When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Mercury 350 Ocean Runner PVC 2012 and the Mercury V-570 2011 are inflatable rigid designs with plastic 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Mercury V-570 2011 measures 18,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 7,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Mercury 350 Ocean Runner PVC 2012 at 11,2 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Mercury V-570 2011 tips the scales at 818 lbs — 634 lbs less than the Mercury 350 Ocean Runner PVC 2012 at 184 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 135 hp, the Mercury V-570 2011 has a 110-hp advantage over the Mercury 350 Ocean Runner PVC 2012's 25-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 V-570 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Mercury 350 Ocean Runner PVC 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Mercury V-570 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Mercury V-570 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 18,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Mercury 350 Ocean Runner PVC 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.