Matching a deep vee Riviera Yachts 38 Open Flybridge 2012 against a modified vee Riviera Yachts 51 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2009 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 51 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2009 measures 54,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 11,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera Yachts 38 Open Flybridge 2012 at 42,9 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 51 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2009 tips the scales at 4 806 lbs — 4 782 lbs less than the Riviera Yachts 38 Open Flybridge 2012 at 24 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 825 hp, the Riviera Yachts 51 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2009 has a 455-hp advantage over the Riviera Yachts 38 Open Flybridge 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 51 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2009 carries 977 gallons versus 38 gallons in the Riviera Yachts 38 Open Flybridge 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 51 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2009 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 38 Open Flybridge 2012 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riviera Yachts 51 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2009 could be the deciding factor.