Jim is correct. You will have it on the foredeck most of the time unless you have
davits. I enter our
boat through the stern so don’t want
davits. The best material is hypalon, not PVC. Then it’s a tossup between Air Floor or Fiberglass/Aluminum rib. I have an air Floor
Avon, not made anymore, going on season 16. It’s a little rough, but still ok. I think I will replace it with a
fiberglass rib when it finally bites the dust, but it’s hard to beat the air floor for weight and a lack of damage bringing it on-board with the
spinnaker halyard. I store the
motor on an
Edson stern rail mount and use an Ocean
Marine Systems crane that I can handle the 5HP Lehr with one hand. I generally tow when cruising to increase my visibility forward from the
cockpit, motor not on the dinghy. In rough conditions and when not cruising, it’s between the
mast and the
anchor windlass on the foredeck, upside down and lashed down with straps. I’ve towed across nW
Gulf of Mexico passage for 50hours, but had great conditions with seas generally 2 feet or less.
I have ridden some in a fiberglass rib and liked the ride and it seemed a little bit more stable to stand in. It will however, beat up your
hull more getting it on board. If you are going ashore on rocky shore, then air floor not a good choice. My use is sand, mud, small rounded river stones.
I know in a year or two I’m going to have to replace mine and I like the idea of the fiberglass rib, but at 70 years old, I know an air floor will run out my sailing days and it has been great so far. I think I should be able to find one as well made as the
Avon, but haven’t looked yet. Hard to say what I will actually do at this point, but it will be hypalon for sure.