Matching a deep vee Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 against a modified vee Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2010 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 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 at 51,3 ft versus Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2010 at 49,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013 tips the scales at 394 lbs — 351 lbs more than the Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2010 at 43 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 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2010 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2010 carries 925 gallons versus 608 gallons in the Riviera Yachts 45 Open - Shaft Drive 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 15 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.