Has anyone ridden in something like a Walker Bay? It seems like those would be a little sturdier and longer lasting, but I don't know about the ride quality.
Other than weight, what advantages does an inflatable have over something like a Walker Bay?
At the marina I overnighted at last night, the guy in the next slip pretty much talked me into a RIB. Now, I gotta start scraping together my nickels and dimes to find one. I think a hard-bottom RIB is the way to go. I guess that makes it a hermaphrodite.
I've had every kind of dinghy possible. I'm sure you'll love a RIB IF- you go in knowing how heavy they are. If it stays in the water or on shore or on the swim platform for weeks at a time you'll probably be happy. If you have to lift it twice a weekend - you won't.
I have an Avon 3.4 RIB that has been abused badly since 1990. It has been bullet proof. Very expensive to buy but worth every nickel over the years. The closest in quality, has been my Achilles, but it is not a RIB. The worst, ironically, was my Zodiac Cadet. The glue and glue job was second rate and the material oozed air everywhere after a year or two and I hated the "Won't Drain PLug" I said ironically because Zodiac owns Avon.
The worst feature I have ever seen in an inflatible is the removable "spoonge" bottom. After a short time in the water they grow wonderful and strange things underneath.
Good luck!