"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:09:16 -0600, cavalamb himself
wrote:

I'm a bit surprised about the RIBs as I didn't suspect they would
be that popular. Something to think about.

One of the nice things about RIBs is the ability to beach them without
tearing up the bottom. That's important when you are cruising in the
boondocks and want to go ashore.

Who wants a RIB as a tender? If you beach on a rocky shore you are forced
to drag it unless there are enough of you to lift its weight. And unless
you have a yacht big enough to have dinghy davits you will soon get fed up
with getting the thing aboard even if you have enough people to get it over
the guard rails, plus the deck space to stow it and still be able to set
your sails above it.
If you are big enough to have davits an ordinary rigid dinghy is a much
better solution and much cheaper with less depreciation..
If you get a hypalon inflatable such as an Avon you do not need to drag it
up the beach. You can turn it on its side, hook your shoulder under the tube
and just walk up the beach with it. Plus it can be partially deflated when
stowed on the deck to allow you to set sail above it yet it will still have
enough buoyancy to be useful in emergency But inflatables come with lousy
oars and you will not be able to set an anchor out to windward with one if
your rode is all chain unless you have an outboard.