Matching a modified vee Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2010 against a deep vee Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 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 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 measures 47,4 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 8,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2010 at 38,5 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2010 tips the scales at 19 621 lbs — 19 308 lbs more than the Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 at 313 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 435 hp, the Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 has a 134-hp advantage over the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2010's 301-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 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 carries 476 gallons versus 212 gallons in the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2010. 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 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2010 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 could be the deciding factor.