Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 vs Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 or the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009?

The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 is the longer of the two at 51,3 feet overall. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 comes in at 48,0 feet, making it roughly 3,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 or the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009?

For trailering, the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 has the edge at 394 lbs dry weight versus 394 lbs for the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 is rated to a maximum of 670 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 tops out at 575 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 is certified for 14. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 share an 15 ft. 9 in. (4.8 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 608 gallons and 608 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 are built by Riviera Yachts. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 vs Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009

Riviera Yachts

Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013

2013

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Riviera Yachts

Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 vs Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 against a modified vee Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 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 - Shaft Drive 2013 measures 51,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 at 48,0 feet (2009). 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 670 hp, the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 has a 95-hp advantage over the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013's 575-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 608 gal and 608 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 51,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeRiviera Yachts

Model45 Open - Shaft Drive

Model45 Open Flybridge

Model Year2013

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam15 ft. 9 in. (4.8 m)

Beam15 ft. 9 in. (4.80 m) including gunwale

Beam - Meters4.8

Beam - Inches189

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m)

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m) including props

Draft [max] - Meters1.19

Draft [max] - Inches47

Weight - Detail39,400 lbs. (17,850 kg)

Weight - kg17871.52

Weight - lbs.394

Length - Feet51.25

Length - Feet48

Length overall - Detail51 ft. 3 in. (15.62 m)

Length overall - Detail48 ft. 3 in. (14.70 m)

Length overall - Meters15.62

Length overall - Meters14.71

Length overall - Inches615

Length overall - Inches579

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters14.7

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches3

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]51 ft. 3 in. (15.62 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine make(2) Caterpillar

Engine makenot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail608 gal. (2,300 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters2301.53

Fuel tank capacity - Gal608

Fuel typeDiesel

Horsepower575 hp (423 kW) each

Horsepower670 hp (492 kW) each

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standard(2) Catepillar

Drive typenot available

Drive typeInboard - Twin

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity6 - 8

Sleeping capacity6

Water capacity132 gal. (500 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (151 l)

Holding tank capacity - Liters151.42

Holding tank capacity - Gal4

Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 vs Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 or the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009?

The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 is the longer of the two at 51,3 feet overall. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 comes in at 48,0 feet, making it roughly 3,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 or the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009?

For trailering, the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 has the edge at 394 lbs dry weight versus 394 lbs for the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 is rated to a maximum of 670 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 tops out at 575 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 is certified for 14. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 share an 15 ft. 9 in. (4.8 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 608 gallons and 608 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 and the Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 are built by Riviera Yachts. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 full specs ← Riviera Yachts 45 Open Flybridge 2009 full specs