The Mercury 240 Roll-Up PVC 2013 vs Mercury 380 Heavy-Duty Red (Hypalon) 2006 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 Mercury 380 Heavy-Duty Red (Hypalon) 2006 measures 12,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 4,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Mercury 240 Roll-Up PVC 2013 at 7,8 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Mercury 380 Heavy-Duty Red (Hypalon) 2006 tips the scales at 225 lbs — 159 lbs less than the Mercury 240 Roll-Up PVC 2013 at 66 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 25 hp, the Mercury 380 Heavy-Duty Red (Hypalon) 2006 has a 21-hp advantage over the Mercury 240 Roll-Up PVC 2013's 4-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 Mercury 380 Heavy-Duty Red (Hypalon) 2006 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Mercury 240 Roll-Up PVC 2013 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Mercury 380 Heavy-Duty Red (Hypalon) 2006 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Mercury 380 Heavy-Duty Red (Hypalon) 2006 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 17 lbs per hp for the Mercury 240 Roll-Up PVC 2013. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.