You're anchored off Bimini on a Friday afternoon. The sun is dropping, the water is flat, and someone mentions dinner in Miami. On most 88-footers, that's a logistics problem. On the Folgore, it's a 90-minute run at 32 knots. You arrive before the reservation, the engines barely breaking a sweat. That's the difference between a sportfly and a fast sportfly.
The 88' Folgore is Riva's answer to owners who want the full-beam comfort of a flybridge yacht but refuse to give up the performance envelope of a true planing hull. It's not a compromise. It's a recalibration of what this size boat can do when you prioritize speed without sacrificing livability. Twin MTU 16V 2000 M96L diesels put 5,276 combined horsepower through the water for a 38-knot top speed and a 32-knot cruise. Those are Riva's own published figures, not an estimate.
Who It's For
This boat is built for the owner who treats speed as freedom, not a spec-sheet bragging point. You want the ability to move between islands, cities, or anchorages without the tyranny of slow transit. You're not interested in a floating hotel. You want a tool that works as hard as you do.
The Folgore fits the profile of someone who's already owned in the 70- to 80-foot range and knows what they don't want: slow cruising speeds, cramped crew quarters, or layouts that prioritize photos over function. You've been on enough boats to know that the flybridge needs to work for both lunch and sunset cocktails, and the main deck needs to flow without forcing guests into a single-file parade.
This is also the boat for someone who values the Riva name but doesn't want the museum-piece treatment. The Folgore uses carbon fiber, structural glass, and modern materials alongside traditional mahogany inlay. It's heritage without nostalgia.
Design & Layout: Function First, Style Follows
The main deck is where the Folgore earns its keep. Floor-to-ceiling glass wraps the salon, creating sightlines that make the boat feel 20 feet longer than it is. The galley sits forward, separated but not isolated, which means your chef or stewardess can work without being on stage. The dining table seats eight comfortably, and the seating converts for different group sizes without requiring a furniture degree.
The stern is the real story. Riva redesigned the transom with a hydraulic door that opens into two positions: one for boarding, one for a beach-club setup. It's not revolutionary, but it's executed well. The swim platform is wide enough for two people to gear up for diving without playing Twister, and the tender garage is sized for a proper RIB, not a dinghy you'd be embarrassed to use.
Below deck, the owner's suite is full-beam and positioned amidships where motion is minimal. The VIP is forward, and two guest cabins sit aft. All four have en-suite heads. Crew quarters are separate, with two cabins and a galley that doesn't force your captain to eat standing up. This matters more than most owners realize until they're trying to retain good crew.
The flybridge is large enough to justify the "fly" designation. There's a dining table, a sunpad, and a helm station that doesn't feel like an afterthought. The hardtop is standard, which means you can use this space in the Caribbean at noon without turning it into a convection oven.
Performance: Speed as a Lifestyle Tool
The Folgore's performance numbers are straightforward, and Riva publishes a full set for each of the two engine options. On the MTU 16V 2000 M96 at 2,435 hp a side: 36 knots wide open, 30 knots cruise, 350 nautical miles of range. Step up to the M96L at 2,638 hp a side and it becomes 38 knots, a 32-knot cruise and 340 nautical miles. Either way that is Miami to the Abacos in one shot, or Fort Lauderdale to Key West and back without refueling.
Fuel capacity is 2,113 gallons, and Riva's own range figure is the number to plan around: 340 nautical miles at a 32-knot cruise on the bigger engines. Ask your dealer for observed burn at cruise in writing before you budget a season — moving 80 tonnes at 32 knots is real work, and the alternative is a displacement hull that takes three times as long to get anywhere.
The hull is a deep-V planing design, which means it handles chop better than a flatter sportboat but won't ride like a 100-foot motoryacht. In three- to four-foot seas, you'll feel it. In flat water, it's a different boat. The MTU engines are smooth at cruise, and the V-drive transmission keeps noise levels reasonable in the salon.
Ownership Conversation: Crew and Upkeep
The Folgore is a crew boat, not an owner-operator boat. You can run it yourself if you have the experience, but most owners in this range hire a captain and a stewardess or deckhand, and the two proper crew cabins exist so that team can live aboard without camping in guest space.
The MTU engines are stout, but they reward discipline: keep to the service intervals, especially if you're putting serious hours on them. The good news is that MTU has a global service network and parts availability is strong. You're not dealing with a boutique engine manufacturer that goes dark when you need support.
Where to Start
The Riva 88' Folgore is not a boat for someone who wants to ease into ownership. It's a serious piece of machinery that demands serious commitment. But if you're ready for that, and if you value speed, design, and the ability to move between destinations without wasting half your weekend in transit, this is the boat that delivers.
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