When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Riviera Yachts 53 Enclosed Flybridge with IPS 2013 and the Riviera Yachts 53 Open Flybridge with IPS or Zeus 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Riviera Yachts 53 Enclosed Flybridge with IPS 2013 at 59,7 ft versus Riviera Yachts 53 Open Flybridge with IPS or Zeus 2012 at 59,7 ft. At 4 916 lbs and 4 916 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 700 hp, the Riviera Yachts 53 Enclosed Flybridge with IPS 2013 has a 265-hp advantage over the Riviera Yachts 53 Open Flybridge with IPS or Zeus 2012's 435-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Riviera Yachts 53 Enclosed Flybridge with IPS 2013 is rated for 18 passengers, while the Riviera Yachts 53 Open Flybridge with IPS or Zeus 2012 caps at 17. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Riviera Yachts 53 Enclosed Flybridge with IPS 2013 could be the deciding factor.