[FLRick]

I had an avon inflatable 13 ft w/ 75HP mercury & got rid of it when I got my kayak. Most of my dives are reef dives about 1 mile or less off shore. When I had the avon it was alot of work for me p/u boat at storage lot, trailor to boat ramp, gas up, pay for parking, drive 20 min through no wake zone to inlet, hope it was calm enough to make it out, 25 min rough ride from inlet to dive site, ect....
then when I got back if it was calm enought to get out in the first place. I had to do everything in reverse including washing & flushing the boat.

Now w/ the yak its drive to beach, walk 15 ft to water, paddle aprox 1 mile in 8-12min & I am at the same spot that it would take at least two hours to get to in my avon.

Its not a pig at all to paddle loaded up.
Yes I do strap everything down but not because Its hard to do a deepwater entry exit. Its very simple. Just don & doff your gear in the water. Ive never come close to capsizing it if you think its a hard task, Id bet you never tried it.