I thought long and hard about Livingston, as you noted, keeps coming up. The 9 ft. is a bit low in freeboard, and the 10 ft. is so heavy. My davits and dinghy crane can handle it, no issue, but if I can put a 9 or 10 ft. rib aboard easier, I can't see enough advantages to switch for my usage. I also like the multi-purpose Portland Pudgy, which carries it's own sail kit and can double as a covered life boat for two. Easy to row, easy to sail, and needs only 2 hp.....good for electric, but its not as spacy. I'd love a console dinghy with a 15 or so for the Bahamas, but I keep looking for enough reason to dump my 9 ft. Caribe with a 9.9 two-stroke Merc.
For 50 days in the sun per year, I don't see why you need to go with hypalon. Never tore a bottom either, but I do tend to abuse it a bit when pulling it up on the dock. A decent rib with a 9.9 is kind-of like the old jeep around these waters. If you've got a patch kit and an air pump, you're good to go.
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Larry
"When life gets hard, eat marshmallows”.
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