That Acorn is a very pretty boat, and would be very satisfying to build. It looks like it would row well, and sail well if so fitted. If finished off nicely, it could be a work of art, as this photo shows.
However, I tend to question its overall versatility as the working utility boat that a dinghy needs to be. To me, it looks more like a boat that one should build for the sheer joy of it, and to use as a boat in its own right. A boat that is too "beautiful" is useless as a tender because you always have to be worried about banging up your brightwork, or dragging that keel across rocks and sand (or pavement), and so on. The wineglass shape and narrowish beam would make it a joy to row, but somewhat less effective as a cargo carrier--and more unstable than some designs. That said, it's not an overly narrow or delicate design, so it would still work well. Just not as well as some other options, maybe.
To me, a dinghy for a cruising boat is far too much of a workhorse to use such a pretty, finely-finished boat. And building the Acorn in any way but one to highlight its construction and shape would be a pity--it's far too nice to build with the intention of painting out the whole thing. The bright interior is a joy to behold, but would be entirely impractical to use as a working boat.
It looks like a great design, and fun--if complex--to build. As a longer-term project, one to play with and fuss over, by all means--and the joy it would give later, used as a play boat on a lake, oceanfront, etc, would make the construction very satisfying. But as the overall dinghy solution, I don't think it's quite so practical. I believe it's definitely a plan worth building, though, just for the sheer fun and experience of it. I'm impressed with how attractive it is.
I would build the 10' sailing version, myself, with the intention of using it as a play boat from time to time, but mostly for the fun of building it. But for overall dinghy versatility, and for something that is more useful as a cargo and people carrier (and something to not fret about at the dinghy dock, beach, or wherever), I think there are better, more practical solutions. Worrying about the dinghy is one thing you don't need.
That's why I love the Fatty Knees. Yes--it's definitely a premium dinghy, price-wise. But that's not the point. It's a tough, basic boat that does its job extremely well. It holds abundant weight and cargo, rows nicely with a load, has high topsides for those choppy days, and even sails well. It only weighs 80 lb, but is rugged. Sure, it would look great if I varnished all the teak trim. But I refuse. It's a work boat, and while I will never neglect or abuse it, neither will I baby or coddle it. If the hull gets scarred up a little, so be it. If the teak is gray--so be it. I don't mind tracking muck and sand into it, or greasy gunk from gross commercial docks, or whatever. I may obsess about the maintenance and condition of
Glissando (within certain practical limits), but with the dinghy I just can't go there. To my way of thinking, any dinghy needs to be able to satisfy these requirements when used as more than occasional, "look at how pretty I am" transportation. No real sailors or cruisers have precious dinghies--it's just not practical.
Perhaps that's why RIBs have become so popular. They're pretty bulletproof, maintenance-free, and do their intended service with aplomb. I wanted a boat I could row, which is why I didn't choose the RIB route--I never want to rely on an outboard. But there's no denying that RIBs make excellent tenders in almost all other ways.
Buy the Acorn plans and have fun building it. But build it for the fun of it, and to make it all it can be--not to use as the ultimate tender.
