We put a 8-6 dinghy on the transom of the Laurie Ann because it is trailered a lot and we did not want the additional overhang. Also, docking is tricky enough but having the dinghy potentially hitting the dock first before the fenders was something that we could prevent. We have used our dinghy extensively for over two years and are still pleased with it. But, we do not carry more than two people with stuff, do not go very fast (about 5 knots with the Honda 2 HP) or very far (the farthest is about 2 miles). A dinghy is like a toothbrush; it is a personal decision based on your needs and wants.
We had first put the dingy on its edge on the swimstep and then strapped it to the transom with tie down points on the swimstep and the stainless railings. Now, we got the davits from the dinghy maker that are glued onto the inflatable and screwed onto the swim step. The dinghy just clips in and we tilt it up easily with a rope. I made a stand-off for the dinghy that swivels up from the transom and hooks on a bolt with a wing nut that secures it to the railing. Very slick, very simple and not costly.
