Type of Dingy, Inflatable or NOT?

[derek hangs]

I need a another dingy. The one I have is too old and the back transom seam is shot.

Having been told it's not repairable, I did find someone to repair it and it leaks less, but still too much.

When I made a change in dinghies two years ago, I did not realize that I was trading relatively new for pretty old.

I do not use the dingy very much. Now, is it bc it always gave me problems? or got me wet?? I don't know. In the past 2 years, it's certainly been less than a dozen times.

OK now I'm back in North America and will have to use it more.

I'm thinikning that maybe a skift, not inflatable, will do what I need.

It must be big enough for 4 people and the 5 hp outboard I have.

Inflatable or not??

[Craig]

Two arguments for inflatables are:
- better stability (at least IMO, but I think generally, too)
- it's just a big fender, if (when) it bounces against the big boat

I've come to prefer RIBs with internal flooring, so things inside stay dry even if the bilge is sloshing a bit -- as from after a heavy rain or whatever.

Our current RIB has a folding transom; not particularly useful, for us... although in the early years (BT: Before Trailer) it meant I could deflate the thing and stuff it into the back of the Suburban.

Our previous situation meant storing that dinghy deflated. In that case, the roll-up floor was likely easier to work with compared to large flooring pieces. An inflatable floor (HPIF) would have been even easier to work with... but at the time I was worried about Big Dog (Pretty Good Pyrenees and a big Golden Receiver) toenails.... which eventually turned out to be a non-issue. I'd guess deflating and foding for storage and so forth probably not issues, in your case.