When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Riviera Yachts 47 Open Flybridge SII 2009 and the Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2009 are modified 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 47 Open Flybridge SII 2009 at 49,0 ft versus Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2009 at 49,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Riviera Yachts 47 Open Flybridge SII 2009 tips the scales at 432 lbs — 389 lbs more than the Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2009 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 715 hp for the Riviera Yachts 47 Open Flybridge SII 2009 and 715 hp for the Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2009. 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 Open Flybridge SII 2009 carries 977 gallons versus 925 gallons in the Riviera Yachts 48 Offshore Express - Targa 2009. 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.