The legend of Chris-Craft began in 1884, when Christopher Columbus Smith began the Smith Boat House on the St Clair River in Algonac, Michigan, to manufacture small duck boats and power launches. Later, the company was extended to Chris Smith and Sons Boat Co. Many of his larger runabouts were used as taxis; transporting guests on the river front to resorts, or to various sightseeing attractions. In the twenty’s, mostly runabouts were produced, but with the introduction of his speed boats, Chris Smith’s fame took off.

The name Riva is synonymous with class, quality and the highest of European standards. Introduced in 1963, the Riva Aquarama is the last of the traditional Italian mahogany runabouts. It is an object of desire and an expression of dreams. Nothing came near to matching the superb quality, style and prestige of the Riva. Always innovating, always ahead of its time, and always exhibiting a style and quality beyond comparison, Riva triumphs at all the boat shows and on all the markets in the world. Kings and emperors, princes and sultans, actors, sportsmen and celebrities headed straight to Riva to choose their boats in the same way as they went to Rolls-Royce or Ferrari for their cars.