Need a Bigger Dinhy

[lifeofreilly57]

We're out in the Caribbean with growing boys, our current rib is getting smaller by the day. We were going to buy a bigger new dinghy but an exploding roller furling ate up the budget.
Now we're back to shopping for a new dinghy in the near future.
We'd like an aluminum bottomed dinghy with large tubes at about just over 10 feet, more like 11 feet. We've looked at several makes, each have their strengths but I'm looking for owner feedback and comments on dryness and longevity.
ZAR, AB, Highfield, etc.
Itsa big ticket item so we'd like to get it right on the first shot.

[Vasco]

Highfield aluminum. I've has Achilles, Calypso (Apex) Brig, AB, so far the Highfield beats them all. Only thing wrong is the price, but they're all pretty pricey now.

[Dsanduril]

We have the Highfield 310 in Orca Hypalon. Had it about two years (full time cruising, very few marinas, tropics and moderate latitudes). Have had to give it 1-2 pump strokes of air about every 6 months or so. Overall we are reasonably satisfied. I’d probably rate 4 out of 5.

It does get a bit of spray from up under the bow when on a plane, even in flat water. I also think it is a little more difficult to get on a plane than other boats I’ve used, but I’ve never tested side-by-side so that’s a very subjective observation.