I remember being aboard the original 53-foot Riva Rivale some 20 years ago, and the 56-foot iteration in 2018. I loved both boats, but a decent roof would have made them even better. Open cockpits are fantastic unless it rains or is blisteringly hot. On those days, you want overhead protection.
The hardtop on the Riva 58 Capri—an evolution of the 56 Rivale—solves this problem for me. It properly shades the forward half of the cockpit, and it connects to the top of the sturdy wraparound windshield. It’s substantial enough to include some of the cockpit’s a/c ducting, which makes all the difference for onboard comfort.
And, the 58 Capri has a pantograph-framed canvas awning that can protect most of the aft deck. It’s near the hydraulic swim platform, which drops down to reveal more steps as it opens, making water access seamless. The cockpit itself has an aft island sun pad atop a tender garage, passageways on either side, two dinettes to port, and a wet bar and a single-seat helm position to starboard. That helm position is set abaft a single-piece windshield.
Riva driving positions are always good, and the boat’s handling is crisp. There are two engine options for the 58 Capri: twin 1,000 hp or 1,200 hp MAN V-8s hooked up to V-boxes and shafts. The 58 Capri that I got aboard had the bigger option, which is good for a top hop of about 37 knots with a 32-knot fast cruise and an ultimate range of 190 nautical miles. There’s also a sweet spot around 22 knots, where fuel burn is 2.75 gallons per nautical mile. Flat out, it’s more like 3.5 gallons. We cruised at half load with the upgraded Seakeeper 6 off, and the Humphree auto-trim system active.
The 58 Capri’s accommodations plan is much the same as the Rivale’s. Access belowdecks is via a sliding door amidships and companionway stairs to a lower salon. A galley is to port with a Siemens induction cooktop and dishwasher, and a nearby L-shape dinette. A day head with a shower compartment is here as well.
There are two en suite double-berth staterooms. The owner’s space is amidships aft and down three steps. Headroom here is arms-up-above-the-head good. It has a transverse custom king to starboard and its en suite with head and bidet is up one step to port and has an opaque glass sliding door. If I were ordering this yacht, I think I’d ask if I could have a low headboard inboard, so I could look out rather than have the bed head outboard as it is; principally to be looking at the hullside window rather than at the en suite. The forepeak VIP stateroom has two skylights above its queen berth for natural light.
Space to port of the companionway stairs can be specified as a third, twin-bunk stateroom for kids with a door from the main salon. In the standard layout, there’s a single crew bunk with ladder access from the cockpit. Personally, I’d opt for the twin-bunk version and use that space for extra stowage most of the time.
The 58 Capri that I got aboard had a Shark Silver and Bright Black livery, and a sublime décor. Riva’s signature grain-matched mahogany and wenge wood combinations are always glossed to a fathomless shine.
Then there are the classiest of details: highly polished stainless steel everywhere, glossy lacquers, stitched leathers, Venetian blinds and lots of mirrors. The only real downside to owning Rivas like this is that everyone wants to stroke all those beautiful surfaces all the time, and that means a lot of cleaning.
Most owners will use the Riva Capri 58 as a day boat, but it’s comfortable enough for overnighting on the occasional weekend cruise. When I was younger, this would have been deemed a big boat, and I would have been thrilled to spend an entire summer aboard something so marvelous. Perhaps you will, too.
Design Pedigree
The 58 Capri is designed inside and out by Mauro Micheli and his team at Officina Italiana Design, which has been responsible for every new Riva model for three decades. The 58 Capri had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival.
Riva, Riva Everywhere
Riva, beyond its 29- to 130-foot composite portfolio, has several large alloy projects in progress. Those include the biggest-ever Riva, a 230-foot quad-deck design scheduled for delivery in 2028, and the all-aluminum semidisplacement Riva 138 Caravelle trideck, which is set for a Mediterranean debut in summer 2027. Riva Lounges are also popping up worldwide, Riva apartments are being developed and executive jets and helicopters can now have Riva-inspired interiors.
Take the next step: riva-yacht.com
