Matching a deep vee Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 against a modified vee Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 at 47,4 ft versus Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 2009 at 47,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 tips the scales at 313 lbs — 291 lbs more than the Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 2009 at 22 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 435 hp for the Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 and 425 hp for the Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 carries 476 gallons versus 325 gallons in the Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 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 M470 Sport Cruiser 2009 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 43 Open Flybridge with IPS 2012 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 2009 could be the deciding factor.