I couldn't agree more with Great Laker Larry on this. Our new to us NT came with a dinghy mounted on the upper deck, and after one experience of deploying and stowing the dinghy, which almost included a failed marriage, we realized just how correct it was to have the dinghy stowed on the stern platform, as per the arrangement on our previous boat.
To flesh out my previous comment on the Pudgy, here is a note I sent to Healhustler yesterday. (I would have posted it here yesterday if I'd realized the interest in the Livingston as well.) Also, an earlier PM from Great Laker Larry was very helpful in making the Seawise decision.
The relative weights:
Livingston 9': 105 lbs. Capacity 550 lbs.
Pudgy 7'8": 130 - 150 lbs*. Capacity 557 lbs.
Livingston 10': 210 lbs. Capacity 700 lbs.
* We have the sail kit which ups the weight.
Hard to say re ease of stowing, as we towed the 9' Livingston behind our Albin 25 back in the day.
Our Pudgy was stowed on its side on the stern platform and one adult male was able to pull it up into its stowed position.
The new Livingston 10' has not arrived yet, but when it does we will be stowing it via a Seawise davit system on the stern platform. Talking to dock neighbours who have the Seawise or Weaver davit systems, the Seawise wins hands down if you also have an outboard to manage.
The 9' Livingston was a great dinghy for two adults and three small children, although the low freeboard was a concern in rough seas. It rowed extremely well, due, I guess, to the catamaran hull. And it was very stable for loading from the stern platform. No outboard.
The Pudgy, from a rowing perspective, is a great dinghy for a single person, ok for two, and a bit of a challenge for three. Sailing it is pretty much a single handed proposition, but a lot of fun!!! Very stable for access from the stern platform. We did not have an outboard so can't comment on that aspect.
The 10' Livingston has yet to arrive so can't give you any experienced comments, but can tell you why we went that route.
Our requirements are for a dinghy that will row well and comfortably carry four adults, primarily to shore but also for the occasional run to the distance store for supplies and more far flung exploration outside the immediate surroundings. (Our vessels are a partnership between my brother & I and our respective families, and we usually cruise with two couples aboard.)
The 9' Livingston doesn't have the capacity to carry four adults and even with say two aboard it can be wet due to the low freeboard.
The Pudgy again does not have the capacity for four adults period, although it is a dry boat.
The 10' Livingston is a completely different animal from the 9' Livingston, as attested to by its having twice the weight. The big difference is that the freeboard is 20" vs 10" - a huge improvement.
Plus, for the first time we will be incorporating an outboard into our dinghy use. Kind of looking forward to that, but a bit nervous.
The Achilles dinghy has no oars or even oarlocks, and would be ripped to ribbons on the rocks, barnacles, and even oyster beds that we are constantly dealing with.
The Achilles sits in chocks on the upper deck and is a real challenge to deploy or stow. The crane system could be tweaked, but it is fundamentally a poor approach, hence the move to the Seawise system on the stern platform.
Price wise, the Livingston 10' is $1779 in Everett WA, where are having it shipped from. Oars are extra. It's manufactured in NC so you could probably get a better deal.
The Pudgy is around $2600 (with oars) in Portland Maine.