Most cruisers eventually end up with a
RIB if they have space. In places with large tidal ranges it is possible to drag a (light) RIB up a beach above the high tide - dragging a
boat with an
inflatable bottom is not a good idea. (Wheels can help if sufficiently large - the small ones just cause more drag.) And I agree on a 10hp to plane with 2 people. When my
current RIB gives up the ghost (soon) I will probably get an
aluminum one (the AB Lamina 9'). The downside is that the RIB really crowds my foredeck, affecting access to the foresails and obstructing the view (particularly of
mooring balls approaching...).
It seems that most Europeans would rather not have a RIB cluttering their boats - they are not as popular there. If the appearance of your
boat, and a clear
deck, are important enough to continually inflate/deflate the
dinghy then by all means get the HP floor. Just remember that if stored below it will take up a lot of space, and potentially bring in
salt. And don't forget to buy a quality 12V inflator/deflator - it makes a huge difference.
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