When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2012 and the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 measures 51,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 12,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2012 at 38,5 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 tips the scales at 394 lbs — 191 lbs less than the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2012 at 203 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 670 hp, the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 has a 300-hp advantage over the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2012's 370-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 Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 carries 608 gallons versus 265 gallons in the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2012. 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 Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 3600 Sport Yacht 2012 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 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 could be the deciding factor.