You have to be sure that you can swing the dinghy well out over the side or stern. We had an aluminum skiff and used it with no problems. But, we had good padding on the gunnels. In rough seas it is difficult to launch, and for that reasons (and others) we also always carried a small soft inflatable. A second dinghy, with a small motor is often easier to use--especially in surf, or where you have to carry the dinghy up to secure it with a cable. Wheels can be put on a hard dinghy and we have done this with a 12.5' RIB (about 350 lbs with engine). The Walker Bay might not be my first choice of an inflatable. But we used RIB's in Alaska where we beached the boat 3 times a day to walk the dogs, and had no problems with rocks or barnicles. We did put on saccrificial glass cloth on the bottom each year (mostly at the bow) to avoid damage to the hull itself. I don't know what you would do with a Walker Bay--Maybe a Keel Guard? An inflatable is easier to use around a trawler, because of the soft sides and not worrying about dinging up the vessel. Plus the extra flotation of the pontoons is a real plus in heavy weather. We rescued a 13 foot Whaler which had flipped, with our RIB. The ride was much better than the whaler (and we had no sea worthyness issues--some spray however). My vote--a guality RIB with a second 8 to 9 foot soft inflatable and a 3 to 4 hp outboard. Bob Austin