I built it when our son was a baby. We outgrew the last pram. Son is now a sophomore in college.

You are right though, it's an important part of the mooring system. We have to get out to the boat, sometimes in a bit of wind and chop. The dink sits at the dinghy dock when we're not on the boat. It does get used in our harbor for sailing occasionally with the sail rig.

I realize this is unusual for most but I would bet our dinghy dock is half hard rowing dinks, and half inflatables. Rowing is still common here. When I go south, that changes dramatically.

I'm a little lazy about doing too much to go sailing so this is the simplest system I could use. The oars are stowed/lashed inside. I row out. I cleat. I'm done.

I'm ready to go a couple miles to an anchorage, or a couple hundred on the coast.