Lucian:
I''ll follow this thread with interest since we hope to visit the Adriatic within two years. Meanwhile, you might follow the similar thread at www.ssca.org re:
dinghy choices - I''m convinced this is at least as tough a decision as picking the Mother Ship.
I''m assuming your interest is in the smallest model, the Stowaway. I can''t imagine you deciding on it unless you see how it is put together, as that''s usually what requires the most deck space. The weight is right (very light) and I would encourage you to consider adding the buoyancy tubes; you''ll find they make the dink invincible when there''s lots of chop and/or you''re pulling yourself back aboard after snorkeling. Finally, the 6mm ply would worry me a bit in the same way inflatable fabrics seem to worry you; I''m just not convinced even marine ply of that thickness will hold up long-term, and these can''t be terribly cheap to buy.
Can you perhaps fit an inexpensive 8'' injection molded hard
dinghy on deck forward of the mast? That will cost relatively little (assuming you can acquire one in your area), can be patched, can take lots of knocking about, and can be sailed if you want to spend the extra money (e.g. see http://www.sailnet.com/store/item.cfm?pid=18597). That''s only $500 U.S. in the States, tho'' perhaps finding a product like that in the Central Med is a challenge.
Good luck! I''ll be interested to learn what you decide.
Jack