When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2011 and the Riviera Yachts 47 Enclosed Flybridge SII 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 47 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2012 measures 53,1 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2011 at 48,3 feet (2011). At 394 lbs and 432 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 660 hp for the Riviera Yachts 47 Enclosed Flybridge SII 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Riviera Yachts 47 Enclosed Flybridge SII 2012 carries 713 gallons versus 608 gallons in the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2011. 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.