The small small town of Sarnico at lake Iseo in the italian province Lombardei is
the home of the "Avionautica Rio".
Although it is difficult to believe Sarnico was and is one of the centers of Italian
Boat building. Shipyards like for example Arcangeli, Riva, Rio and several others had
Production in Sarnico in the past. Even today there are famous shipyards near Sarnico
for example Cantieri the Sarnico and many others.
The father of the three brothers, Dr. Luigi Scarani, Francesco Scarani,
(the first name of the third is unknown yet), operated a brick factory
in close proximity to Sarnico.
The three brothers Scarani were concerned on the one hand with the built
of gliders for the Italian military and for private use, on the other
hand with the built of Motorboats from wood. The company name "Avionautica Rio”
puts that there Word airplane in it. Unlike many other shipyards was the company
grounds were not directly at the waterside.
Over the time, the order situation of the aviation division decreased,but it
increased in the boat building. So starting in the sixties the well-reasoned
decision came to give up the aircraft building in favor of the boat building
The experience of the wood processing from the aircraft building came now
perfect for the boat building. Many other shipyards had enormous problems with
the shrinkage of the wood, but the Scarani brothers had already found the
solution and it was now perfect to use this experience for the Rio boats.
Following the spirit of the time the Rio-boat-yard produced very luxury and
high-quality mahogany runabouts. Zenith of this era was certainly the
co-operation contract with the English Rolls-Royce-Company for the so-called
"Rolls-Rio". For a very good restored Rolls-Rio you would have to pay now a
fortune (if you ever find one)
The wooden boats of Rio were manufactured in small numbers in manual work
with very much love for the detail. Rio boats were elegant and fast. Their
standard equipment was extremely extensive and substantial more luxurious
than the ships of the other manufacturers.
The Riva boatyard; which manufactured its boats in the series production way
(many of the work, even from the woodwork was outsorced and later the pieces
where put together, was situated at the same lake, at the same town, while the
Rio yard remained at the time of the Mahagonie hulls strickly with beautiful
individual hand work.
As Mr Francesco Scarani in Cannes 2009 showed us on the basis of a Riva Aquarama,
and a Rio Colorado which were placed side by side in the port, were all Hull
parts of the rio boats (both sides, both floor pieces and mirror), installed
on the rips in one piece prelaminated Mahagonie Plywood. This laminating in one
was done in all Rio boats.
This increased the strength by some, and as Rio took used one more layer of
plywood, the side walls, floors, etc are thicker and more durable .
Riva and some other producers went another way, actually these Ships were built
somewhere somewhere else. It would be the fact, all the wood parts were
prefabricated in foreign Factories and then were delivered at Riva. Riva then,
just like a Graupner Model kit, screwed everything together.
A clear proof for that would be the countless round wooden shields, under which
the endless numbers of necessary screws are hidden, there completely absent in
a Rio Boat, as the entire board walls, floors, etc., would be just once in one
piece. This statement direcly from one of the founders of Rio will be invaluable.
Finally it was fixed and irrevocable, which I, from my observations in yards,
had suspected from the technical side a long time.
The material of the hull from Rio `s was around approx. 5-7 mm more thicker,
thus more resistantly, the build of frames was different and also in the hull
form clearly differend, Riva `s had always a rounded Tail form, Rio `s were
angular. Also in the equipment Rio differed clearly from each other.
Example: In the slip cab of a Rio Colorado e.g. is the interior lighting behind
windowpanes with the Rio symbol, while the lamps of the competition rather
reminded on the lighting from Miele refrigerator lighting from the 50 and 60
years .
Althougt at this time each other copied from the design from the others
- the Rio Colorado with the deeper lying sundeck was produced long bevore the
Riva Aquarama, which became the same deep lying sundeck in the back, on the
market, but Carlos Riva, (he sold the Riva shipyards, which belong now to the
Ferretti group)and Dr. Luigi Scarani (Rio is still family-owned) are until
today Friends.
Mr. Francesco Scarani now lives in France, near Cannes and in his yard still 10!!
old Rios, some never been in the waterwater.
The third brother Scarani lives in Spain.
The myth that is spread by some stubborn Riva boat owners, that founder of the
Rio Yard would be a disgruntled RIO EX-Riva, this is now definitively disproved!
The building of the Rio `s with wooden hulls was continued until the end of the
60 years, before they turned to build the hulls of fiber glass.
The Rio Mahagony sport boats were from very high quality. The absolute highlight
from this era was a model that was equipped with Rolls Royce V8 engine, the so
called Rolls Rio.
In the Seventies Rio was the first company which build the ships with thermal
formed hulls from Ravikri.
When Fiberglass was finally accepted, Rio began to build ships with double-walled
hulls, with PU out-foamed hulls, these were more or less unsinkable..
In the Nineties Rio started to produce a wide range of models with lengths up
to 17 meters.
Over 100.000 Boats have been produced by Rio over the years, but it is unknown
how many were produced in the era of the the boats from wooden hulls.
According to the latest information about 750 of the mahogany runabouts were
manufactured in the time betweeb 1960 and 1975. 50 mahogany boats per year!
(Riva produced from 1946 until 1996 about 4700 ships - about 92 per year.)
When it is remembered that Rio produced, exept to the engines, almost everything
by themself, from the drive shafts until to the wheels, than 50 ships in a year
is really a lot.
Riva bought nearly everything, and ran a large external production, and produced
only just on about of 92 ships a year.
(If somebody knows more facts, we would be happy for every information)
The old yard in Sarnico does not exist anymore due to a big fire, which
destroyed the yard and burned essential tools and documents.
The boats still have a good reputation. Their high second-hand value proof ,
that they are a good investment whereby as with all old timers in it of
scruplesless cheaters must be warned, how I had to experience at the own body.
More about this under “my Rio”
Fortunately, prices for a well-preserved or well restored Rio are not so
excessive as the prices of the models of Riva, but it is to expect that
over the years there will be an adaptation of the prices. In particular
there is the big risk that, if the lovers of mahogany Boating world will
recognise how much better the quality and features of a Rio actually
is. It is precisely the quality in the production of a ship that pays off
long term. My own Rio Colorado is from 1961 and the wood from
the sides of the hull is still original and in perfect condition.
With an exchange rate from 1961 ITL 1.000 = DM 6,47 = 3,30 Euro
a Parana had cost at that time ca. = DM 22645,-- = today 11578,20 Euro
a Bonito had cost at that time ca. = DM 24909,-- = today 12735,77 Euro
an Espera had cost at that time ca. = DM 30409,-- = today 15547,87 Euro
an Espera Ta had cost at that time ca. = DM 33644,-- = today 17201,90 Euro
a Real had cost at that time ca. = DM 42055,-- = today 21502,38 Euro
a Rolls had cost at that time ca. = DM 45290,-- = today 23156,41 Euro
a Colorado had cost at that time ca. = DM 69876,-- = today 35.727,03 Euro
The smallest boat Rio offered in the wooden boat period was the Parana 590.
A Chris-craft V-8 engine or Crusader V-8 powered the boat and it was
luxurious in every way.
More elegant was the Grand Turismo. This boat had every possible option
as equipment on board. This approach became a standard for Rio boats
over the years.
The Espera and the Colorado were the most popular models produced by Rio.
Rio. The confusing extensive model-range of the beginnig was off reduced
approximately in the middle of the sixties to three main models, the Parana,
Espera and the Colorado.
So far we do not have Fotos, technic details, years of constructions from
all different typs and we do not know how many of the different types had
been build
I hope that there are still people, who know the missing details.
Today the firm is divided into two companies.
Rio Iberica (Spain) and RIO YACHTS S.R.L. (Italy) build modern fibreglass sports boats of high quality.
This club however is interested exclusively in the ships from the time of the wooden era.
Herr Dr. Luigi Scarani
(at the Genova Boat Show 13.10.2007),
His lovely wife Anna Scarani who is responsible for the Public Relations
of RIO YACHTS S.R.L.
Frau Anna Scarani
(at the Genova Boat Show 13.10.2007
And their son Piergorgio Scarani, who now leads Course of
Rio Yachts in the second Generation
Herr Piergorgio Scarani
(at the Genova Boat Show 13.10.2007
Today the latest yachts of RIO YACHTS S.R.L. do not need to fear the
international competition, at the time of the ships from mahogany Rio Yachts
were something special and even today the current Rio yachts are from special
beauty and high quality.
For us, it was a honor and more than wonderful, that we, as the "First Rio Boat
Owner Club", had and will have the opportunity in the future too to have direct
eyewitness from the production time of our boats and first-hand information
from the company founder Dr. Luigi Scarani and his lovley wife Anna. And special
thanks to Mr. Piergorgio Scarani, who has offered to search from his side for
our missing and urgently needed parts. Anna Scarani promised to search the old
archives for original informations. Although until August of 2009 nothing arrived
from the promisses and our hopes were not fulfilled, the meeting was informative
And at this place, once again many thanks for the friendly reception and
the lot of time given to me during the Genoa Boat Show from the family
Scarani and my special thanks to Mrs Anna Scarani,without her kindness,
that meeting would have had never taken place.
Our gentle Member from France, Jean Luc found a person in France, a member
of the Scarani Family, who still has lot`s of Rio Boats in a big hall.
During the Second Rio Boat Club meeting in Cannes, we could only visit
the place, so far only known from Photos
and got to know the second of the three company founders, Mr. Franseco Scarani,
who told us later, during his visit in our habor at our boats, many incredible
Jean Luc - Nicole - I - and Mr. Scarani
and important information on the history of the Rio Shipyard and technical
details of the Rio boats, which are now included in this revised report.
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More fotos from the hall.
Found:
