Hi Wabo,
I've spent a lot of time in inflatables, but my brand info is pretty old. Generally, inflatables are very light, carry a huge load, are very stable and easy to get in and out of, great characteristics for a lot of types of diving. They have significant disadvantages, primarily in durability. Spears and fish spines do not mix well. Under heavy use, the fabric wears pretty fast. These things don't last like a hard dingy, although the best of them will take much punishment. A hard bottom helps a lot, but the basic principal still applies. Good inflatables are quite expensive relative to a used high quality hard dingy.
For durability, you get what you pay for or less. The relatively inexpensive stuff sold in the discount houses (Boat US, etc) is quite expensive on a per use basis. We completely wore out a Boat US inflatable in one year of hard use. An Avon would have been in pretty good shape after the same use and the best, like a Novarania, would be much better. Zodiac made complete junk for years, don't know what they make now. The best brands look and feel the part. The material you want is hypalon, absolutely NOTHING else.
If you are set on an inflatable, look for a used boat of very high quality that is in very very good cosmetic shape. Sometimes you can get a real deal like that. Be careful of buying anything else used. It is too easy to hide major faults in an inflatable.
Good luck
Connor
