When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Mercury 380 Heavy Duty PVC 2013 and the Mercury PT520 2008 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 PT520 2008 measures 17,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 4,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Mercury 380 Heavy Duty PVC 2013 at 12,5 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Mercury PT520 2008 tips the scales at 661 lbs — 456 lbs less than the Mercury 380 Heavy Duty PVC 2013 at 205 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 100 hp, the Mercury PT520 2008 has a 75-hp advantage over the Mercury 380 Heavy Duty PVC 2013'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 PT520 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Mercury 380 Heavy Duty PVC 2013 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Mercury PT520 2008 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Mercury PT520 2008 comes in at 7 lbs per hp versus 8 lbs per hp for the Mercury 380 Heavy Duty 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.