Rebuilding a Riva Motor Boat in Bucharest Romania Andrei Rochian Photos prior and after Restoration. Nuvola Rossa-Red Cloud an early Riva Super Florida mahogany planking topsides&plywood bottom; gas engine Chris Craft 235 hp, gearbox Thermocon Develvo, Hull Number 735. Was transported by truck the boat from lake Como-Italy to our yard in Bucharest . The restoration started April-ended December ; 9 months. A careful restoration job requires long term commitment ; day to day dedicated craftsmanship; mastering of various wood finishing techniques. Nonetheless the ownership of a wooden runabout requires constant care and careful maintenance. Condition of the boat when arrived at our shop was bad but without missing parts, varnish and paint degraded or gone on most surfaces, engine out of functionality since decades; cracks in the bottom, rotten frames heads ; corroded fasteners; upholstery seriously degraded ; chrome on hardware gone, instruments panel and electrical wiring badly damaged. Brief restoration log: *Windshield frame,Syren, lights support, cleats, all other hardware were taken off ; cleaned and rechromed. New pads cut to exact shape to be placed under deck hardware. Chromed side strips , chine copper strips, stern copper strip, metal lettering - Riva insignia are also removed. *Upholstery restored using Riva materials; front settee, rear settee, cockpit all round white cushioning, engine box cushions. *The 235 hp Chris Craft gas engine was taken off the boat , taken apart, parts cleaned, gasket set changed , damaged parts ordered from USA. Pumps taken apart, cleaned , painted; Thermocon Develvo gear box taken apart, cleaned , reconditioned. The cooling System and exhaust system same ; copper exhaust , welded, treated antirust, exhaust pipes rechromed , exhaust thruhulls. Gas tank cleaned , painted, gas filter and oil filter changed. *Engine box, cockpit removable mahogany parts taken off, taken apart.Oars, oar supports, sanded and revarnished. Engine box white rubber cover replaced with new one, ordered from Riva/Italy. *Varnish carefully removed from cockpit and interior parts. *Hull turned upside down, paint removed from bottom, bronze screws taken out, bottom removed.The bottom is mahogany plywood 12mm thick. *Frames under engine badly damaged&rotten at join to keel.We rebuild&reinforce frames with lateral mahogany reinforcements&epoxy resin. *Original iron bolts were badly rusted; were replaced by stainless bolts. *Steel floors in the engine area, are thoroughly cleaned, antirust painted , stainless bolted . *Topsides varnish removed sanded topsides.. *Screw holes filled with wooden dowels/epoxy putty. *Laminated new bottom three layers okoume plywood/epoxy resin. *Lamination completed the bottom is fastened over framing . *Bottom sanded and faired, impregnated with epoxy .inside and out *Inside framing sanded, gry paint removed to be coated in new bilge paint. All cockpit hardware is bronze.hardware was thoroughly cleaned ant treated in antirust. Remarkably strong and simple bronze steering system cleaned and coated anticorrosive. *Deck sanded , removed varnish, reinforced , injected in weak spots. *Dented transom top mahogany beam, routered off , replaced with an identical piece. *Boat turned again, protected with Riva formula of epoxy coats , anticorosive coats , rubber coats, antifouling . The nose is white painted in a triangle shape. *Topsides carefully painted in Riva coat paint formula. *Topsides receive first coat of varnish+twenty coats varnish follow. *Engine box , Boarding ladder , coated in clear finish. *Electrical system reconditioned , new battery, battery cables, lights. * New set instrument panel gauges from Riva-Italy , new buttons , various hardware parts&cockpit accessories. *Propeller cleaned and treated with anticorosive , propeller shaft and bearing. *Propeller shaft was realigned with shaft coupling, engine has set in position. *The deck is thoroughly sanded. *The revanishing of the deck carefully carried out -the most difficult and delicate part of the restauration + twenty coats varnish. *The distinctive Riva windshiled frame, syren, lights , insignia, rechromed. *The broken antimonium steering wheel was welded.The steering wheel is being polished and rechromed. *Three more pillows were manufactured -to fit the sunbathing compartment between the engine box and rear seat. Cockpit is upholsetred with original Riva upholstery vinyl, imported frm Italy.The original upholstery satyle, patterns and sewing were respected. *The green LWL strip was painted , the rechromed hardware was refastened on the boat ; *Riva Restoration completed; the Nuvola Rossa was shipped to Haarlem-Holland .
Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2014 09:13:33 +0000