Boatster, it really depends on what you need it to do. If you use it to carry fluids (water and fuel) to the
boat, or all the
shopping for a
passage, or two months worth of
laundry, that when clean, you will want to stay dry on the way back to the
boat, you will a larger
dinghy. If all you need it to do is a little exploring, and to and from the shore, and plan to go in to
marinas if you want to do
laundry,
repairs, or shop, you can get by with a less capable
dinghy. If you want to row out an additional
anchor when it's blowing 30 knots, forget it. Little inflatables are skittery, and poor row boats--and the larger ones are only slightly better as rowboats.
To me, the dinghy is like the
family car or pickup truck. It's a workhorse, not a show pony.
Ann