Matching a modified vee Riviera Yachts 33 Open Flybridge SII 2009 against a deep vee Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 measures 51,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 16,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera Yachts 33 Open Flybridge SII 2009 at 35,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 tips the scales at 394 lbs — 196 lbs less than the Riviera Yachts 33 Open Flybridge SII 2009 at 198 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 575 hp, the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 has a 265-hp advantage over the Riviera Yachts 33 Open Flybridge SII 2009's 310-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 carries 608 gallons versus 264 gallons in the Riviera Yachts 33 Open Flybridge SII 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 33 Open Flybridge SII 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 could be the deciding factor.