A few days ago I was shooting the dinghy segment of “The Minimalist Sailor” and running through the pros/cons of both types of boats. After editing it I decided to heed my own advice.
I’ve retired the inflatable for a while. Its deflated & stowed on the back deck and the Yamaha 9.9 is in the cockpit. It costs me about $25 every time I have to fill it and I just cant do it any more! Funny thing is, the first day I pulled the outboard off someone offered to buy it. I’m thinking about it hard 
On my path of minimalism the first thing to go is the inflatable. I must say I do love the boat. It is very useful for carrying
loads, it goes fast without having to row or sail, and most importantly it is easy to get in and out of from spear fishing. But It is a boat that will render me fat, lazy, and broke in my old age. Not to mention I’m always stressed that my spear will puncture it if I’m not careful.
The expense of as fabric boat that deteriorates over time (sun), patching, the expense of an outboard motor, maintenance, parts, fuel, oil, and the stress that many people want to steal it just isn’t worth it for me.
The other day I couldn’t get the outboard started (flooded) and decided to row a mile and a half to my favorite spear-fishing reef. It was our first real row full of gear and a long distance in the newly acquired Dyer midget.
As soon as we were a few hundred yards from Splendid we came across a pod of dolphins which felt totally comfortable playing under the dinghy as I rowed. Its almost as if they were thanking me for burning rice & beans as opposed to fossil fuel. A few minutes later sea-birds came to thank us as well, hovering just a few feet away, and gawking at the humans it the quiet and slow boat, “Thanks guys”, it was a beautiful experience!
At 47 I must say the exercise is welcome. Getting exercise living on a boat is difficult. I do yoga and spear-fish (swimming), but no cardio, and this fills the gap for sure.
I can get into the Dyer alone from the water but take in 5 gallons over the stern. If Carla puts her weight on the bow I can get in keeping the dink dry but it takes both of us.
All I can say is the benefits of having a rowing & sailing dinghy far outweigh the benefits of an inflatable for me.
At the end of the day the most important benefit is safety. The hard dink wont let you down. It always starts, never deflates, and will always get you where your going. I don’t know if you have ever rowed an inflatable but its a joke.
If the hard dink is built right it wont sink either, and if you must, you can fit a small outboard to get you across longer runs. I must tell you I LOVVVVEEEE dinghy sailing. I can just sail around all day long!
If I was still a single-hander I might keep my Dyer midget. However I’ve been researching hard dinghies for a few years now looking for the perfect design.
What will allow me to get in alone from spear-fishing without flooding the boat, carry heavy loads, and still fit on my aft deck under the mizzen boom? I know I’ve posted the link a few times in the past but here you go again.
I’m going to build a CLC Passagemaker take apart (nesting) dinghy.
This is really the best of both worlds for me. Rows well, sails well, carries a heavy load (650 lbs) not to mention the fact that is just damn beautiful!
The front 45” unbolts and stows in the rear 93” (nesting). This means I can stow it under my mizzen boom when I’m at sea and keep the foredeck clear.
The plans are only $100 and I’m good with fiberglass. The Passage maker is usually constructed from plywood and covered with 
fiberglass making it a glass boat with a wooden core. However I’m going to make fiberglass sheets and use it instead of the plywood rendering a solid glass hull.
I plan on keeping this boat the rest of my life. If you know me, I’m pretty hard on my equipment, and this boat just fits the bill.
I know I have a lot of readers who dream of sailing one day, and many that are planning to buy a sailboat in the near future.
I have a suggestion. 
Why don’t you build a Passagemaker with the family and start sailing now? The effort wont be wasted as you can use it as your ships dinghy later on, and get sailing now?
If I have any adventurous readers who are up for this mission (should you decide to accept it), we can share building suggestions & techniques throughout the process, might be fun?
Anyway, just a thought.
Carla left yesterday and is is visiting family for a few weeks. Our “6 month trial period” ended on the 2nd, and needless to say I asked her to stay. She’s a really good lady, we are best friends, and uber-compatible.
I am such a lucky guy and a testament to the fact that “money cant buy you happiness”!
Ill be sailing for Linton in a few days. I haven’t had red meat in 6 weeks or more and I’m really craving a cheese burger or steak. I also have to find some scrap wood so I can build a folding table in the v-birth so I can move my editing suite out of the main saloon and give us a dining area again.
A few weeks after Carla’s return her mom is coming for a three day visit and Linton is a really nice spot for that. I’m going to explore some of the other anchorages in the area and may do a week or so exploring the Chagras (spelling) river. Its supposed to be pretty amazing with wildlife.
Peace from Paradise.
Sail far and live slowly.
– alex