Most days offshore, the big boat earns her keep at anchor, and the dinghy does the running around. It’s the craft that takes the beating: bumped docks, sandy beaches, the odd coral head you didn’t see until you were already committed.
I’ve watched plenty of crews buy the “perfect” tender on paper, then curse it every time they had to launch it, stow it, fuel it, or drag it up a shore break with wet feet and tired arms. The best choice is the one you’ll use without grumbling.
So before we get practical, take a moment to picture your real routine—who’s climbing aboard, what you’re hauling, and where you’ll land when the wind pipes up at the wrong time.