The Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht 2022 vs Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht 2017 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht 2017 measures 78,3 feet overall (2017), giving it roughly 26,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht 2022 at 52,2 feet (2022). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht 2017 tips the scales at 120 361 lbs — 72 036 lbs less than the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht 2022 at 48 325 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 725 hp, the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht 2022 has a 545-hp advantage over the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht 2017's 180-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 72 Sports Motor Yacht 2017 carries 2 695 gallons versus 66 gallons in the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht 2022. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht 2017 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Riviera 46 Sports Motor Yacht 2022 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht 2017 could be the deciding factor.