Dinghy: centerboard or leeboard?

[benz]

I know this is only obliquely related to rigging, but such an august body of sailors must surely be able to help me. I'm building a 9' dinghy for a tender to my pilot cutter (also under construction), and would dearly love to not have a centerboard trunk cluttering up the inside, since four of us--two of which will be getting bigger over the years)--must fit into it for rowing. How much worse, performance-wise, is a leeboard attached to the gunnel than a centerboard in the (need I say it?) center? I'm not looking to race this thing, just to be able to sail it to and from anchorages when the wind is fair.
Has anyone had experience with leeboards in a small dinghy?
Thanks in advance.
Ben