Pete wrote:

I've been searching for the "perfect" hard dinghy, but so far have come up
empty.

Same here. That's why I'm going to build my own.


It should:
row well in calm, chop and surf

Shouldn't be a problem but relatively few dinks row well enough that the
owners are willing to forego an expensive motor (which invariably have a lot
of other negatives attached, too).


carry my family + provisions - 500-600lb capacity minimum
be unsinkable

That's a heck of a lot of weight. It's an unrealistic expectation for a 8'
dink IMHO


- built in floatation or better, an inflateable collar (like
the new Walker Bay's)
fit on the foredeck = 8', requiring a two piece nesting design
function as a lifeboat - I can make/add what I feel is necessary
be equipped (or equippable) with a sailing rig

FWIW I have never seen a nesting boat that was worth a durn. The Folbote seems
to be the best answer here, and they don't sail well enough to be worth the
bother IMHO (but then I was raised on zippy racing class dinghies).


be durable and repairable - GRP is easier to patch than injection molded
plastic And of course, be affordable - less than $1500 for a used one in
good cond.,

If you know of a boat to meet the above specs, it should be possible to find
one 2nd hand. However so far you are asking for the very difficult and/or
flat-out impossible.

new around $2000 with sailing rig

Now that's funny!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King