Matching a deep vee Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 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.

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 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 2009 at 47,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 tips the scales at 394 lbs — 372 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 670 hp, the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 has a 245-hp advantage over the Riviera Yachts M470 Sport Cruiser 2009's 425-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 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.

Both boats are rated for 14 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.