The disadvantage to rubber boats, Usually imposable to actually row in over 5K of wind. Die sudden death next to work dinks or docks with barnicals . Can not be dragged up onto most beaches as all the necrssary outboard junk makes them too heavy. Most are very wet in any outboard operation over a couple of K. If use as life boat , you just sit waiting to be hopefully found. My preference is for an old & very $$ rare Grumman Sailing dink. At 9 ft it can carry 5 folks in fairly heavy going , rows with one or two oarsmen like a dream. The mast & rig fit inside the boat , so as a liferaft you could be self rescuing (if you have water) for a few hundred miles.Offshore the big fenders fit nicely inside , providing floatation should it need instant launch. There tough enough that a comber climbing on board will not stove the bottom in. Works for ME! FAST FRED ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!