Rio Yachts

Italian walkarounds and sports coupés from Chiuduno, near Bergamo.

Rio Yachts was founded in 1961 by Luigi Scarani and his wife Anna on Lake Iseo, under the name Avionautica Rio. The company began by manufacturing gliders and mahogany motor boats, and switched from wood to plastic in 1972. Since 2000, their son Piergiorgio Scarani has been at the helm. The head office is in Chiuduno near Bergamo, with production sites in Zocco di Erbusco and Sissa Trecasali and a showroom in Naples. In addition to pleasure craft, the yard has also been building workboats and patrol boats since 1985; in 2026, Rio Yachts will celebrate its sixty-fifth anniversary.

The range comprises open walkarounds, coupé walkarounds, sports coupés and a maxi-RIB, and, according to the yard, ranges from 34 to 58 feet, or approximately 10 to 18 metres. The Daytona models are walkarounds fitted with outboard engines: the Daytona 35 measures 10.97 metres, is powered by two Mercury Verado 300s and offers four berths. The Le Mans range and the Parana 40 are enclosed sports coupés with inboard diesel engines; the Parana 40 is 13.30 metres long and is powered by two Yanmar diesel engines. The boats are designed for cruising and live-aboard use in the Mediterranean.

Facts & figures

• Founded in 1961 by Luigi and Anna Scarani on Lake Iseo
• Still a family business, run by Piergiorgio Scarani since 2000
• Head office in Chiuduno, near Bergamo, with yards in Erbusco and Sissa Trecasali
• Builds boats ranging from approximately 34 to 58 feet
• As well as recreational boating, it has a division for workboats and patrol boats
• Sells through dealers in southern and eastern Europe