performance, especially considering its age, that I hadn’t felt before. When the hull slapped it was a much softer sound than fiberglass. It was such an enjoyable boat to drive, turning sharp with the twin engines. The hull had been designed for ocean running-after Riva had been chided by a longtime friend for building “lake boats.”Ĭarlo Riva’s creation is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its launch in August. And the side throttles were also modeled on a car to make it more intuitive for new owners who were not necessarily boaters. The oversized steering wheel felt perfect for a boat that would’ve been compared to a Cadillac or Lincoln in its day. The hand-built wooden hulls were built on a production line like cars for quality control and timely delivery.Īt the dock, Gala had a stately presence, with pinstripes on the light-colored mahogany foredeck, a beautiful reddish-tinted hull, gleaming chrome, and a wraparound automotive-style windshield which was radical for the day. Riva had decided early on to model the Aquarama after the finest luxury cars with throaty American marine engines ( Gala had twin 320 hp Rivas, which were modified Crusaders). Unlike most boats, the helm is on the left side. Owned by Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi, Gala was a stunning wooden boat, with ivory-colored upholstery, a Calax-style steering wheel inspired by a 1958 Chrysler 300, and side throttles. The boat was meticulously crafted from wood. ![]()
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