When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2011 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2011 at 48,3 ft versus Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012 at 51,3 ft. At 394 lbs and 394 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 670 hp for the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2011 and 670 hp for the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge Shaft Drive 2012. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 608 gal and 608 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

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.