One of my favourite sailing bloggers is Bob Wise, owner and builder of the original Loose Moose. I tried to find his entry on this but couldn't so will paraphrase as best I can: turning up in an anchorage in a boat so far outside the norm meant we were subject to quite some abuse from people offended by the appearance of our boat. I always considered it a useful "bigot filter" so I'd know who to avoid.
Apologies for the thread drift.
The cheek of the man, sailing an obviously unsafe boat that looks different from here to Vanuatu then Borneo, after successfully sailing from the US to NZ. Has he no shame?
Back to the subject - Open CPN is fantastic.
Second that, I'v had up to 15 years out of hypalon and that was full time live aboard use. Yes the avon rowlocks would take a standard oar and you could put full force into them and not break them. I would put a redstart at 80-90% of the rowing efficiency of a comparable hard dinghy. I've yet to find another inflatable that comes close.
Guatemala - the port captain screwed us for an enormous amount of money to be allwoed to anchor for two days. Weather outside was nasty and I had a seasick kid so coughed up. I enjoyed the place and the people but that left a bad taste. Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific coast.
Register in Langkawi, sail to NZ, re register here if you feel the need (I wouldn't bother - cheaper if you ever decide to do a trip up to the islands one winter).
Anyone can register any boat in Langkawi - around $500.