I have one
I have a Walkerbay and within its limits its a great little boat. You do have to respect its limits though. I used mine as a tender to my Daysailer last season. It is absolutely indestructable. After a season of being left on asphalt when not in use, with a pile of dinks on top of it, being hit by cars trying to park, and of being stolen several times and recovered from the rocks, it looks barely used. Try that with a Zodiac. At $399 its a bargain, too. (If you saw it for more than that, keep looking, lots of places seem to be offering it at 399; if you saw it for less, where was it?) Its pretty stable thanks to sharp bilge and flat sections, and it row wonderfully. It has a full keel so it tracks worlds better than a Puffin. It also sails remarkably well (though learn from my mistake and don't try to use it with a Laser rig on it). The downside? It really only holds one person, in spite of being rated for two, and its handles terribly under power. So - it really depends on your priorities. For me, it just didn't work once we started wanting to anchor out and dinghy in. I bought a small Zodiac and Merc 3.3 this spring, and the Walker Bay has been on loan to a friend since. If I were you I'd look for an inflatable. New if the budget allows (especially the engine) but used is ok too. There have been lots of threads about Zodiacs; look around and you'll see them in the archives. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
