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At the risk of sounding a little smug I have finally managed to acquire my very own Riva. She’s brand new, mahogany coloured and utterly gorgeous. Not just a Riva either, I’ve also got a Hunton, a Hinckley, a Hardy, a Fairey and a Spirit among others. To be honest, I didn’t have a lot to do with it, my cocker spaniel Maya can take the credit for that, having popped out nine puppies while I was busy writing this month’s Rafnar feature. However, for the purposes of Kennel Club registration I have named them all after boats I’d love to own – my very own Fantasy Fleet – or should that be Lottery Litter? Mind you, given the prices that some people are prepared to pay for puppies at the moment, if I’d been a little less scrupulous and a lot more commercial about who I was prepared to sell them to, I might just have been able to afford a real Riva after all!
On the subject of buying boats, maximum respect to the two
MBY readers who were kind enough to share their own stories of purchasing boats in this issue. The way in which they went about it and indeed the craft themselves could hardly be more different. Ariel Poler bought his brand new PRINCESS F50 sight unseen from 5,000 miles away during lockdown. Stuart Sawyer, meanwhile, bought his classic FAIREY SWORDSMAN locally but then spent months refurbishing it to mint condition. The one thing they both have in common is that they are both keen yacht sailors buying their first motorboats – could this be a growing trend?
DON’T MISS OUT
It’s hard to get across in print just how revolutionary the new PRESTIGE X70 looks and feels with its full-beam saloon, side-decks at flybridge level and sprawling beach club cockpit. Watch Jack’s comprehensive video tour, however, and you’ll soon get a feel for its unusual layout as well as the way it drives. We’d love to hear your views on it so please take the time to add your own thoughts in the comments box below the video. You can find this and our latest video reviews of the AXOPAR 37, RAFNAR
850 RIB and RODMAN 800 at www.youtube.com/ybwtv