Tender

[Kings Gambit]

IMHO, boaters have an easier time boarding and off-boarding the dinks if the dinks are brought up alongside, where one uses a life-line gate, rather than the stern gate, to access the deck. Just as if you were boarding (i.e., stepping up) from the dock. The resultant motion vector (for lack of a better term) is much more vertical. Plus, there is nothing in the way such as a backstay, wheel, captain’s seat, and crew sitting around the cockpit. Do not need assist from the boat’s skipper. This usually requires a step hanging from the gunwale. Secure the painter to the midship cleat, and pass a stern line around one of the stanchions aft to help hold the dink in close. One step up, and you’re on the deck. The so-called “fender step” works well for this. If you have groceries, or other, to bring aboard, a one-arm lift up through the gate while you hold the gate stanchion works fast. Our days of “crawling up the (reverse) transom” trying to use the swim step or whatever for general boarding are thankfully over. We’re now especially reluctant to board a friend’s boat where you might actually have to swing a leg over the stern rail, as there is no gate at all. As in some older models.

 

[dlochner]

We have a sugar scoop transom and board and embark from the small RIB (~8') from the stern. Two short pieces of line hang from each side of the gate, this allows us to hold the side of the dinghy close to the transom allowing an easy step on or off. When both of us are on the dinghy, each person holds one line, the last person holds both lines. Of course we make sure the painter is secured before the last person steps off the dinghy.

 

[Kings Gambit]

We have a sugar scoop transom and board and embark from the small RIB (~8') from the stern. Two short pieces of line hang from each side of the gate, this allows us to hold the side of the dinghy close to the transom allowing an easy step on or off. When both of us are on the dinghy, each person holds one line, the last person holds both lines. Of course we make sure the painter is secured before the last person steps off the dinghy.

We did similar for years, plus have boarded many other boats by that method/technique as well. In my opinion now, boarding alongside is quicker, safer, & easier; especially if it’s just you getting on or off. You do not have to push hard against the dink to get off as it is much more a vertical movement. It’s much easier in wind chop when the sailboat may be pitching b/c the spot where you would be standing on deck is not moving as much as at the transom. You appreciate this when getting back aboard. Try it sometime! if you have not.

 

[Tom J]

I think our solution to the question of which dinghy works best for us combines a lot of the good ideas presented already in this thread. We use a Walker Bay 8 with the flotation collar and a Torqeedo outboard. The boat is very stable and easy to row. The Torqeedo runs for days on a single charge and is easy to stow. The boat is also lightweight and hangs nicely on our davits.
The Walker Bay 8 is sized just right for our Catalina 310, so you might want to consider the WB 10. We can carry 3 adults without gear, or 2 adults with their gear, so the 10 footer should do what you need it to do. They even come with a wheel built into the keel to help roll the boat up a ramp.
As a bonus, I have the sail kit and can sail the dinghy around our home port or an anchorage.
Good luck on your search.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Merriment ensued w/ a few bottles of wine and other libations consumed

You need REDUNDANCY for safety at sea.

Ahem Sobriety also helps