Just in case this may help someone, I recently got a dinghy, and it works really well for me. Of course everyone's needs are different, and location has a lot to do with it, so you need to look at that.
I did a lot of research, and was getting frustrated...most were either too cheap, too big, too heavy, or overkill for my needs. I don't need a motor on it, either. So my search for the Goldilocks dinghy was a bit of a challenge.
I decided to give this a try this one, and if I didn't like it, nothing really lost... it's the Bestway Hydro-Force Marine Pro, only $123 on amazon. Granted, it's not Hypalon, and I haven't tried putting a motor on it. But for exploring short distances and carrying stuff it's perfect for my needs.
My main use, in addition to exploring, is to carry us and some cooking items, setting up a small "camp" onshore. Typically no more than a couple hundred yards, if that. We do meals on shore, campfires, stretch the legs, etc. I've explored much further than that with it along shore (in heavy wind or seas, of course you'd want a motor). I also wanted some kind of liferaft capability, because hey, you never know...
Here are several things that I like about it:
-About 9.5' long, goes on the roof perfectly.
-Also perfect length for trailering... slide it off the roof, angle it so the front is over the outboard, the and the front slips neatly over the outboard. Very easy, I can do it myself in 10 seconds.
-Light... only 29 lbs.
-Even though it's not a high pressure floor, I was surprised at how firm it is. Getting in and out from the gunwale is easy.
-I didn't want to fool with a slat floor... I know I'd never bother to use it. We do a lot of trailering, 1-7 day trips, so I wanted something that's fast and easy.
-It's fairly heavy vinyl, 3 ply, not a pool toy. I know it will degrade in the sun eventually, but when not in use it's stored in my barn, so that's a non-issue for me, and at the price it's essentially a throw-away.
-It's also sturdy enough that I'd be ok using it as a life raft in coastal waters, if the need arises. Before anyone starts jumping on that comment, I'm not suggesting it's a "great" life raft, or as good as those designed solely for that purpose. But it's a nice bonus, since I primarily got it for all the other reasons above. For me, compared to the the WM 260 or PRU 3 or similar dinghys around 7-9 ft, I can't come up with any reasons why they're better as a liferaft, for my use... in most cases they're so small you couldn't fit any supplies, and they're certainly heavier, and slower to prepare (inserting slats, etc.). I can have this in the water in 20 seconds.
One thing I didn't like are the oars. I use kayak paddles instead anyway, always have, and those are great.
Of course, for extended cruising, and large/unprotected anchorages where you need a motor, it wouldn't be my first choice. But for the use described, I was pretty surprised it works so well.
Hope that helps someone!
I did a lot of research, and was getting frustrated...most were either too cheap, too big, too heavy, or overkill for my needs. I don't need a motor on it, either. So my search for the Goldilocks dinghy was a bit of a challenge.
I decided to give this a try this one, and if I didn't like it, nothing really lost... it's the Bestway Hydro-Force Marine Pro, only $123 on amazon. Granted, it's not Hypalon, and I haven't tried putting a motor on it. But for exploring short distances and carrying stuff it's perfect for my needs.
My main use, in addition to exploring, is to carry us and some cooking items, setting up a small "camp" onshore. Typically no more than a couple hundred yards, if that. We do meals on shore, campfires, stretch the legs, etc. I've explored much further than that with it along shore (in heavy wind or seas, of course you'd want a motor). I also wanted some kind of liferaft capability, because hey, you never know...
Here are several things that I like about it:
-About 9.5' long, goes on the roof perfectly.
-Also perfect length for trailering... slide it off the roof, angle it so the front is over the outboard, the and the front slips neatly over the outboard. Very easy, I can do it myself in 10 seconds.
-Light... only 29 lbs.
-Even though it's not a high pressure floor, I was surprised at how firm it is. Getting in and out from the gunwale is easy.
-I didn't want to fool with a slat floor... I know I'd never bother to use it. We do a lot of trailering, 1-7 day trips, so I wanted something that's fast and easy.
-It's fairly heavy vinyl, 3 ply, not a pool toy. I know it will degrade in the sun eventually, but when not in use it's stored in my barn, so that's a non-issue for me, and at the price it's essentially a throw-away.
-It's also sturdy enough that I'd be ok using it as a life raft in coastal waters, if the need arises. Before anyone starts jumping on that comment, I'm not suggesting it's a "great" life raft, or as good as those designed solely for that purpose. But it's a nice bonus, since I primarily got it for all the other reasons above. For me, compared to the the WM 260 or PRU 3 or similar dinghys around 7-9 ft, I can't come up with any reasons why they're better as a liferaft, for my use... in most cases they're so small you couldn't fit any supplies, and they're certainly heavier, and slower to prepare (inserting slats, etc.). I can have this in the water in 20 seconds.
One thing I didn't like are the oars. I use kayak paddles instead anyway, always have, and those are great.
Of course, for extended cruising, and large/unprotected anchorages where you need a motor, it wouldn't be my first choice. But for the use described, I was pretty surprised it works so well.
Hope that helps someone!